❌SOLD❌ National Dynamic Lap Steel Red and White, 1962

The National Dynamic Lap Steel was built from 1941 to 1968 for National String Instrument Corporation by Valco in Chicago, Illinois.

National at this point had fallen far from its heyday after inventing the Resophonic guitar (plus mandolin and ukulele) to provide more volume to working guitarists. It was founded by guitarist George Beauchamp and luthier John Dopyera in 1927. Dopyera left National to form, with his brothers, the DoBro company in 1928 and produced single cone resonator models. Dopyera purchased a controlling share of National in 1932 and merged National and DoBro production.      Many instruments like the National Dynamic lap steel were produced, along with matching amplifiers.   

In 1967, Valco merged with Kay, who had been one of the largest instrument builders in the world, but lower cost imports made it impossible for these US companies to compete, and the new merged company folded the next year.

Hawaiian and country music were very popular in the USA from the late 1920s well into the 1950’s. When I first took guitar lessons in the mid 1960’s, the teachers used an ‘Oahu’ Hawaiian guitar method. One advantage of the Hawaiian approach is that the condition of the guitar’s neck and frets do not matter, so a guitar in almost any condition can be used!

Guitars like the National Dynamic Lap steel now find their place in electrified ‘new’ country – they tend to be played through smaller amps and run with amounts of distortion, and work really well for this purpose. They aren’t as versatile as a full pedal steel guitar, but they are a lot less complex, too!

Here we’re looking at a lovely, complete and original National Dynamic Lap Steel, built during 1962 at the Valco shop in Chicago, Illinois. This instrument is very clean with little wear. The Red, White and Black colour scheme is quite attractive.

The original hard shell case, containing the three legs, is included and is in good condition with all latches and hinges intact.