National Steels
1000/400 "New Yorker"
| Years built | 1935-1967, re-numbered 400 in 1964 |
| Necks | One 6, 7 or 8-string |
| Notes | One of National's oldest and most famous steels, the New Yorker changed many times over the years but always retained the same striped stair-step body. Post-war examples were limited to six strings and had multi-colored fret markers, unlike the black and white pre-war 7-string shown above. |
1008 "Console Eight"
| Years built | 1948-1953 |
| Necks | One 8-string |
| Notes | Replaced by the Special 8 in 1953 |
1010 "Special 8"
| Years built | 1953-1960 |
| Necks | One 8-string |
| Notes |
1025/25/425 "Dynamic"
| Years built | 1942-1968, re-numbered 25 in 1964, then 425 in 1968 |
| Necks | One 6-string |
| Notes | The Dynamic changed often but always retained the same body. It was finished in red and white starting ca. 1961. |
1026 "Clipper"
| Years built | 1952-1955 |
| Necks | One 6-string |
| Notes | "The electric plug is equipped with a swivel attachment for adaptability in any position and fits into an outlet on top of the guitar." - 1953 catalog |
1050/1051/1052/N450 "Grand Console", "Console 1050"
1050:
1052:
| Years built | 1947-1968 |
| Necks | Two (1050, 1051, N450), three (1052), all with 8 strings |
| Notes |
All these models were very similar and changed little over the years. 1050: (?)-1953, two necks at same level 1051: (?)-1961, identical to the 1050 but with the outside neck slightly elevated 1052: 1953-1961, three necks Console 1050: 1961-1967, essentially a reissue of the 1050 N450: 1968, identical to the Console 1050 |
1065 "Student Hawaiian"
| Years built | 1956-1960 |
| Necks | One 6-string |
| Notes |
1075/76 "Chicagoan", "Studio 76"
| Years built | 1948-1960 (1075), 1964-1967 (76) |
| Necks | One 6-string |
| Notes | The 1076 and 76 are identical, despite the four-year gap separating them. On early versions of the 1075, the hand rest only covers the pickup (not the bridge). |
1088 "Triplex"
| Years built | 1949-1958 |
| Necks | One 6-string |
| Notes | The Triplex had a unique system that allowed players to switch between three tunings. It was controlled by the lever on the side of the instrument. |
1133 "Reso-Phonic Hawaiian"
| Years built | 1956-1958 |
| Necks | One 6-string |
| Notes | No pickup, just a shallow-depth resonator cone with sound ports on the front and back of the instrument. |
Updated 4/18/2010