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Topic: National Electric Hawaiians - scale length, sound? |
John Bushouse
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Posted 4 May 2007 7:51 pm |
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Does anyone have a Nationl Electic Hawaiian? Not the ones that look like a New Yorker, like I have, but one that looks like this:
If so, I've got a few questions:
- What is the scale length - long (like their acoustics of the time) or short scale (like my New Yorker-type guitar)?
- What controls do they typically have? Volume? Volume and tone?
- What type of output jack do they have? 1/4", phenolic, or other?
- How do they sound? Is it a good, musical sound - a "usable" sound? Or, because they had National's first try at an electric pickup, is the sound too pre-historic - more interesting as a museum piece?
Thanks in advance for any help!
John |
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Scott Thomas
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 5 May 2007 9:41 am
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I used to own one of these, a 1937 model from what I could tell. The earliest models in 1935 had one volume control. Later models (1936-1937) had a volume and tone control. They are long scale (25") lap steels. On my particular instrument, the top half of the second octave had its markers one fret too high, so playing in the upper register was by sound, not by sight.
Every one I've seen has had a standard input jack, not the Amphenol type connector found on some later models.
It was a very heavy guitar, and it went out of tune at the slightest provocation. I think it had a nice, warm sound, but the weight and inability to keep tuned were deal breakers for me.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 5 May 2007 2:02 pm
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| Quote: |
| It was a very heavy guitar, and it went out of tune at the slightest provocation. I think it had a nice, warm sound, but the weight and inability to keep tuned were deal breakers for me. |
So it's the steel guitar version of me? Or I'm the human version of it? |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 5 May 2007 2:55 pm
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If it ain't over 42 lbs ...
It's a lightweight in my book ...  |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 5 May 2007 4:19 pm
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Hey Scott, where is Larkstreet music?
BILL |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 5 May 2007 6:52 pm
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http://www.larkstreetmusic.com/stock.html
Scroll down on the left hand side of the page to the bottom and click where it says "Just came in"
That takes you to another list and the "National 7 string cast almuminum lap steel" is a little ways down the list.
(He's asking $850) |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 6 May 2007 8:14 am
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| Check out the "slide" section and click on "LAP STEELS, some more- take a look" |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 6 May 2007 10:56 am
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| Scott, that was a great video. Through my tiny little computer speakers, it sounds like a really old steel should (even though it was brand new). |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 10 May 2007 2:23 am
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I just tried one of these yesterday. Looks exactly like the one on the photo, with only a single volume knob.
It had a laid-back sound with a slight Supro tone to it. Not much sustain, but I managed to correct the problem somewhat by turning up the reverb a little.
Chiming was little more difficult to pull off than other brands.
I didn't find this steel to be that heavy where it was uncomfortable to play with laying on your lap.
When it's time for a gig, I'd still grab the Rickenbacker bakelite or frypan. |
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