National Electric Hawaiian Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1935)
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Item # 7033
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National Electric Hawaiian Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1935), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # N-277, natural aluminum with paint accents finish, cast aluminum body, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This shining Art Deco masterpiece is one of the very earliest commercially built electric guitars, and the National company's first entry into the purely electrified market. As the first Rickenbacker Electro Hawaiian guitars had been made of aluminum, so was this National-although it is much larger and more substantial feeling than the more famous "frying pan" it emulates. The pickup is the same blade-equipped unit with an internal horseshoe magnet used on all first National and Dobro electrics. It is mostly hidden, inserted from the back into an abstract shaped metal housing molded into the body. The only wood element is a standard rosewood guitar fingerboard rather incongruously affixed to the square metal neck, fitted with frets never meant to be used. A "National" block letter logo is molded to the face of the body, with decorative insets filled with gold paint all around on the face. The still-futuristic looking headstock is cut out in the center, with the six fluted-base Grover tuners fitted to the solid wings. This guitar sounds great, if brighter than many period steels and looks amazing, antique Deco and ultra-modern at the same time. If Buck Rodgers had played steel guitar, this would have been a perfect choice!
Overall length is 38 1/8 in. (96.8 cm.), 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm.) wide, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.). Very nice overall; all the original components are intact including the substantial internal pickup unit, period large-housing pot and wiring. The only thing missing is the pool table felt that once covered the back of the body-it is completely gone, leaving only some minor old glue residue. The sides appear to possibly have had some metallic paint added at a later date; this could be buffed off the alumunum surface but even if not original is old enough to add to the overall look. A really cool and unusual steel including the fantastic looking original shaped HSC. Excellent - Condition.
This shining Art Deco masterpiece is one of the very earliest commercially built electric guitars, and the National company's first entry into the purely electrified market. As the first Rickenbacker Electro Hawaiian guitars had been made of aluminum, so was this National-although it is much larger and more substantial feeling than the more famous "frying pan" it emulates. The pickup is the same blade-equipped unit with an internal horseshoe magnet used on all first National and Dobro electrics. It is mostly hidden, inserted from the back into an abstract shaped metal housing molded into the body. The only wood element is a standard rosewood guitar fingerboard rather incongruously affixed to the square metal neck, fitted with frets never meant to be used. A "National" block letter logo is molded to the face of the body, with decorative insets filled with gold paint all around on the face. The still-futuristic looking headstock is cut out in the center, with the six fluted-base Grover tuners fitted to the solid wings. This guitar sounds great, if brighter than many period steels and looks amazing, antique Deco and ultra-modern at the same time. If Buck Rodgers had played steel guitar, this would have been a perfect choice!
Overall length is 38 1/8 in. (96.8 cm.), 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm.) wide, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.). Very nice overall; all the original components are intact including the substantial internal pickup unit, period large-housing pot and wiring. The only thing missing is the pool table felt that once covered the back of the body-it is completely gone, leaving only some minor old glue residue. The sides appear to possibly have had some metallic paint added at a later date; this could be buffed off the alumunum surface but even if not original is old enough to add to the overall look. A really cool and unusual steel including the fantastic looking original shaped HSC. Excellent - Condition.