Description
This is a 1962 National (Valco) Glenwood 99 (Val-Pro) res-o-glas, map guitar. It’s the top of the line from 1962. This guitar is a very early production model that was given to The Kim Sisters in order to promote the National Guitar line. The body is made of fiberglass and is a contoured, semihollow, double-cutaway (Maine & Florida are now cutaways!), and the color is white. The guitar was made by National, a division of Valco in Chicago. It features black binding on the body and headstock, white binding on the neck, three pickups (neck, bridge and piezo under the bridge), a raised, striped, engraved, acrylic pickgaurd with the National logo on it, a small metal plate on which the pickup selection switch is located, six knobs for control, and art deco-like chrome tailpiece, and an adjustable transparent bridge with a rosewood saddle where the piezo pickup is located. The Art Deco/50’s Modernism details on this guitar are stunning. The mother of pearl inlays on the neck will blow you away. The guitar looks superb for an instrument that is about fifty-five years old. This instrument was owned by one of the Kim Sisters, a South Korean born, American trio of multi-instrumentalists who had a successful career, particularly through the 1950’s and 1960’s. They have performed on The Ed Sullivan Show more than 22 times. This National Glenwood 99 guitar is an investment grade, collectable electric guitar which will also delight players because the sound is phenomenal! It comes with the original case which is a little worn but in solid condition.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
CONDITION:
This guitar is 100% original. It is really clean and in very good condition. The black line design on the pickups has faded a little in some spots and there is some paint wear on the back of the neck and headstock. There are also two tiny, nearly invisible lines of crazing coming from the input jack. This barely noticeable wear does not affect the tone or playabiltiy. This guitar looks really cool, plays beautifully and sounds great!
TUNERS:
Grover Roto-matic, closed-back, individual tuners with stylized, deluxe metal buttons, (very modern for 1962) are in good working condition. They are smooth and stay in tune.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
NECK:
It has a straight, bound, bolt-on neck with very decorative pearl inlays on a rosewood fretboard, 20 frets and a zero fret, and a 25″ scale. The paint on the back of the neck and headstock has some wear. The front of the headstock, featuring an angled metal logo, is very clean. The action is fast and the neck and the frets feel fantastic under your fingers.
PICKUPS:
The three pickups sound great. They range from smooth to gritty and will work for any style of music. The two single coil, magnetic, metal pickup with black line designs on them are very clean, strong and bright. The one in the neck position has a warmer, clean clear tone while the bridge position pickup has more treble bite. The third pickup is a piezo pickup, often called an acoustic pickup. It is locate in the bridge and it is there to provide the user with more access to the natural string sound. This pickup, providing a more acoustic sounding tone, is not as potent as the magnetic pickups. There are six knobs, three on either side of the pickups and pickguard. The three knobs on the treble side of the instrument control the volume for each perspective pickup and the knobs on the bass side control the tone of each pickup. There is also a three-way selection switch above the tone knobs to allow you to switch between the neck, bridge and piezo pickups. All of the electronics work properly. Description from VintageSilvertones.com
The Dimensions are:
Overall length: 39.5″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Body width: 15″
Body thickness: 1.75″ with neck 2 3/8″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Scale: 25″ approxDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
Width of the nut: 1.75″ (depth 0.75″)
String height at 12th fret: 1/16″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Here’s the original description from a 1962 National catalog:
GLENWOOD “99”
PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Created for the discriminating artist who demands performance and quality superiority. Superb true sound reproduction that will phase the most critical ear. The sustain and responsiveness are extraordinary. This guitar faithfully produces all of the guitar range.There are three (3) exclusive and different unit constructions employed–two custom wide-range VISTA-POWER units (one bass and one treble) and the third a unique SILVER-SOUND bridge unit that produces a concise life-like electronic voicing of the natural acoustic string sound.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Satin-smooth construction is the new Polyester wonder material RES-O-GLAS. Exquisite snow-white finish is weather immune and extremely water resistant. Smartly styled contours insure a new experience in comfort and convenience while playing.
Exclusive VAL-TROL control system provides a separate volume and tone for each of the three units. You can preset the exact response desired for each position of the instant 3-way switch.
Features: Elaborate pearl inlay * Bound rosewood fingerboard * Professional ROTO-MATIC keys * PRO-SMOOTH strings * Chrome hardware * Fully adjustable units * Precision adjustable action * Exclusive PRO-TRUE rapier thin neck * Engraved acrylic pickguard * Gloss black trim * Body 15″ wide x 18″ long x 1 3/4″ deep * 24 5/8″ scale * 20 frets with extra at bone nut for feather action * Leather neck strap * 10′ single plug cord * 715-90 Plush CaseDescription from VintageSilvertones.com