National New Yorker Electric Hawaiian Lap Steel 1937-38 / Luau Ready!!

This is a really cool, vintage lap steel, a first incarnation National New Yorker Electric Hawaiian from 1937-38, in Excellent condition, previously modified to accept a standard 1/4” jack and ready to sing.

There were a number of different variants of the National New Yorker, but this one, with four control knobs was the first and arguably, the most desirable. Originally, these were outfitted with a jack to which the cable screwed on, a design long since fallen from popularity.  At some point, this particular model was outfitted with a standard 1/4” jack, and the hole that the original jack had occupied was filled with a rubber plug.

The guitar has a number of scratches and minor dings, and it seems to us that one or two of the tuners may have been replaced, but it has no cracks, splits or open seams, and the electronics work perfectly.  It really is in great shape and pushing 90 years old. We had to do very little to this guitar; mostly securing the jack and giving everything a good cleaning.

Lap steels are typically tuned to one of a variety of open tunings, so a full chord or chord with extensions can be played straight across the fretboard. These National New Yorkers were typically tuned to a C6 (which is where we have it), a Gm or an A major with a low E bass.  The C6 tuning is C-E-G-A-C-E and the string gauges are .036 - .030 - .026 - .022 - .017 - .015 (available as a set as GHS Lap Steel).

So, four knobs. Whatta dey do?

What you have is a Master Volume with three blends of sound, Natural Hawaiian for the original “Hawaiian Guitar” sound, plus boost controls for the Treble and Bass.  National’s instructions are to:

Turn “Natural Hawaiian” control all the way up and turn all other controls off.  

Raise the “Master Volume” for the volume desired

If you want the treble to predominate, turn the control that reads “Full Treble”

If you want more bass, turn the control that reads “Full Bass”

Turn the “Full Treble” and “Full Bass” all the way up and turn the “Natural Hawaiian” all           the way down for a Harp Quality”

Bring the “Natural Hawaiian” control back up, cutting the “Full Treble” while leaving the “Full Bass” up, and you get a rich tone with a deep bass and still a brilliant treble.

Lap steels are a blast for adding new textures to a mix.  Those long, smooth notes float atop choppy rhythms and add an almost vocal touch to a track.  Steels in various forms have long been a staple of country music, but these will work well over folk, blues, jazz and world music. Check out John Lennon playing a lap steel on George Harrison’s “For You Blue” on the Let It Be album!

This National New Yorker comes in its original hard case and with its original steel, with in excellent condition.

Please be sure to check the photos carefully, as we have tried to capture this guitar from all angles.

Serial Number: B976 (stamped on back of neck)

This National New Yorker Electric Hawaiian Lap Steel is sold AS IS and is not returnable unless it arrives in a condition other than as described or photographed, here.

Price: $1600.00 plus $100 shipping (Lower 48 USA, only)