National Dynamic question

[Gary S. Lynch]

I recently did a little restoration on an early 50s national Dynamic. I have attached some before and after photos.
It needed a new nut, the one that was on it was bad, about 5mm too short and string spacing slotting looked like an amateur hacksaw job.
The old Klusons were bent and finally as with all most all Nationals, I see from that period, the P/U cover was missing.
Fortunately, I had a period correct nut and nicely aged cream Klusons as well as a cream cover I borrowed from my Triplex just for the photo. (I know the original was black).

A new set of Electro Hawaiians, Open E and "tone to the bone".

My questions are: Did this originally come with a "plastic" covered fretboard like my Triplex?
and.. I like the sound of these early "VistaTone" P/Us
the National D is about 2.5 inches long and the Triplex about 1.5 inches?
Seem to be from the same time period,
what's the difference between P/Us beside width?
Thanks!

[Gary S. Lynch]

Forgot to add.. Sorry, it is not for sale.

[Louie Warren]

My questions are: Did this originally come with a "plastic" covered fretboard like my Triplex?
and.. I like the sound of these early "VistaTone" P/Us
the National D is about 2.5 inches long and the Triplex about 1.5 inches?
Seem to be from the same time period,
what's the difference between P/Us beside width?
Thanks!

This is from memory, so I may be mistaken. My Dynamic is at a friends studio for him to use since I rarely play it.

I believe the nut on my Dynamic was steel... can't remember.

Yes, there was a plastic "slab" that covered the fretboard, maybe 1/4" thick or less clear plexiglas.

The Triplex had less pickup because of the bridge/cam assembly. I have never been brave enough to try and remove the cover on my dynamic, but you may notice the similar pickup in there. The Admin Brad may know more. I have a D8 console National that has the same pickups, however they have weakened over the years compared to my dynamic.

BTW, if your case fails, the bag for the Gretsch steel they have out now fits the Dynamic nicely.

[Gary S. Lynch]

Thanks Louie.
I happen to come across an photo of an original and you are right.
It had a plexiglass slab covering the fretboard.

[Jeff Highland]

I have the same pickup on my National NewYorker. I had to pull the cover to get it rewound. It's mostly empty space with 2 half width coils for strings 1-3 and 4-6 set up to work as a humbucker.

[Gary S. Lynch]

Interesting, does that mean that they are pretty much the same pickup just
designed slightly differently in the housing?

[Jeff Highland]

I have no experience with the triplex pickup, I was pretty surprised to see these two tiny coils in a huge housing. Guess it was just a styling decision.
Mine was DOA about 15 years ago I sent it to Jason Lollar for a rewind, he told me how to pull it apart and just send him the coils.

[Gary S. Lynch]

Thanks.
The PUS are roughly from the same time period.
Maybe they are similar and it is only a cosmetic decision as you indicate..

[Brian Evans]

My Dynamic is a later one, mid 1960's, and the fretboard is plastic, with the decoration imprinted on the underside of the plastic. The pickup is narrow. I suspect the wider pickup was mostly to have a way to mount the handrest cover.