A National Lap Steel

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 30 Oct 2006 3:49 pm

I have a chance to get an old National Lap steel from a guy who needs some quick cash, and was wondering if it might be a candidate for a make over? It has the guitar cord coming out of a hole on the side of steel? did they actually make it this way? the knobs are both there, it's 6 string and sounds kinda nice actually. If it's junk i won't even fool with it. But having the guitar cord coming out a hole in the side of this thing sends up a red flag. Now the cable looks really old like the guitar. It comes with a case which i'm sure is original. Can anyone tell me anything about it? is it worth messing with or not?

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 30 Oct 2006 4:00 pm

They did make them that way, and it sounds normal. If you don't bite, let me know and maybe I'll jump! Sounds cool!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 30 Oct 2006 4:03 pm

George, a lot of those old Nationals have the cord hard-wired and coming out of the body.
It seems kind of archaic, but it works just fine.

Do you have a pic?

Michael Aspinwall · Post by **Michael Aspinwall** » 30 Oct 2006 6:15 pm

Rick--The moderator was going to edit out the word "archaic," but then he realized that we can't have archaic and edit too............

<H6>I was not!

</h6><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 31 October 2006 at 12:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 30 Oct 2006 6:46 pm

My 1936 National has the old-style jack; new cords are available. I bought mine from Gryphon.

So can you describe the guitar for those of us who really like old Nationals?

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 30 Oct 2006 7:34 pm

Michael,

!....You earned at least one pained guffaw from the East Coast for that one...

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 31 Oct 2006 12:57 pm

I will post pictures very soon of the national 6 string lap steel. It will look rough to you, but like i said, it might be a candidate for a make over job, and might make someone who knows how to do the work a very nice instrument. I will most likely just give it to one of you fella's for a promise to redo it, and play it.,..So i will get the pictures to you so....George