I think I found a prototype to the first electric Nationals

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 3 Dec 2016 2:46 pm

Man, What A Find! Your Restoration Work has been Super.

Thanks for posting! Keep it up!

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 5 Dec 2016 6:46 am

Cool!

I love a bit of 1930s electric lap steel archaeology!

Thanks for posting.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 8 Jun 2017 4:46 am

It took a while, but it's finally up and running. The entire wiring harness had to be replaced, but there's a new coil installed using the original magnet and pole pieces. Unlike later versions, there are no structures molded into the body that hold the parts in place, so reassembling the pickup was a minor nightmare.

On the upside, it sounds great. It's a bit brighter and less mellow than the production versions, probably due to differences in the coil. The sustain is similar. I recorded a sound clip if you want to hear it.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 8 Jun 2017 5:57 am

Great job, Noah! It looks and sounds very cool!

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 8 Jun 2017 6:41 am

Noah, you did a great job of restoration and now have a beautiful steel. I enjoyed the sound clip.
I love the old National metal body steels. Check your PM.

C. E.

Bo Parker · Post by **Bo Parker** » 8 Jun 2017 7:02 am

Noah Miller wrote:It took a while, but it's finally up and running.

Nice!

I took lap steel lessons from Mr. Ed Mahoney in Akron OH in the early-to-mid 1970s, and he had a similar aluminum National.

National really had the "Machine Age" industrial design aesthetic down. Gotta love it.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 8 Jun 2017 7:25 am

Cool restoration! The guitar has a nice, tight sound. The notes really pop.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 8 Jun 2017 7:39 am

I forgot to say thanks to Goat Peak Strings for their help restoring the body and Stol Guitars for rebuilding the pickup. My contributions were really limited to replacing tuners, adding the gold paint and adjusting the pole heights to even out the string balance.

Michael Greer · Post by **Michael Greer** » 8 Jun 2017 9:29 am

Noah

Great restoration of a very nice steel.

Congratulations

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 8 Jun 2017 12:56 pm

I'll have to stop by Goat Peak Strings and check it out. I'm only 10 minutes away from that shop!

Allen Hutchison · Post by **Allen Hutchison** » 8 Jun 2017 2:30 pm

It looks & sounds great Noah!
Congratulations on resurrecting a fine piece of steel history. It was worth the effort.

Cheers from Oz, Allen

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 8 Jun 2017 10:20 pm

I have a cousin to yours here at the shop.

The Steel Guitar Forum

I think I found a prototype to the first electric Nationals

Big Congrats!