Description
This 1950 National Model 1160 "Concert" Flat-Top in Natural finish pairs a rare scalloped X-braced Gibson LG-3 body with a bolt-on National Stylist neck.
This rare and largely original instrument plays well and has a full, rich and entirely usable sound, much like a vintage Gibson LG-3. As a 1950 model, the neck is a bit chunkier than later models.
The body finish shows expected wear for its age and demonstrates that it has been played, and its well-developed voice reflects this. Fret wear is light, and the medium size of the fret wire indicates that the guitar has been refretted, which was done cleanly and professionally. It consequently has excellent playability.
Sold without case, but we can supply a suitable hard shell case.
Originally, if sold in the USA, this might have come with a Lifton or Geib case. However, if sold in Canada, due to tariffs on cases and luggage, the distributor would often provide locally built cases. Often these were hard fibre cases that have not survived well.
Construction and Materials
This National Model 1160 "Concert" Flat-Top is based on an authentic, factory supplied, scalloped X-braced LG-3 body. The top is Sitka Spruce, the sides, back, and body blocks are Mahogany.
National provided the bolt-on 'Stylist' neck with its magnesium core and in this case the surrounding wood is Poplar. The core is T-shaped, providing resistance to bow and twist, with the magnesium adding little weight. Maple was an alternative for these early necks but National eventually settled on Mahogany. The fingerboard and bridge are Brazilian Rosewood. The bridge has two Mother of Pearl dots at either end of the saddle, and these cover a pair of locating / reinforcing bolts.
Where the Gibson heel would be, a brown coloured wooden plate covers the dovetail slot. This alteration provides better access to the upper frets and makes the bolt-on process simpler.
For hardware, this 1950 National Model 1160 "Concert" Flat-Top has the original celluloid oval-button strip-mounted, Waverly tuners at the head. The pickguard is original and in good condition.
Model History
During the 1950's, CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments) owned both Gibson and the distribution rights for Valco products, including National guitars and amps. A deal was struck where Gibson shipped unfinished or partially finished bodies, called "Bodies in the White", from Kalamazoo to Valco/National in Chicago, where National "Stylist" necks were bolted on, and the instruments completed. The fact that the bodies had partial or no lacquer finish from Gibson resulted in the National finish aging differently from their Gibson equivalents.
Four bodies were selected for this, the J-45 (sunburst) or J-50 (natural), the LG-3, and the L-50 and L-7 archtops. The flat-top bodies were shipped with either ladder or X-bracing.
Dual Dating
These instruments have two distinct identifying numbers - Gibson's FON (Factory Order Number) stamped in the body or on the neck block, and National's serial plate on the back of the headstock. On this guitar, the serial number and FON both point to 1950.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Model 1160 "Concert" Flat-Top
- Instrument Manufacturer: National / Valco / Gibson
- Instrument year: 1950
- Instrument Finish: Natural
- Instrument Class: Steel String Acoustic Guitars
- Instrument serial number: V26986 FON 3570, built 1950 at Kalamazoo and Chicago
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 4.234 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.92 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 24.8 in
- Scale Length Metric: 630 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.668 in
- Nut Width Metric: 42.37 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Case included: No
- Case original: No
- Items in Case: N/A
- Case Type: None
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190829
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |