1931 National Sears, Roebuck & Co. Duolian Vintage Single Cone Resonator Frosted Duco w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1931 National Sears, Roebuck & Co. Duolian in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original chipboard case. Produced for roughly one year during the heights of the Great Depression as a marginally more affordable version of their standard Duolian model, this steel body resonator was crafted by National and sold in the Sears catalog for $29.00 (compared to the standard Duolian’s $32.50 price tag). Somewhere around 600 of these rare instruments were produced, differentiated from the standard model via the five-vent coverplate with fewer holes, plain headstock with “R”-prefix serial stamp (for “Roebuck”), and thin green-gray frosted Duco finish.

A single-cone, biscuit bridge design, this Duolian features a mahogany neck capped with an ebonized maple fingerboard, with 12 frets clear of the body. This resonator has a whole lot of get-up-and-go, with a crisp, sweet punch that is an ideal blend of tautness and breadth. Power and projection is ample; just one strum is an immediate reminder of the effectiveness of John Dopyera’s design and amplification goals. Yet despite this Duolian’s prodigious presence, the tone is never harsh or booming, retaining its charm and character at all volume levels and highly responsive to picking dynamics. Weighing 6lbs 15oz, this National Sears, Roebuck & Co. Duolian has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with D’Addario 12-52 nickel-bronze strings and comfortable action.

Neck Specs:

Wood: Mahogany
Shape: U, measuring .960” 1st fret, 1.070” 7th fret
Fretboard: Ebonized maple, grained ivoroid dot inlays
Frets: Slender, leveled/crowned, no wear
Scale Length: 25”
Nut: 1 3/4”, ebony
Tuners: Open-gear strip (replacement buttons)
Action: 10/64” low E, 8/64” high E (12th fret)
Serialization: R-prefix, three-digit

Body Specs:

Material: Steel
Bridge: Biscuit, Pat. Pend., ebonized maple saddle
Hardware: Five-vent sieve coverplate, tailpiece, spun cone
Marquetry: Straight-cut f holes

The Duco lacquer finish on the body, a thin application that is known for being rather temperamental, is largely intact, with most of the original crinkle texture and green-gray hues present save for a few areas on the top and rims at the lower bout. There are just a few minor nicks and scuffs consistent with an almost 100-year-old instrument that has seen largely limited use. The satin finish on the neck profile is nigh flawless, with a couple minor superficial splits in the dyed maple fingerboard in the upper registers.

The original chipboard case is included, reinforced with tape along the edges, with all the original latches and handle present.