National Dynamic scored with pictures!!

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 6 Sep 2008 12:34 pm

I am thinking of buying a National Dynamic. The one I am looking at is a later one with colors on the finger board. It is in super clean nice shape with a case in the same condition. Also includes national manual that might date it to 1957?

It has the amphenol connector type of plug. Looks very cool.

How do these sound?

How much in today's market?

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 6 Sep 2008 1:12 pm

The National Dynamics are great lap steels, my personal favorites of the vintage ones. There's a '57 on eBay now, a black and white model, at $168 with one day to go. It's #170257324353 if you're curious. I believe $4-500 is what they usually go for, depending on vintage (the 60s and late 50s models often came with legs, which can drive the price up to around $600+).

The amphenol plug and multicolored fretboard markers indicates to me that it's older than '57 - is there a small metal plate with a serial number at the back of the headstock? If so, then you can check it against this list - http://vintageguitarpro.com/serialvalco.shtml

I can definitely see another Dynamic in my future, I've had two and really miss them. Here's my '47 model, does it look anything like the one you're looking at?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 6 Sep 2008 1:19 pm

Dynamics are nice sounding guitars, suitable for various types of music.
$450 - $500
$550 - $600 if it has legs and a case.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 6 Sep 2008 1:25 pm

Steinar, you beat me to it buddy!
We seem to be in agreement.
Mine is one of the later models (57) with legs, and I love it.
I'd sure like to try out one of the earlier models like the one in your photo.

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 6 Sep 2008 1:27 pm

Thanks for the input guys!!

It looks just like the one in this link....

http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/courses/ ... ynamic.jpg

But it has Les paul type of tuner buttons.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 6 Sep 2008 1:32 pm

Sweet!
Bag it if you can Jim, you won't be sorry.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 6 Sep 2008 2:07 pm

There is a recording of my '47 model, it's the one I use in the second half of "A Stranger Here" on the free "Slide Planet" mp3 album - http://www.slideplanet.net/?cdpg=0302

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 6 Sep 2008 2:10 pm

Yep,
It is a 9.8 out of 10 and at a $350 price tag I am all of a sudden getting a very bad G.A.S. attack.

There is a part of me that was hoping that you guys where going to say " they look cool but they are junk" LOL!

I have a lot of guitars already, this one might get me in trouble!!

I am such a sucker for a VGC vintage for a new import price tag.

<*)))>{

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 6 Sep 2008 5:49 pm

I like the one with the red neck..cool Rick!!

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 7 Sep 2008 4:29 pm

The black and white '57 model on eBay just sold for only $352:

If I had bought this one for $352 I'd be laughing all the way to PayPal. $350 for the one you're looking at is a great price Jim - go get it!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 7 Sep 2008 4:54 pm

his wife is not gonna like us . .

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 7 Sep 2008 5:36 pm

Perhaps if you explained how much more a brand new guitar like perhaps a Chandler or a Remington Playboy would have cost......

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 7 Sep 2008 7:29 pm

Steinar Gregertsen wrote:There is a recording of my '47 model, it's the one I use in the second half of "A Stranger Here" on the free "Slide Planet" mp3 album - http://www.slideplanet.net/?cdpg=0302

Steinar,

That is a great track, thanks for sharing it with everyone!! I especially like the time machine approach, it goes from dirty whisky 1930 to kick your ass 2008! Very cool!!!

Rick Alexander wrote:his wife is not gonna like us . .

Rick,

It is not you guys.... But she is the only reason I am not putting new strings on an old national!! I should just count my blessings (this would be #13) and tell someone else where it is. But I sort of want it more now that I have seen who plays these. If I had one I could consider myself in good company with you and Stiener, I look up to you guys!!

<*)))>{

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 7 Sep 2008 8:06 pm

(this would be #13)

You don't have too many Steel Guitars until you have absolutely no place to put even one more.

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 8 Sep 2008 3:55 pm

All I have time to say right now is...................

I have a very cool wife

!!!!!

More details to follow later tonight!!!

<*)))>{

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 8 Sep 2008 4:03 pm

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 8 Sep 2008 5:38 pm

Steinar Gregertsen wrote:

Steiner,

That is funny because it perfectly paints my picture.......

Yesterday my wife asked me what I was thinking about?

I told her that I was trying to think of things to sell on craigs list to get some "spare" money together to buy a new crush I have my eye on.

Then she reminded me I have a birthday in less than two weeks!!!

Then she reminded me of the money that her grandparents always send, and how I have so much here and there that I put together from a garage sale we had last month.

Then she said she would count the rest of the price as a birthday present from her to me!!!

YAY!!!

It is a 1955, stand by for pictures!!

Another side lesson, your wife knows and has already counted all of your money for the next twenty years!! Money you don't even have or know you are going to get!!

<*)))>{

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 8 Sep 2008 7:30 pm

Pictures!!

1955 National Dynamic

the case and a weird old tiger eye bakelite slide

$350 out the door, of a vintage guitar shop!!!

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 8 Sep 2008 7:52 pm

Manual included, has a copyright of 1950. Sorry they are hard to read, I don't have a scanner

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

<*)))>{

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 8 Sep 2008 8:50 pm

Nice score Jim! That looks to be in fantastic shape

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 9 Sep 2008 12:21 am

Oh yeah, that's a beauty! You got it for a great price too!!

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 9 Sep 2008 12:55 am

Oh boy..... On a scale from 1 to 10 this one is an 11!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 Sep 2008 1:59 am

Scored indeed One of the all time coolest looking, best-sounding lap steels in better condition than I've ever seen. I'm happy for you and deeply jealous!

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 9 Sep 2008 2:13 am

Congrats Jim! I love National lap steels - I have not yet tried a Dynamic but would love to! Yours looks fantastic and the price is about the same as ones in much worse condition sell for on eBay. You scored big time!

Fred

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 9 Sep 2008 1:18 pm

Jim - that is perfection! That's a keeper, and what a price. Nice score!

Peter