1934 National Style 0 – Variation 5, 12-Fret, Original Case
 
The Company
The National String Instrument Corporation was founded in Los Angeles in 1927 by John Dopyera, George Beauchamp and their partners. The aim was to build a guitar loud enough to be heard over a dance band. Its first instrument was the tricone, and it was followed in 1930 by the louder, punchier single-cone "biscuit" design that defined the company's sound. In the early 1930s National merged with Dobro, which Dopyera and his brothers had founded, to form the National-Dobro Corporation. The company moved to Chicago in 1936, but the Los Angeles years are seen as National's golden age.
 
The Model
The Style 0 came out in 1930 and quickly became National's best-known single-cone guitar. It has a nickel-plated brass body, sandblasted with the famous Hawaiian scene of palm trees, clouds and island landscapes. Collectors know it at once. It was a favourite of Hawaiian and blues players, and its bright, powerful voice and sweet sustain have shaped Delta blues and slide playing ever since.
 
Over the 1930s the Style 0 went through several changes, which collectors call "variations." They are told apart by the f-holes, the etching pattern, the neck joint and the serial numbers.
 
This Guitar
This example is a Variation 5, built in 1934. It has the typical features of that version:
Rolled-edge f-holes, which make the body stiffer and give a cleaner look
12-fret neck joint, for a deep, warm, balanced tone
One coconut in the palm tree etching on the back
No "chicken feet" on the front
Rounded neck profile, comfortable for both fingerstyle and slide playing
 
The guitar is in very good condition. The plating has aged nicely and the etching is still clear and well defined. It plays and sounds the way a vintage National should: loud, focused, full of growl and sustain.
 
A Unique Serial Number
The serial number makes this guitar special. National historians generally point to S 5432 as the first 14-fret Style 0. This guitar is S 5433, one number higher, yet it is still a 12-fret Variation 5. That makes it very likely the last Style 0 Variation 5 ever made, built just as National moved to the 14-fret design. It is a fascinating piece of history from a key moment in the company's story.
 
Conclusion
A 1934 Style 0 is already a sought-after instrument. This one is all-original and in very good condition, and it may well be the very last 12-fret Variation 5. That makes it a rare chance for collectors and players alike. It still delivers the raw, haunting sound that made National a legend, and it's ready for many more decades of blues.
 
Comes with its original Geib case in very good condition.