National Lap Steels

Clinton Kirby · Post by **Clinton Kirby** » 30 Jan 2003 8:34 pm

I got my National Grand Console for a great price and did a little fixing up. I haven't played anywhere near as many steels as other guys here have (actually just the National and an "el cheapo" 6-string), but I think it's a great guitar.

Don Herron of BR5-49 played the hell out of a National Grand Console at the Bluegrass Inn when I saw him there last year with the Hillbilly Allstars. He seemed to like it just fine.

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 30 Jan 2003 9:53 pm

Roy Thomson sent me a picture of his National Dynamic awhile back and it looks just like Brads. I think Roy might have used the Nantional to record the samples he plays on the Rebel and Ricky Davis site with the tab. I think Roy's sound is right on!

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 31 Jan 2003 6:37 pm

There's a National on eBay right now that is priced pretty low.

Is it a "late-model" (1956-64) Dynamic?

<h6>Edited by Brad Bechtel to resize this discussion.</h6>[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 01 February 2003 at 08:06 AM.]

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 31 Jan 2003 6:48 pm

Looks like it has what they call the "stickpin" logo, so it is definitely a later model. Just checked my Gruhn's guide and right you are Russ - stickpin logo, knobs on same side, red and white finish, by '56 and discontinued 1964".

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website

[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 31 January 2003 at 07:03 PM.]

John Borchard · Post by **John Borchard** » 3 Feb 2003 1:46 pm

Dana, I've owned many different National lap steels and currently own a New Yorker (single-6) and a D-8 console model (not sure of the model name, but identical to the one in Russ Young's post). I am a huge fan of the Valco string-through pickup, but the pickups in these two Nationals are very close. As Ian says, they're a little less "dirty".

As for the string spacing, that seems to be variable. The D-8 consoles were built to be 8-strings, so the spacing is quite comfortable. However, the 7- and 8-string New Yorkers I've played (along with a number of 8-string Supros) seem to be built for 6 strings and, thus, are uncomfortably "cramped", in my opinion.

My National New Yorker and D-8 have their controls comfortably located and I've long since acclimated myself to the plastic pickup covers (you can always take them off). The long and short of it -- these are GREAT sounding guitars and are still relatively inexpensive. Better get 'em now before they're all gone or more expensive than a Carribean cruise!

John Borchard[This message was edited by John Borchard on 03 February 2003 at 02:04 PM.]

Dana Duplan · Post by **Dana Duplan** » 4 Feb 2003 5:23 am

Thanks for the input folks. I just picked up a 1938 8-string New Yorker with the mathching amp! I'm hoping the set gives me the more primitive (read kazoo tone) sound of the '30's--more Dunn than Byrd. I'm hoping the string spacing isn't too cramped. A couple of cool things--the amp has a 12" speaker, and the set is a one owner set that was used professionally for many years, so everything is in good working order. They're in pretty good shape to, considering the vintage. I should get them in another week or so, and I'll post feedback then.
DD

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 4 Feb 2003 6:43 am

Hi Dana,
I have a New Yorker 6, and a D8 Grand Console, and they both sound sweet as honey. I like the bite of my Fender Custom T8, but the sweetness of the nationals are what I use for recording.
By the way, do yourself and that amp a favor. If it hasn't had a cap job, take it to a reliable tube amp tech, and have them replace the electrolytic capacitors in the power supply filter circuit. If the amp is really that old, and using the original caps, it's just a disaster waiting to happen. The electrolyte compound inside them is a paste that eventually dries out and loses it's ability to block electron flow. Shouldn't cost much more than 40-50 bucks.
-andy-

Zayit · Post by **Zayit** » 5 Feb 2003 10:04 am

Dear Dana (& other National D-8 owners):

Congratulations! What is the string spacing measurement? Is it 7/16 (wide); 3/8 (narrow) or less (impossible)?

And is that big pickup indeed a humbucker?

John Borchard · Post by **John Borchard** » 5 Feb 2003 12:02 pm

No, that big pickup is a single coil. I hope that the string spacing on that 8-string New Yorker is acceptable. I looked at buying one a while back, but it suffered from the slap-8-strings-on-a-6-string-body syndrome -- too cramped. I've played a 7-string and it was OK (a bit narrower spacing than a 6-string, but acceptable for me). Good luck, Dana. It sounds like a very attractive set.

John Borchard