The Steel Guitar Forum

Is there an online resource that indexes the serial number on National / Supro / Valco guitars to their date of manufacture ?

I don't know about anything on-line, Steve, but if you want to date a National resonator guitar, look in the back of Bob Brozman's book on Nationals. If you're looking for something on, say, a 1960 Supro resoglass I think you are out of luck. Brozman does a good job of covering a lot of the pre-war resos, though. - Dave

Just to clarify my interest: I'm trying to determine age of several lap steels manufactured as either National or Supro brands.

Any online (or other) resources for dating these lap steels ?

thanks

Steve,
One place to look is the "Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars". There's a serial number breakdown in the National/Valco section. Holler if you do find an online guide.

Valco/National serial number plates, 1941 - 63 (from Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars)

The number ranges shown are approximate

1940 - 42 ----------- G suffix
1947 ---------------- V100 - V7500
1948 ---------------- V7500 - V15000
1949 ---------------- V15000 - V25000
1950 ---------------- V25000 - V35000
1951 ---------------- V35000 - V38000 X100 - X7000
1952 ---------------- X7000 - X17000
1953 ---------------- X17000 - X30000
1954 ---------------- X30000 - X43000
1955 ---------------- X43000 - X57000
1956 ---------------- X57000 - X71000
1957 ---------------- X71000 - X85000
1958 ---------------- X85000 - X99000
T100 - T5000
1959 ---------------- T5000 - T25000
1960 ---------------- T25000 - T50000
1961 ---------------- T50000 - T75000
1962 ---------------- T75000 - T90000
G100 - G5000
1963 ---------------- T90000 - T99000
G5000 - G15000
1964 ---------------- G15000 - G40000


1964 - early 68 ----- sticker w/"1" prefix
early to mid 1968 --- sticker w/"2" prefix



dougb
www.dougbsteel.com

<p ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b">[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 10-11-99]</FONT></P>

Thanks Doug, that's exactly what I needed.
Steve