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Post new topic Question about National Lap Steel
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Author Topic:  Question about National Lap Steel
Joey Ace


From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 13 Aug 2003 4:14 am    
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Received in email:
quote:
"Sir,
Am hoping that you can help me. Have tried several others, but they weren't able to help.
Our Pastor recently purchased a lap steel at a country sale. We have been trying to find out something of it's origin.
It is a National, 6 string, colored Roman Numbers, the
number 1880G is on it, also under the tuning prop is the numbers 143.
Wondering what year it was made, and if it is of any value.
We are at a loss for we know nothing about lap steel
guitars.
Any help that you would be able to give us would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
francis@madisoncounty.net"



I'm sure someone here can help better than I.

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Karl Oberlander

 

From:
Austin, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 13 Aug 2003 8:41 am    
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Hi there,

All the National/Valco lap steels with a "G" suffix are from 1040 - 1942. Yours is probably nearer the end of 1941 with the numbers you have.

Hope that helps,

Kobe


------------------
Gibson D-8 Console Grande
Stringmaster T-8
Fender Super Reverb

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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 13 Aug 2003 2:32 pm    
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I received the same email. I told them that National made a couple different steels during that period, but that a description (or even better a photo) of the instrument would help in trying to identify the particular model in question.
So far I haven't heard back from them.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

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Russ Young


From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 13 Aug 2003 5:39 pm    
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According to Gruhn's Guide, G-suffix serial numbers are 1943-47. During those years, some/all of the New Yorkers, Dynamics and Waikiki models had Roman-numeral fret markers. A simple description of the body and the finish should make it pretty easy to determine which model it is ...
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Karl Oberlander

 

From:
Austin, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2003 12:29 pm    
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Actually the list I was referring to has the "G" suffix serial numbers shown from 1940 - 1942. Then a gap until the V100 - V7500 series in 1947. Not sure if this is a typo on their part or if Valco stopped production during WWII. Anyway it's old that's for sure.

Kobe

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Gibson D-8 Console Grande
Stringmaster T-8
Fender Super Reverb

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