A National Lap Steel

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

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George Redmon
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Joined: 8 Apr 2005 12:01 am

A National Lap Steel

Post by George Redmon »

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?
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Keith Cordell
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Post by Keith Cordell »

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!
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Rick Alexander
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Post by Rick Alexander »

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
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Joined: 15 Apr 2005 12:01 am
Location: Arizona, USA

Post by Michael Aspinwall »

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! Image </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
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Post by John Bushouse »

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
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Post by Stephan Miller »

Michael, Image!....You earned at least one pained guffaw from the East Coast for that one...
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George Redmon
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Post by George Redmon »

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
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