Topic: New aquisition: 30's National

[Rivers]

Pics later... 

[Mr.OMuck]

fortunate quacker!

[Richard]

Would this a new old National or an new new National 

[blueshome]

Details, details.........tell us more!

30's is old I think Richard.

[Rivers]

Here you go. it's a Style 801, from a junk shop in Houston, $20:

[Johnm]

I think the side on the right has real possibilities, Mark.  Looks like you scored!
All best,
Johnm

[nobocaster]

Hah! 

  I have one very similar.  National brand too.  I never even realized I had bragging rights to a 30's National!

  good one

~Devin

[Rivers]

I want to put a harness on it. Anyone done this? Wax?

Google came up with no 'best practice' suggestions for adding a harness to a washboard.

[nobocaster]

A harness, like to strap it to you for playing?
 
  One method is a small screw on each side rail about midway down..  then hang a strap from them like strap buttons on a guitar.  You can actually use a guitar strap, or an old necktie, or anything.  That's the simple method I've seen and used.  I'm sure some folks have more elaborate, ergonomic methods.

  One friend plays on a smaller size washboard and tucks one of the legs behind his belt.  I've tried that, and it didn't work for me, but it does look kinda cool.

  For accent, my buddy Stymee swears by American Spirit tobacco tins screwed to the side of the bottom legs.  They've got the sound..  I'm sure any old can'll do.

[Rivers]

Thanks Devin. Hey I have some American Spirit tins laying around here somewhere. This is gonna be fun, I guess part of the deal is experimenting with it until you get all the sounds you want.

I just fired it up using metal fingerpicks on 8 fingers since I don't have any thimbles or brushes yet. I like the sound of it. I think the metal maybe brass or some other alloy of copper, it has a green patina / verdigris in the joints.

[Richard]

There's no answer to it! Haha

[Parlor Picker]

It would have really stirred things up if you'd started the thread with a comment that you'd just bought a 30s National for 20 bucks...

[Rivers]

I thought that might be overdoing it just a tad...

[Slack]

I just fired it up using metal fingerpicks on 8 fingers since I don't have any thimbles or brushes yet. I like the sound of it. I think the metal maybe brass or some other alloy of copper, it has a green patina / verdigris in the joints.

Looks heavy duty, but you can use heavy gauge thimbles on it. 

[blueshome]

Saw guy playing washboard tonight, he had it hanging upside down with a strap taped to the legs, seemed to work ok.