Identifying a National Lap Steel

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 17 Jul 2018 7:37 am

Hi I saw a national lap steel yesterday that is shaped like a New Yorker but it only had one knob and the fret board was done with Roman numerals. I. Didnâ€™t get a photo. Would anyone have an idea of the model.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 17 Jul 2018 8:03 am

There was no National model that fit that description. Were the numerals black and white or multi-colored? What color was the body?

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 17 Jul 2018 9:51 am

Fred, is this National similar to the one you saw?

I had it appraised by George Gruhn in 2004, and his opinion
was that it was a 1947 National New Yorker.

C. E. Jackson

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 17 Jul 2018 10:17 am

Fred, here is another National done with Roman numerals. Is it similar to the one you saw?

I had it appraised by George Gruhn in 2005, and his opinion was
that it was made during the period 1935 through 1936.

C. E. Jackson

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 17 Jul 2018 11:59 am

That is the exact model. Thank you so much. Do you know what one would be worth. The one I found is a little rough and someone put Grover tuners on it. They want $500 for it.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 17 Jul 2018 12:16 pm

So it is a New Yorker; those all have two knobs. The value varies a lot by era and the pickup(s). Changed tuners will hurt the value, especially if the replacements are different from the originals (which were Klusons) and required additional screw holes. $500 would be about right for a '30s model (C. E.'s was built 1936-9) in that condition, but it would be a little much for a post-War one in rough shape.

If you can post a pic of a New Yorker from the same era, we can give a more specific answer.

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 18 Jul 2018 7:32 pm

C. E. Jackson wrote:Fred, is this National similar to the one you saw?

I had it appraised by George Gruhn in 2004, and his opinion
was that it was a 1947 National New Yorker.

C. E. Jackson

Mine looks just like that one. I was told it's a '47.

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 19 Jul 2018 1:13 pm

Hi Guys I bought this for $325 out of a local pawnshop today. It needs tax, but I am glad to get it. It is the one I asked about. I missed the National logo.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 19 Jul 2018 1:20 pm

Any more pix? The tag will, if original, identify the year it was built. Even sight-unseen (mostly), it would seem you got a decent deal. Especially with what appears to be a nice original case.

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 19 Jul 2018 1:24 pm

Here it is.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 19 Jul 2018 1:42 pm

Jack Hanson wrote:...it would seem you got a decent deal.

Nice guitar at a nice price. Someone here likely will know the year, but until they chime in, this table can be useful in dating Valco instruments:

http://www.oldfrets.com/Valco/Dating.html

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 19 Jul 2018 2:51 pm

Hi Jack 4117G is the serial number. The pawn shop where I bought it said 1930s. I donâ€™t have a clue of when it was made. Thank you for the reply.

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 19 Jul 2018 2:55 pm

It looks like 1943-1947 from the chart you sent. Thank you I appreciate it. This little guitar sounds great. I am glad I rescued it.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 19 Jul 2018 4:49 pm

It's actually 1941-2, as identified by the pickup. That chart is usually right, but sometimes it's off by a year or so.

Fred Anderson · Post by **Fred Anderson** » 19 Jul 2018 5:15 pm

Thank you all for your help. I would have never figured all this out. 1942 works for me thanks for clarifying that date Noah. This forum is invaluable. Once again thanks to all of you.

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