The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi all,
I'm fairly new to the steel, and have been playing non-pedals...I just bought an old National d-8 off of Fleabay, and kind of got taken for a ride. The whole thing is really jacked up, so I'm now looking for parts. I am especially in need of the tuning gears and the pots and knobs...if anyone has one to part out, let me know. I would also happily accept any advice one could give me about restoring the finish on this bad boy...
Thanks,
Scotty

Scott, is it like this one?

If so, the keys on mine were OK when I got it but the knobs were all cracked and some were missing. I got them from the Stewart/MacDonald catalog. I also found the "chicken head" knob for the three position tone control from StewMac........JH in Va.

Scott,

Antique Electronics should have the pots. The value should be stamped into the body of the pot if it
is not obscured by solder. www.tubesandmore.com The pots are most likely 250K ohms.

I own a National as pictured above. I can always pull the control plate and take a look see if you need help. I hope your selector switch is ok, they can be a bugger on that guitar.

Where in CA are you?

Best,

Rich

Jerry,
Yes, that's it...someone repainted it black, but I'm going to try and get it close...great close up picture, thanks...and thanks for the stewart mac tip...
Rich,
I don't have the pots, switches, or anything except the pickups...they've been snipped as close as you could snip them...I'm just hoping they work...It might end up looking like Frankenstein, but if it sounds half as good as the New Yorker I've been borrowing, I'll be stoked...
I live in Auburn, Northeast of Sacramento...

Scott,

The three position rotary tone switch should be fairly easy to come up with in the aftermarket. The pickup selector will be tough however unless you get lucky. I couldn't pull the control plate on my D-8 without removing the strings so the fretboards and pickups can come out first so I left her alone. Sorry about that.

You might try Jim down at Steel Guitars of North County in Carlsbad, CA and see if he has some National parts laying around. I had a pickup re-leaded by Jason Lollar. He did a super job. It was an early 50s Fender single coil cut down to the nubbs as you say and I was a little nervous about disturbing the coil wind wire, came out great. According to Rick Aiello, Those tin Box style National style pickup are best not opened. He says the coils winds may be disturbed and also the tabs that hold the cover on are very fragile. You want to go in there only if absolutly neccessary.

I also own a New Yorker. My D-8 sounds just as good with a bit more output. You will like it.

Best,

Rich