NATIONAL QUAD

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Oct 2006 2:03 am

Have you had a gig bag made for all those times where you'll need to quickly throw it into the trunk to make the gig on time?

Drew Ritzul · Post by **Drew Ritzul** » 11 Oct 2006 2:55 am

Rick,
thanks for the pictures,it looks great!!
i have a single neck and a double neck
and love the tone on both.
good luck, Drew

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 11 Oct 2006 5:48 am

Rick,

It's simply stunning!! It should be in Washington D.C. as a "National" Monument to Steel Guitar.

What Color!!! My eyes were drawn to the fret markers as well, are they Wing Configurations???

It sure does look like part of an ensemble piece for a Cathedral.

When you want to fly with it, let me know!!

I'll have a special Fork Lift ready for you!!

With that kind weight and the look, I think it's Mahogany.

Conrgatulations Rick, a great find, we know it's in good hands. Enjoy, as we do...

TX
Rgds,
Ron

------------------
JCFSGC member 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 11 October 2006 at 12:05 PM.]

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 11 Oct 2006 6:54 am

That is one fine piece of eye candy!!
TOO COOL!!

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 11 Oct 2006 7:09 am

Andy..."A gig Bag"???...no need for that...if Rick would just put wheels on this one he could just drive it to the gig!!!
That is one beautiful intrument!!!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Oct 2006 12:29 pm

Darryl, I'll put E13 on the inside neck, C6/A7 on the 2nd neck, A6 on the 3rd neck and high C6 on the outside neck.

Thanks Doug!

Andy, I'd have to get Omar the Tentmaker to make a custom gig bag large enough.

Thanks Drew!

My eyes were drawn to the fret markers as well, are they Wing Configurations???

Ron, they look like thunderbirds. Here's a closeup:

Yes, a forklift would be good!

It must be mahogany, that's what everybody says.

Thanks Mike!

Terry, good idea - wheels, and maybe a trailer hitch.
Then if Ron was waiting there with the forklift I'd be all set.
Seriously, this will be a stay-at-home studio steel. I usually take the Steelmaster to gigs, and it's heavy enough.

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 11 Oct 2006 10:37 pm

I vote for mahogany. In the close-up photos of the fretboard, it definitely looks like mahogany. The side shots of the panels, i'm not so sure. Is it possible they are different types of wood, just stained to look the same?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Oct 2006 11:01 pm

Here are some grainy closeups:

Front

Left Side

Right Side

Left Front Corner

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 11 Oct 2006 11:12 pm

From here, the necks and the little wooden slats crossing the large grill look like mahogany, the cabinet itself looks more like Birch with stain.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 12 October 2006 at 12:18 AM.]

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Oct 2006 2:10 am

I love fine woods and to my eye, that cabininet clearly has the grain pattern of mahogany (put hey, I could be wrong

)

Chek out: http://www.virginiagalleries.com/wood-recog.htm

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 12 Oct 2006 2:23 am

It does look like mahogany. It's hard to tell from the photos, not enough area to examine plus they're out of focus and have some reflections.

Actually, mahogany was my first guess but then I thought I could see some spots where the finish and possible stain has been scraped or chipped, and it appears like there might be light-colored wood in the chipped areas, and mahogany would be dark, but it could just be that these spots are just reflections or something else.

I'm sure it would be much easier to identify if we could see it in person or had more high-quality photos of it.

I love wood too, grew up with my Dad's cabinet shop in the backyard, working with him building custom cabinets was my first job, started at age 10.

Very unique steel, whatever it's made of. The necks almost certainly are mahogany, the grill slats too. The cabinet, most likely mahogany too but I wouldn't swear to it without a better look.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 12 October 2006 at 03:40 AM.]

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 12 Oct 2006 5:01 am

Rick,

Thanks for posting the T-Bird Fret Markers. I am awed by the amazing creativity that went into this piece.

It's more than a Steel Guitar. The look of it reminds me of the renowned Architect Frank LLoyd Wright style.

Additionally, Mahogany (even though rare) was extremely popular and the wood of choice in the "40's". It was used for furniture, finish work, etc. Have you any idea when this treasure was created?

I dig the louvers vents on the side....is it Turbo Charged??

BTW: After listening to your short clips above, I have to say the tone and sustain is to die for!! What a find!!! TX

Rgds,

Ron

------------------
JCFSGC member 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 12 October 2006 at 06:02 AM.]

