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Topic: National Question |
Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 8:44 am |
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I think I've seen it discussed, but senility may be setting in and I can't remember the name of this tuning changer:
and what are the 3 tunings it uses? |
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Jay Fagerlie
From:
Lotus, California, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 8:54 am
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Hey Rick,
That's a Tri-Plex changer.
I don't know the keys it changes to...
Pete Grant has one hanging on his wall, maybe he'll chime in and tell us.
Jay |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 9:39 am
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That's it - the Triplex! Thanks Jay.
Now I just need to know the tunings and recommended gauges.
Does anybody play one of these and use the changer?
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 10:46 am
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Rick, someone is selling copies of the original TriPlex manual (a small 4-page booklet) on eBay with an opening bid of $10.00 click here
I posted a topic about this a few months ago in the Music section... about the legalities of copying and selling old manuals: click
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My Site - Instruction |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 10:58 am
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REMOVED
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 28 Feb 2011 1:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 11:19 am
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Thanks Michael!
I sent you my address.
Doug, interesting thread - thanks!
 [This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 22 October 2006 at 12:40 PM.] |
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Mike D
From:
Phx, Az
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 1:32 pm
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I love the 'butcher block' laminations. Those National/Valco guys were so original in their construction methods and ideas.
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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 2:55 pm
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| I have one of these and with the correct gauges of strings (ca 1950 style) I find it works well. The 3 tunings are versions of A, Am & E7. A digital tuner may be a little too picky to evaluate the accuracy of the changer. Before we tuned in cents we use to tune with sense. |
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Øystein Røysi
From:
Trondheim, Norway
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 3:07 pm
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Off topic, I know. But I just had to answer John on that one! I had to laugh when I read your post! I've never been able to tune in cents, so it's all by ear for me. You can get a guitar quite well tuned by that good old method, too. I almost invariably find I have to adjust guitars that have been digitally tuned, anyway.
Thanks for a good quote, John! 
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Cheers,
Øystein
- Gold Tone Solid Spruce Weissenborn D / Low G / C+9
- National Dynamic A6th / C6th / Leavitt
- Fender SRV Strat
- Ayers Acoustic
- Koch Twintone II
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 3:53 pm
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| It is funny how things change just because they can. A few years ago I saw David Grisman and on a break between songs while tuning his mandolin he joked that he used to worry about losing his hearing someday and not being able to perform but now he hopes he can keep his sight so he can see the little lights that tell him when he's tuned. |
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Øystein Røysi
From:
Trondheim, Norway
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Posted 22 Oct 2006 4:25 pm
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Yes, it's weird!
Well, as long as I remember my hearing protection, I'll be able to tune just fine... |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 23 Oct 2006 6:42 am
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I've owned two National Triplex Chord Changers in the past, although I never knew the proper tuning to use with the pitch change mechanism. The mechanism didn't seem to work all that well anyway. So I just tuned the guitar to C6 and I didn't use the lever.
The lever operates a series of cams that pull on certain strings to raise them. It's a very primitive mechanism, an early attempt to meet the growing demands of steel guitarists for some kind of pitch change mechanism. The cams only work one way and can not be altered. The player has to use the proper tuning in order to use the lever. Someone should post the tuning on a web site.
The Triplex has a great tone and lots of sustain! I think the body is mahogany. I was impressed with the tone. Wish I had kept mine. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 23 Oct 2006 7:39 am
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Here are some links to a poorly scanned copy of the manual for the National Triplex Chord Changer:
Page One
Page Two
Page Three
Page Four
If anyone has better scans, I'll be happy to update these pages.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 23 October 2006 at 08:40 AM.] |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 23 Oct 2006 7:46 am
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REMOVED
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 28 Feb 2011 1:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 23 Oct 2006 12:45 pm
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| Quote: |
| I love the 'butcher block' laminations. |
Hmmmmmm... given the way I play, this sounds like the perfect color scheme for me!
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 26 Oct 2006 8:52 pm
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Michael not only sent me copies of the original Triplex manual, but also about 100 pages of different steel guitar manuals, ads, and photos from the 1920s to the present day. It's all photocopied from what appears to be the original material. This is a very important and highly welcomed addition to my base of knowledge of various lap steel models.
A big public THANK YOU to Michael for taking the time to share this information with me!
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Oct 2006 3:01 am
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Thanks so much Michael!  |
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Bob Stone
From:
Gainesville, FL, USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2006 3:52 am
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Michael Lee Allen comes through again! He has been very generous in providing me with materials with regard to steel guitar history.
Michael, thanks for all your help and for your continuing contributions to the Forum.
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Bob Stone
From:
Gainesville, FL, USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2006 3:59 am
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This thread got me to thinking...
Wouldn't it be cool if someone made an updated and refined version--maybe, with one of Aiello's monster pickups and roller bridge and nut--that changed from C6 to A6 to B11, for example? I'd love to see something like that. |
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