The Steel Guitar Forum

Guy,s back in about 1952,i ordered me a new D-8 Gibson console. The fellow at the music store asked me why i did get a single neck National with the switch that would lower your E tuning to A. I sure thought about it but wanted a guitar like Don Helm,s. Has any one heard of a National that had that set-up. Thank you==Jim Harper

I'll bet he was referring to the National Triplex or Rowe Stringtone tailpiece. It's a 3-position lever and some simple cams that let you get three tunings on one six-string neck. From hi-to-lo it's like this

lever forward.....A tuning......EC#AEAE
lever center......E tuning......EBG#EBE
lever backward....C#m7 tuning...EC#G#EBE

I have a Stringtone on a Supro six-string with heavier strings, for G, D, and Bm7 tunings. Does not detune and retune perfectly, but pretty close.

REMOVED

REMOVED

REMOVED

Yes;sir that is it guy,s.He showed me a catalog about the guitar and i kinda remember it since i looked at the picture,s.I appreciate you;ll and you;ll kinda helped this old man about the guitar==Jim Harper