National Lap Steel Guitar Circa 1930 or 1940?

[Deleted]

Hi! I am Billy and just found this site which I am thrilled to have found. You have some really interesting information here.

I have a question for you>>>>I have a National Lap steel guitar and I saw a picture of it on Roy starks website that said it was circa 1930s and his was for sale for $10,000. Now obviously mine isnt in as great of shape and I am sure it is not worth as much. I have called around to several places and have been quoted anywhere from $150 to $5,000. Another person told me it was from the 1940s not 1930. I can give you the serial number, color and shape of the guitar and I wonder if from that info if you could give me any info on this because I do not want to get ripped off when I do decide to sell it. Heres what I can tell you about it: X 9093 is the serial number on the back, it is 6string steel lap guitar, It has the National old fashioned emblem on the front, it is shaped like an oar, it has an orignal tweed case, a slide that comes with it and, it also has a twist on electrical hook up, 29 frets, and musical notes on the neck of the guitar. No modifications have been made to the guitar as we were friends of the original owner. The guitar is black and silver marble like color.
Any help or information u can give me would be much appreciated. Thank you for your help!

[Michael Messer]

Hi Billy,

Welcome to our forum & thanks for your kind words.

I think I know what you have got, but to be sure I need to see a photo. Can you post one on this thread and we can then identify your guitar properly?

Thanks
Shine On,
Michael

[tark]

Does it look like this?



This is a National Chicagoan Lap Steel from 1951 over on the Elderly Instruments website for $550.

[Deleted]

That serial number puts it as a 1952 model I believe, and the price of $550 ( £275 ) is fair one I reckon. That would be a good price to buy one of these in good nick - the London Denmark Street shops would probably ask twice as much, but in a private sale I think that's about the current market. Of course, if you are going to sell to a dealer you'lll get WAY less (maybe half), so a private sale is best - eBay may not be bad, as people know what these things are and will pay for a good one. It does of couse depend on the overall condiiton, the pickup being in working order, whether the original Kluson machineheads are still there (AND in good condition)...and also the pickup handguard still being present. The one in the photo has a missing handguard (it's fixed by those little white knobs at the sides of the p/u). They are nice guitars with great pickups, but not incredibly rare. So, if you are going to sell it, you ought to get a few hundred dollars...not a few thousand I'm afraid.

[tark]

The guitar on Roy Starks site is not identical to the Elderly Inst. guitar, but it is very similar. The price given - 10,000 appears to be in Hong Kong $.
10,000 HKD is about £643. Somewhat highly priced compared to the Elderly Instrument guitar, but it is a slightly different model perhaps. In any case that price probably reflects its location if Roy does live in HK. Hong Kong is an expensive place to live.

[Mark Makin]

Hello Tark and Billy
Just for everyone's information the guitar in question on Roys site is a NATIONAL CHICAGO not a CHICAGOAN. These were smaller, squatter looking instruments introduced in 1942. They are easily distinguished by the black control plates with radial markers.
The Chicagoan (you are correct about the identification) and the Supro Supreme (same instruments) appeared out of this instruments demise in 1948.
The CHICAGO was one of the last instruments to appear before the war effort together with the Waikiki and the Princess - both similar instruments. The Waikiki had a wood finish and the Princess white pearloid.
It goes to prove the need to have photos of these instruments in front of you before shooting from the hip at guessing what you think instruments are. You are right that the information supplied in this case pointed towards a Chicagoan (the giveaway being the musical note fingerboard) but equally you can see why you have to be careful.
Regards
mark

[tark]

I'm slightly baffled by your post Mark.

Billy said the guitar had musical notes on the fretboard.

The guitar pictured on Roy Starks website does not have musical notes on the board. The guitar on the Elderly site does.I did not say Billy's guitar was a Chicagoan.

I posted a picture link to a guitar listed on the Elderly Instruments website and identified as a Chicagoan and asked if it looked like that.

No hip shooting involved as far as I can see.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Billy,

Your questions have been answered. Your guitar is a National Chicagoan made in 1952. Its value is a few hundred US dollars (depending on its condition). It is old and beautiful, but not particularly rare or valuable.

I am very sorry to hear about your problems and I send my best wishes to you and your family.

In addition; this thread is proof of what we have discussed before. There are many similar instruments and without a photo and a serial number it is impossible to verify what instrument is being talked about.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Mark Makin]

Hello TArk
You are not reading my post intently enough
I did NOT say you were wrong in your assessment that it was a CHICAGOAN. What I did say was that the instrument on Roys site is NOt the same.
The instruments with dot markers are all pre-war 1942 or earlier. Any instrument with pictorial markers is post war. The X number confirms this as 1952.
What is your problem? I'm agreeing with you
I'm using this situation as a way of pointing out the errors that can occur by discussing before looking!!!

[Michael Messer]

We now regularly get visitors and new forum members who are coming to us as the experts on the subjects of National and other resophonic guitars. They are looking for verification, identification & valuations of their instruments. This is something we should all be proud of. The MM forum has developed its reputation because of all of our contributions and efforts, not just mine.

I have seen guitars with serial numbers from other guitars, necks & bodies from other guitars....etc. Without seeing photos of the guitar, one should never jump to a conclusion.

I was once contacted by a leading London antique guitar dealer asking me to go and view a rather rough looking style 2 round neck Tricone. What I saw when I arrived at the dealer's shop was one of the rarest, most beautiful, mint condition and valuable style 4 Tricones that has ever turned up. I nearly didn't go because I wasn't particularly interested in an average style 2.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Deleted]

tark said:

Does it look like this?



This is a National Chicagoan Lap Steel from 1951 over on the Elderly Instruments website for $550.

[Deleted]

tark said:

Does it look like this?



This is a National Chicagoan Lap Steel from 1951 over on the Elderly Instruments website for $550.

Yes it looks exactly like this guitar, one of the white knobs is missing however, if anyone is interested, given our situation as I stated in our original post, we are willing to accept a best offer. Because we have no credit card, we are unable to use Ebay to sell the guitar. It is in its original case and we knew the original owner who unfortuanately passed away.
I want to thank everyone for their helpful information and especially Michael Messer for this great website and your generosity in allowing people like us to use your forum for info and sales purposes like tis! Thank you sooo very much. If anyone is interested please call Billy or Christie at 219-933-7539 or call if you have any other suggestions as to how we can sell this guitar. We live in NW indiana and are about 20 minutes or less from Chicago. Thank you everyone for your help!!!!