John Dopyera was the technical genius responsible for National’s innovative resonator instruments: he held the patents for the tri-cone system that had brought the company it’s initial success, and was responsible for developing it’s single-cone counterpart.

A reserved, ascetic figure, he soon found himself at odds with the forceful, headstrong George Beauchamp, the firm’s General Manager; and in 1929, their strained relations broke down when Beauchamp sought to claim the credit for inventing the single-cone resonator.

This formed the background to the launch of this Triolian steel-body, single-resonator guitar. It was produced with painted finishes, the most simple of which is this “two-tone walnut” coloring.