National New Yorker Lap Steel 1938 Early Pre War Version Original Case - Black and White

The National New Yorker is one of the most technically ambitious lap steels ever produced, and this early pre-war example is in excellent condition throughout. The solid maple body in its black and white finish shows no repairs, and the original finish is intact and presenting well. What distinguishes the New Yorker sonically is its three-pickup system — a total of seven separate coils — which National engineered to capture fundamentals and harmonics at different points along the string's vibrating length. The bridge unit, positioned under the hand rest and often called the Memphis Minnie pickup, handles the lower-register punch, while the two concealed units under the fingerboard cavity pull in upper harmonic content. The result, routed through the original two-knob control complement, is a tonal palette that no single-pickup steel of the era could approach.

The output jack is a screw-in Amphenol RF connector..  A cable is included. All hardware — bridge, tuners, pickups, controls, wiring, and solder joints — is original. The nickel pickup cover, bone nut, and metal fretboard are all period-correct and in excellent condition.

The body, neck, fretboard, finish, and all electronics are excellent with no repairs. The original case accompanies the guitar and is in very good condition, though the handle is missing. Case brand is unconfirmed. 

Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase.   Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.

No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 5lbs 15oz
• Color: black and white
• Body Material: Solid maple
• Body Condition: excellent
• Body Repairs: none
• Body Binding: none
• Body Finish Original?: yes
• Body Finish Condition: excellent
• Lower Bout: 6"
• Waist: 7"
• Upper Bout: 5-3/4"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 1-3/4"
• Scale Length: 23"
• Neck Condition: excellent
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: yes
• Neck Markings: none
• Fretboard Material: metal
• Fretboard Condition: excellent
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: none
• Nut Width: 2"
• Bridge Brand: National
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Saddle Material: metal
• Bridge Screws Original?: yes
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2-1/4"
• Bridge Condition: excellent
• Tuner Brand And Model: National
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: none
• Tuner Condition: excellent
• Tuner Markings: none
• Tuner Screws Original?: yes
• Overall Length: 32-3/8"
• Documentation: none
• Case Original?: yes
• Case Condition: very good, missing handle
• Case Smells?: none
• Pickup Brand: Total of three pickups utilizing up to seven separate coils. The bridge pickup (often called the Memphis Minnie pickup) sits under the hand rest, while the other two units are concealed under the fingerboard cavity to capture different string harmonic vibrations.
• Pickup Count: 3
• Pickup Original?: yes
• Pickup Condition: excellent
• Pickup Cover Color: nickel
• Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Knob Color: black and white
• Knob Count: 2
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: excellent
• Control Cavity Cover Material: metal
• Control Cavity Cover Original?: yes
• Control Cavity Condition: excellent
• Potentiometer Count: 2
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Condition: excellent
• Solders Original?: yes
• Wiring Original?: yes
• Switch Condition: excellent
• Switch Original?: yes
• Output Jack Original?: yes, screw-in Amphenol RF connector
• Accessories Included: output cable and original slide

Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!
Fender Electric Guitars — Gibson Electric Guitars — Vintage & Used Amplifiers — Vintage & Used Effects Pedals

Shipping Policy
By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to .