The Steel Guitar Forum

A few months ago I bought a 1960-or-so National lap off a fellow on eBay. I knew it needed work, just from looking at the photos. (The item is listed at http://tinyurl.com/3qegpeg )

Now I find it's one dead string: the 4th. Can anyone tell me what that means? Does it mean the tuner is kerfloohy, or is it a bad string, etc.?

Appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

Don[/url]

Raise the pole/screw for that string.

If its a plain string try changing to a wound string. I have had problems with the heavier plain strings sounding dead. Pole pieces can be an issue also. If you adjust them make sure you have a screwdriver that fits well,and be gentle as I have seem more than a few a these with the screw slot busted.
Looks similar to my Oahu, and that thing kills for open E or G.
Enjoy!!

Hey, here's it's twin.

By pole/screw do you mean the little screw on the tuner under the string?

Charlie means the pole screw on the pick up Don
try raising it a bit & see if the sound on that string improves
with the volume off does the string resonate or does it sound dead ?
you could try another string
yes wound string can be duller in volume but nevertheless, they ring through a pick up

Frank James Pracher wrote:If its a plain string try changing to a wound string. I have had problems with the heavier plain strings sounding dead. Pole pieces can be an issue also. If you adjust them make sure you have a screwdriver that fits well,and be gentle as I have seem more than a few a these with the screw slot busted.
Looks similar to my Oahu, and that thing kills for open E or G.
Enjoy!!

Thanks for the alert. I just busted it. Guess I'll have to drill it out, now. Wow, those old screws are about as sturdy as dust.

William W Western wrote:Hey, here's it's twin.

Hi, William. Any idea what kind of tuner these things have? The reason I ask is that I may have to replace mine. I love the sound but I've got this dead string (now the 5th; I replaced the 4th and it sounds fine but now my 5th is on the blink.)

Sorry, I don't know. I do notice you are missing the one piece covers that screw onto the tuners on each bottom side. They have the National logo embossed on them. The pickup cover plate would be easy enough to duplicate on a brake metal machine. Whats the serial number on the plate at the top back of the neck?
>Hi, William. Any idea what kind of tuner these things have? The reason I ask is that I may have to replace mine. I love the sound but I've got this dead string (now the 5th; I replaced the 4th and it sounds fine but now my 5th is on the blink.

Don DeMaio wrote:Thanks for the alert. I just busted it. Guess I'll have to drill it out, now. Wow, those old screws are about as sturdy as dust.

I broke a screw on one of my Supro pickups. I very carefully disassembled the pickup, sprayed the broken screw with electrical cleaner/lubricant, and removed it with a pair of vice grips. The coil wire and bobbin are fragile and must be handled with care.

I found replacement screws at Ace Hardware.