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 12 Oct 2006 5:06 am

Wow, thanks for all the input guys!
You're welcome to come over for a better look.
Email for directions.

There were some questions about the ergonomics, this should give you some idea.

I'm standing up, and it helps to take a small step back when playing the inside neck.[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 13 October 2006 at 12:41 PM.]

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 12 Oct 2006 5:18 am

Rick...Love that moving picture!!! The outside neck looks easier to play than I thought it would...congrats on your new toy...Terry V

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 12 Oct 2006 5:31 am

Have you any idea when this treasure was created?

Ron, I was told 1952, which would make it 54 years old.

Yeah, it sounds really nice. Rich mids & lows. The highs are subtle and understated - this guitar just doesn't do shrill.

There was one little problem which my buddy Tater fixed last night. The inside pickup had been hit from the side and was bulged up so it touched the bottom 2 strings. He took it apart, flattened it out and re-assembled it.
Now it works perfectly. I was occupied with helping him, so I didn't think of taking pics of the operation. Now I wish I had.

The strings that it came with were all in good condition, and I was able to have the the tunings I wanted.
By putting E13 on the inside neck, high C6 on the 2nd neck, A6 on the 3rd neck and C6/A7 on the outside neck I only had to change the top 3 strings on the A6 neck to have appropriate gauges.

Some of the tuners are quite stiff, and the buttons are somewhat atrophied. I was thinking about replacing all the tuners with new Klusons and putting the originals away while they're still intact. Changing all the strings with the present tuners would be a daunting task.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 12 Oct 2006 5:36 am

The outside neck looks easier to play than I thought it would

Terry, it's not too hard at all. The trickiest one is the inside neck because it's so low, but it's still do-able.
You just have to dance with it a little.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 Oct 2006 5:46 am

Rick, that looks like the steel guitar version of a Hammond console organ. Just meant to stay in ONE place. Maybe you can get a gig in one the FL churches and do a Sacred steel thing--you'd have to have it installed, that's for sure.

Then again, maybe you can play at the Marlins games, just like the organist at Yankees Stadium...

Either way, I'm sure you'll be one fine caretaker.

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 12 Oct 2006 7:35 am

Too bad it's not inflatable. You know, like my girlfriend.

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 12 Oct 2006 11:52 am

Too bad it's not inflatable. You know, like my girlfriend.

(insert rim shot here)

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 12 Oct 2006 1:47 pm

Rick, is it only me or do you perhaps feel that this beauty might not be a GENUINE National manufactured product, but something someone somewhere created using parts of National guitars and using them very cleverly ? I sold every National product when working at a music store back in the 1950-59 era and never once did I ever see anything remotely similar to this quad in their catolog. If you happen to have an actual picture from a National instrument catolog of that era showing this creation, I'd be very interested in seeing that particular page. I'm not knocking the guitar, not for a moment....it looks terrific and sounds great...but I wonder if it might be a home-made critter ? I also wonder how many real National guitars were put on the sacrificial block to create this unique instrument ?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 12 Oct 2006 2:27 pm

Thanks Mike!

George, I suppose that's possible. As far as I know this is a one of a kind item and was never in any catalog. It has the equivalent hardware, electronics and fretboards of 2 National D-8s. Whether these parts were taken off 2 existing double-neck guitars - or were a special order for this guitar I don't know.
And I have no idea who constructed it. I wish I did.

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 12 Oct 2006 9:03 pm

I found the movie this steel was in: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Captain Nemo plays it in the Nautilus. But the full potential of the instrument isn't realized until the giant squid gets a lot of tentacles on it.

But seriously, that fabulous instrument could be in a museum, but I'm glad it's getting played instead. A once-in-a-lifetime find.

------------------
"I drink to make other people more interesting." -- Jack Nicholson[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 12 October 2006 at 10:03 PM.]

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 13 Oct 2006 12:36 am

It could also be a special promotional instrument made for a trade show, which would explain why it was never in a catalog.

Thomas Ludwig · Post by **Thomas Ludwig** » 13 Oct 2006 2:59 am

stairway to ...

Thomas

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 13 Oct 2006 5:12 am

Geeze!
If I'm not mistaken the last time this beauty was discussed it was an abomination.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006149.html

Now it's a National treasure.
Whew! I love this place.

[This message was edited by Mark Vinbury on 13 October 2006 at 07:15 AM.]