National New Yorker with brass fretboard w/ pic

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 27 Oct 2005 12:05 pm

Hello all! (New try - hopefully WITH pictures this time...)

My National New Yorker is from 1947, and has a brass fretboard. Has anyone seen another one like this, or know anything about this feature? How rare is it? Any info shedding light on the history of my lap steel would be much appreciated!
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fkinbom/album?.dir=/7372

Any comments?

Many thanks,

Fred

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 27 Oct 2005 4:23 pm

Wow,
I love New Yorkers. I have several. That is fantastic. Never saw another like it. Collecting more than 15 years. Very rare.
Pant, pant, pant.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 27 Oct 2005 4:43 pm

I've never seen that either. The only mention of a metal fingerboard is the 1942-47 model as per Gruhn's Vintage guide. It doesn't mention brass, only metal. Starting in 1948, lucite was the fingerboard.

Nice!

Brett Habben · Post by **Brett Habben** » 27 Oct 2005 6:01 pm

Fred,
Because the fretboards were painted on the earlier New Yorkers, I don't think most people know they were made from brass. The brass fretboard ones seemed to be fairly common, as far as New Yorkers go. My '42 New Yorker is black painted brass, as is the fretboard on my '47(48?) Hawaiian 8(?).
Maybe somebody polished yours? I know I was tempted when I assembled mine from parts.
They're pretty cool, eh?
Adios,
Brett

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 28 Oct 2005 12:46 am

Cheers all! It doesn't look like it has been stripped of paint - all the roman numerical markers are coloured like on a black fingerboard.

James Brown · Post by **James Brown** » 1 Nov 2005 4:04 pm

Mine has solid brass hex tuner buttons.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 4 Nov 2005 10:32 pm

I can't contribute to your inquiry, but; I just thought I'd mention that I believe Sho-Bud also had the choice of White or Gold (maybe even Black) Fretboards on the J.B. Frypan! Nice l©©king guitar you have there!

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’04 SD–10 Black Derby w/3 & 5 & Pad
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
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Brett Habben · Post by **Brett Habben** » 5 Nov 2005 9:00 am

Hey Fred,
What's the back side of your fret board look like? I had mine off the other day. There's black that's bleed over. Any black on the backside? Also, mine has written in yellow grease pencil 'green', 'yellow', 'orange', 'blue', 'red', etc. across exactly where that color should be painted in the fretmarkers on the topside. Does yours have this?
Jus' curious,
Brett

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 5 Nov 2005 9:12 am

Brett, what year is your New Yorker? I will check back of fretboard some time - thanks for the tip!

Fred

Brett Habben · Post by **Brett Habben** » 5 Nov 2005 6:38 pm

Fred,
The serial number prefix for mine says it's 1942.
Thanks,
Brett