The Steel Guitar Forum

First posting here, though I have followed this forum with great enthusiasm for a while. I'm just starting to learn and recently acquired a New Yorker, and was curious about when it was made. It came with the original sales receipt dated 1938, but I'm not sure if it was made then or possibly a few years earlier.

Can anyone help figure this out from the photo's attached?

Thanks,
David

Karnak the Magnificent says:

Look for a serial number die-stamped into the end of the headstock, then go here:

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/national.html#serial

and you probably need to look for the Chicago Series 1936-41 entries.

This site is very good for vintage info (if unduly harsh and nasally-elevated in grading the collectibility of instruments.)

The model you have is the first version of the New Yorker... before it said "New Yorker" on it. It was introduced in 1935. By early 1937 the word "ELECTRIC" was no longer on the guitar. So yours was made between 1935 and early 1937. I think that model has two hidden pickups under the fretboard (3 pickups in all). How does it sound?

Wow, that was fast! Thank you!

Ben, I'll check again for a serial number. I did look for one in several places, but couldn't find it. As I recall, nothing at the end, nor below the headstock on the back. I will take another look tonight. Thanks!

Doug, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks. It came with the original cord that was shot, but I found a great local repair shop that rebuilt the cord and now it sounds great! To my ear at least - and I have just started learning to play. All three volume controls (and the master volume) work well. The shop told me that the electronics should be cleaned up, so I plan to do that in the near future.

Thanks again for the help!
Cheers,
David

Welcome to the Forum, David. Glad to see another New Englander here! And your machine is beautiful. I'm waiting, not well, for my "new" National Dynamic to arrive. Your machine is truly elegant, as is mine --- nothing beats Art Deco design for sheer droolability.

Would love to hear how you acquired your new baby?

And, also, I'm learning too. So let us hunker down with our two cabin-fever remedies, and come out playing in the spring -- should it ever arrive! lol

Cheers.

Great score David! ... that looks to be in fantastic shape. Maybe our resident New Yorker expert Fred Kinbom will swing by and offer more on the pickups. He has owned a few early ones and has researched them with a passion.

Clair Dunn wrote:... nothing beats Art Deco design for sheer droolability....

Agreed, I too love all the cool Art Deco designs and Nationals are some of the best.
When I designed and built my original Deco model I borrowed heavily from both the New Yorker and Dynamic.

.

Tom --
I looked at your images and they are wonderful!

When I win the lottery and get into binge buying of lap steels, in the one from you I need you to put in, for the dark wood, that African wood they use to make high end clarinets -- I've forgotten it's name, but it's on odd one!

'Course I'll have to buy tickets, won't I.

Thanks for those pics --

Thanks Clair ... The wood you are thinking of is African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), a true rosewood and very expensive for the larger sized prime pieces.
I've been wanting to do a Dynamic style in all wood, no paint, and have my eye out for a nice chunk of Wenge, another nice dark wood from Africa.

Hi Clair! Thanks for the welcoming. I do love the Art Deco design of these. It was a long search to find one, but worth the wait. I've found a class at Passim School of Music (Cambridge, Ma) to help get me started. Hopefully by the spring there will be some music coming out of our guitars!

Tom, Thank you too! I was lucky to find a 30's model in decent shape - One crack in the fretboard, but as I am not a collector it shouldn't make too much difference. The design of your Deco guitar is amazing! The model you have similar to the Rickenbacker is another favorite. Beautiful work. I enjoy playing around with wood, and these are truly inspiring.

Good one David -- a real class. You are lucky! I expect great things come May!!

And right now I'm not, my dream machine has not yet arrived and I'm getting squirrelier by the minute. Sigh.

That National looks to be in great shape!