National Double 8 Console- Modular? Convert Lefty to Righty?

[Schy Willmore]

I'm looking at a ~1960 Double Eight that appears to be set up as a lefty, though the control plate in the center would be upside down / facing away from a lefty player. Maybe it was originally a right-handed instrument?

How modular are these guitars?
Can I pull it apart into five pieces and set it up Right-handed with the back neck higher than the closer one?
I've googled a bunch but I can't seem to find instructions. Any resource I could use to help?

[D Schubert]

If it's truly a lefty (and rare as hen's teeth) you might be wise to sell it to a left-handed player at a premium price, and then go find a right-handed replacement.

[Aaron Clinton]

It’s not a lefty. Just restring it?

[Jack Hanson]

Cool guitar, and it certainly appears to be in nice condition. The way it's set up with the "National" logo facing the front for a left-handed player, it certainly does appear to be a scarce factory lefty to me. I would concur with D; if you can score it cheap enough, and then flip it for a righty, that might be the way to go.

It’s not a lefty. Just restring it?

Might be just a tad uncomfortable to play the outside neck, with its inside neck higher than the outside one.

[Bill Sinclair]

As I recall, those five pieces of wood can be rearranged without too much difficulty. You might have to desolder the pickups but I'm thinking you could just remove the pickup/bridge assemblies and swap the necks out from under them. Remove the two friction caps from the inside wood piece to reveal the screws that are holding that piece on. Once you remove that piece, it should be fairly intuitive how the rest of it is screw or bolted together. I don't remember exactly, it's been several years. Those three-position switches at the base of each neck were pretty wonky on mine. I intended to replace them with a blend pot but sold the guitar before that happened. Nice looking and sounding guitars. Those totem pole fretboards are my favorite.

[Schy Willmore]

Thank you for all the great replies!

Do you think there's enough of a market for left-handed consoles?

Has anyone seen resource showing the disassembly?

[Mark Addeo]

If are on Facebook there is a member of LapSteel Lunatics named RL Rainwater. He took one a part to clean it up and re-paint it. He has photos etc.

I am a lefty player and have built a handful of "lefty" stringmasters from ravaged old steels.

[Mark Addeo]

If you are interested in selling it, I would be interested in buying it. There a plenty of right handed Nationals out there but this does appear to be lefty. Perhaps converted , but nicely done.