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Topic: National dating |
Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 6 May 2005 2:10 pm |
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| Pre 1942, according to Gruhn's guide these "New Yorkers" have multi-colored fret markers by 1942. If there is a serial # on top of the headstock you can pin-point the date closer or if the pots are original you can try and decifier the code. I've got a 1937-1938 with the serial # B3448. [This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 06 May 2005 at 03:12 PM.] |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 6 May 2005 5:43 pm
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If the seller would tell you the Serial#,
you can look up the year of manufacture on this page. |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 6 May 2005 6:16 pm
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| Very similar to my 1937 National Electro Hawaiian. Same pickup cover (with wear), same fingerboard. However, mine has three sets of pickups (two sets concealed under the fingerboard) and 4 knobs - Master, Bridge, Treble, and Bass. It looks like the jack has been relocated from the player side to the outside. It sounds like the other sets of pickups are still there, but maybe the top piece of black plastic was replaced as well. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 8 May 2005 8:27 pm
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"It also appears that if there ever were frets in this thing, they're gone but that shouldn't matter because it is a lap steel."
Huh ? !!!! |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 8 May 2005 9:09 pm
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| Looks like it has a rounded neck, too. Never saw a National with that. Original? |
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colinmcc
From:
Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Posted 21 Jun 2005 1:49 pm
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If the round neck was original it would look far glossier IMHO. I suspect it has had the chop from Square to Round.
I have never, ever, seen a round neck New Yorker, but have bumped into enough one off instruments from that era of the National Dobro factory to be prepared to find someone who can tell me I'm wrong. 
Some, but not all, of these NY's actually have one or two extra pickups under the plastic fingerboard. Look for a cut right through the plastic at about the 12th fret position. If yours has such a cut, remove the fingerboard retaining screws, and you will be amazed to see the coils under there.
I never cease to be in awe of that company! |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 21 Jun 2005 5:01 pm
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| Anyone ever seen one (original) without the Amphenol connector? I'm still toying with putting a standard 1/4" jack in mine. I bought it new in 1949,or '50, and still hesitate to modify it. |
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