1955 National Chicagoan Vintage Lap Steel, 100% Original w/ Tweed Case, Valco-Made

Up for sale, a 1955 National Chicagoan electric lap steel guitar in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original tweed hardshell case. Produced by the Valco company in Chicago (home of Supro, Airline and others), this vintage lap steel boasts the National name on the peghead, Valco's flagship brand. Structurally identical to the Supro Supreme, this steel boasts Valco's signature string-through pickup, and the tone is warm and articulate, with just the right amount of twang and snap when you dig in. This steel has been professionally serviced and restrung here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with fresh roundwound strings. The plexiglass playing surface has a distinctive music stave design on the 23" scale, and the headstock retains both the National shield logo and Kluson Deluxe "no line" tuning machines. These tuners turn smoothly and hold pitch reliably with extremely clean nickel plating and the oversized plastic tulip buttons unique to Valco-made instruments. The small X-prefix serialized badge is also intact on the back of the headstock, dating the instrument to 1955. The electronics are untouched, with Stackpole pots that date to the 16th week of 1954 and a paper-in-oil tone cap. The chrome plating on the control plate is positively gleaming, and the original plastic screw-on pickup cover is present, along with the large cream barrel knobs. The gray pearloid wrap shows sparingly little wear, and the felt backing is also very well-kept. The original tweed hardshell case is included, along with the required MC1M to 1/4” adapter for the input.