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Topic: Those '30's Cast Aluminum Nationals/Dobros |
Dana Duplan
From:
Ramona, CA
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Posted 23 Nov 2002 9:20 am |
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What are they like? You know, sound, playability, etc. Do they stay in tune. Look like the might be cool for that real funky vintage tone?
Thanks DD |
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George Rout
From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 23 Nov 2002 12:31 pm
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| Up until recently, I had an early 1930's Supro six string lap steel, cast aluminum body with mahogany fretboard. I don't know if you're referring to these also. Although some folks said they lose their tuning in heat/cold variations, I can't say that I really noticed it any more than any other axe. It had really nice tone. Now that I've said that, it didn't have a tone control, just the volume. |
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Danny Bates
From:
Fresno, CA. USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2002 2:31 pm
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I have the Dobro aluminum lap steel with case. I believe it is a 1935 model with serial number 6001
It has a very wooden sound to it. Mellow yet clean. Not too loud. The resistance of the pickup is a little more that 5K. I may get the magnet recharged to bring it to factory specs.
People trip out when they see it because of it's obvious vintage look. It's my main axe. It stays in tune really well. Brad Bechtel had trouble with his staying in tune but mine only needs tuning once or twice a night.
It has the original Grover tuners and also has a fake wood finish painted with gold painted in the inserts. It is a highly decorative steel with a real fingerboard with real frets. The scale is 25"
The guitar is actually hollow (up to the nut)and the nut is part of the casting. There is a round removable plate on the back which exposes the electronics. The pickup is a horsehoe magnet connected to steel plates which extend through the bobbin and then thru the slot in the top and up to the strings. It has two little knobs which adjust this entire pickup assembly higher or lower. Sometimes I'll adjust the pickup during solos.
As far as steel guitars go, I think these are really great playable and collectable pieces. Gruen says that these may have hit the shelves of the stores before the Ric frypans and therefore may actually be the first mass production electric guitars. Nobody knows for sure. They debuted this model at the 1935 NAMM show.
Go to this site and look for aluminum lap steels to see a picture of National's version.
http://www.notecannons.com/
FWIW Some people have told me that Jerry Garcia had one and they've seen pictures of him posing with it.
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 23 Nov 2002 3:45 pm
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| I've been told that these are actually cast zinc. Has anyone else heard this before? |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2002 5:41 pm
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I too have heard that most of the 'aluminum' steels are zinc.
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2002 6:08 pm
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Thats a new one to me ...???
Cast Zinc Alloy .... maybe .... ???
[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 23 November 2002 at 08:40 PM.] |
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