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Topic: Fender 400 |
Gordon Borland
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 8:33 am |
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Would you guys please tell me about this Fender 400?
I bought it from a person that knew nothing about it.
Any information about it would be much appreciated.
CLICK HERE
I had it restrung and tuned up and it plays great.
It has a knee lever on the right.
It was owned one time by Carl Moore.
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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,1974 Fender twin reverb |
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 8:50 am
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It has the early style pick up and pedals and the fixed non roller nut. The bridge looks like it's been modded with rollers. The knee lever is a home made addition. I think the year would be 1960 or earlier. (?) I'm not sure when the transition to the different pick up, black pedals and rocking bridge was. Donny or Jim will probably chime in with details. I have the exact same mode but without the sunburst finish and no mods. Mine is a '59 (I've been told).
DZ |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 9:40 am
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Dave is essentially correct. That guitar is one of the earlier long-scale models; refinished, and with an added (but not the factory-designed) roller bridge. (The factory add-on was smaller.) Of course, it's been refinished, and several of the well over 40 Fender mods have been incorporated, which means it's not a late '50s model, so it's likely a '60-62 model.
Of concern to me would be that it does not have the ball-end pedal rods. Obviously, they have gotten lost somewhere along the way. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 12:13 pm
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As donny said...probably early-60's. You just got this off eBay, right?
The knee lever looks little funky but certainly usable. If you email me, I may be able to get you a contact for the correct pedal rods and ends - it seems to me it would be real tough to play with those pedal rod attachment points.
You're also missing one "hog ring" for the 7th string (as I recall from the picture). I'll check my stock...you might email me you address, and if I find one I'll send it to you.
What did you use as a copedent? There are some great alternatives to the usual E9, which usually doesn't work all that well on these guitars.
Overall it's decent looking. With the pedal rods corrected and some general cleanup/service it's a keeper!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Gordon Borland
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 3:03 pm Not ebay
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Thanks guys!
I did not get it off of ebay. I bought it off a young man that worked for me. It was given to him for a birthday present and he never did anything with it.
I play it through a Fender Twin with a 15" BW.
I will look into the pedal rods and I really thank you guys for the information.
Do you think it should be restored? |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 3:49 pm
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I'd make it a reliable player, and clean it up a little. The bad thing is it's been refinished and modded...but the good thing is it's been refinished and modded, so you can do just about whatever you want without lowering the value. 
Like Jim said, I'd get new rod ends (they were one of Fender's best ideas), and try some lighter return springs (when you change the rods back to the original holes.) |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 10:07 pm
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Gordon, that's interesting, because (I went back and looked) there was one with an almost identical giant pulley for the knee lever a couple weeks ago, and made of the same material. Very odd to see two with that sort of configuration so close together timewise.
Let me know if you need help with those parts I mentioned. I is most definitely worth the small amount of work it'll need.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Gordon Borland
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 29 Jun 2008 9:35 am cleaned
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Last year I had taken it to Don Pack at Dellview Music and he cleaned it up and put new strings on it.
I had him set it up Day E9th. When I see the older shows on Youtube it is fun to see a Fender 400 every so often. When the day comes that I cannot lug my 1974 MSA
D10 I might be able to handle this light weight piece of history.
Thank you guys for your information.
_________________
Gordon Borland
MSA D10,1974 Fender twin reverb |
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