The Steel Guitar Forum

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?

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!

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?

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>

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?

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

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