Is This A National New Yorker?

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 27 Dec 2009 7:23 pm

HI Guys, This is currently on Ebay, I have a slightly older version of this guitar that is a National Special. I emailed the seller he assures me its a New Yorker. See what you think.
http://tinyurl.com/ydqgqj5

P.S. I know nothing about the seller nor the instrument nor am I attempting to drive traffic to this instrument. Just an inquiring mind.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 27 Dec 2009 7:40 pm

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Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 28 Dec 2009 12:20 am

What do you think it will sell for?

Aloha,

Don

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 28 Dec 2009 10:46 am

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Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 3 Jan 2010 9:45 am

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Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 3 Jan 2010 3:47 pm

That's rather a fair price for a scarce 8 like that. Someone is happy.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 3 Jan 2010 4:03 pm

Sure doesn't look like a New Yorker to me, Itlooks like a Dynamic. Only thing right is the statement that it's rare. The price looks good for an 8 string.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 3 Jan 2010 5:44 pm

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Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 3 Jan 2010 5:46 pm

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Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 3 Jan 2010 6:05 pm

It's a National, but it's not a New Yorker.

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 3 Jan 2010 6:27 pm

It does look like an 8-string Dynamic. In the text supplied by MLA, Freddie Roulette calls his a "National New Yorker 8-string"-- looks like the eBay guitar has the New Yorker-style fretboard with the Dynamic-type body wings.

I wonder if National used a 6-string neck to save on costs-- in the auction pics the string spacing looks pretty tight....

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 3 Jan 2010 8:05 pm

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Tom Cooper · Post by **Tom Cooper** » 2 Feb 2010 8:19 pm

Interesting thread. It made me go an dig out my National lap,as I own one of these Special 8's. I bought it some years back when I was starting out for about 3 bills, because it had 8 strings. It was/is in 'seen better days' condition, but I actually got it strung up and it sounds really good. Lots of sustain. I havn't been playing it because I have a D8 and a Lil Roy that I drag around. The National is missing a few things like the tuner cover and such, and the tuners are just about shot. It also has a slight crack in the butt end piece. I dug it out after seeing this thread and realize now what a cool steel it is. I have it tuned to the E9/13 Betchel/Morrell tuning just like my D8 front neck so now I can practice that tuning on the lap without having to go to the D8. I may even use it on some of my backup gigs. Great tone and sustain. What kind of wood do you think it is? Will try to post pic tomorrow. Glad I didnt get rid of it. I was really new to steel when I bought it, but now I can appreciate it more. Thanks for the posts. TC

Rickey Mitchell · Post by **Rickey Mitchell** » 3 Feb 2010 6:24 am

I've owned both the Dynamic and the New Yorker and that looks like a Dynamic.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 3 Feb 2010 7:49 am

What an interesting discussion.

Michael Lee Allen posts the model number, a picture of the guitar from the National catalog, various photos of Freddie Roulette playing the same instrument, and people still are discussing which model it is.

National Special 8-String Electric Hawaiian Guitar 1010.

Tom Cooper · Post by **Tom Cooper** » 3 Feb 2010 9:27 am

Here is my National Special 8. I think it is from 1953, at least that is what whas marked on it when I bought it. It's in rough shape but still plays really great. Gonna try to use it for some sit in gigs soon. TC

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 3 Feb 2010 10:25 am

Michael Allen, I don't mean to hijack this thread but do you have a catalog with my steel in it so I could have some info on it. It's a 1952 model according to the serial number. Here's a shot of it....JH in Va.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 3 Feb 2010 11:34 am

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Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 3 Feb 2010 1:50 pm

Tom, Your Guitar has "character". I have a Natty D8 that has almost as much character as yours.

Brad, +1 on that.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 3 Feb 2010 7:30 pm

A friend of mine has a Supro, which looks like a D-8 National, but the main body has the usual Supro MOTS finish on it.

MLA, thanks for all the catalog info you have posted on here now and earlier. No better way to show how it "was"

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 7 Feb 2010 9:24 am

Here's another one.
http://creamcitymusic.com/p-44076-newyo ... steel.aspx

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 7 Feb 2010 9:43 am

If you checkout the feedback for the E-Bay seller (4zerothehero) of the unusual "National Special 8 String 1010"* you'll notice a mysterious lack of feedback regarding this sale ? or was it a sale ?

* Unusual because this guitar has a coloured fretboard that hasn't got the Roman numerals and hasn't got the 3 position switch labelled Brilliant, Bass and Mellow, it also HASN'T got the CLEAR plexiglass cover the 1010 has and the headstock cover is somewhat different.
If one was to presume that the catalogue picture is correct in detail, then the discussed guitar does not measure up to that description.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 7 Feb 2010 10:06 am

Brad Bechtel wrote:What an interesting discussion.

Michael Lee Allen posts the model number, a picture of the guitar from the National catalog, various photos of Freddie Roulette playing the same instrument, and people still are discussing which model it is.

National Special 8-String Electric Hawaiian Guitar 1010.

I for one don't think so, MLA has done Stirling work on the forum providing invaluable information, but in this instance the pictures speak for themselves the two guitars are SUBSTANTIALLY different.. In MY opinion.
See above, is there not an ambiguity ?

BTW The pictures in my post above are of the Auction Guitar.
It's also obvious that the auction guitar has had the knobs reversed at the very least, if not completely changed, WHY, because the volume control knob would be the one FURTHEST from the player and for normal work would be round not chickenhead and likewise the switch knob would be a chickenhead to facilitate the fast switching they propound in the leaflet.
NOTE the chickenhead position on the leaflet and you'll see there is engraving around it in a much wider span than on the (non engraved) auction one.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 7 Feb 2010 1:58 pm

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basilh · Post by **basilh** » 7 Feb 2010 2:20 pm

Can't argue with the voice of experience, all I can say is that my eyes told me they were different. Has anyone got a catalogue picture that shows the variations to the model later ?
BTW belated thanks MLA for the BMG pictures, a BAD omission on my part..

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Is This A National New Yorker?

Is This A National New Yorker?

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