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Topic: Advice on a 1960 Fender 8 Stringmaster non-pedal |
Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 26 Jul 2010 12:13 pm |
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I would greatly appreciate some advice from the forum.
I have an opportunity to buy a 1960 Fender Stringmaster 8-string non-pedal, but I won't be able to play it before I commit. Is this age of guitar likely to be good for playing western swing? Was there any reduction in the quality of Fender Stringmasters after the 1950s? |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 26 Jul 2010 12:50 pm
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These guitars are the definition of western swing steel guitar. A 1960 Stringmaster is a highly desirable instrument. You should not see any reduction in quality with a Fender guitar of that era.
Assuming everything works as it should, buy it.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 26 Jul 2010 1:16 pm
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| Thanks, Brad. I will try to arrange to see it (and try it) before buying, but that may not be possible. |
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Morgan Scoggins
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2010 2:47 pm
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What Brad said.
_________________
"Shoot low boys, the're ridin' Shetlands" |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 26 Jul 2010 3:24 pm
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Yes, what Brad said. 1960 is a very fine vintage year for Stringmasters.
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2010 5:15 pm
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Jump on it!  |
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Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 4:29 am
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Thanks guys. I'm sorely tempted now. The only thing holding me back is I need a decent 6-string acoustic guitar for recording and I can't afford both.
Assuming this is in perfect working order and untarnished, would a price of $860 be higher than you would expect to pay in the US? |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 6:37 am
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At that price, if you don't buy it, I will.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 7:13 am
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I am going to go out on a limb here and take a guess that the steel guitar to which Chis is referring is a single neck 8 string, which would make it a Fender Deluxe as opposed to a Stringmaster, which is at least a double neck.
If it is a double neck and it is $860, then in today's market that is ridiculously cheap provided it is in respectable condition.
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Mark |
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Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 8:08 am
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Thanks for all the helpful advice. I've bought it. This forum rocks. Or should that be swings?
Now all I need to do is learn how to play it well!
Chris |
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Laurence Pangaro
From:
Brooklyn, NY
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 8:16 am
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Awsome!
Now I hope you understand that everybody here wants to see pictures.
ciao,
LP |
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Papa Joe Pollick
From:
Swanton, Ohio
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 9:33 am
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 10:02 am
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So Chris, is it a single or double neck? 
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Mark |
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Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 10:41 am
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Mark was right: it's a Deluxe with a single neck. I should have read the smaller print. I bought it on the UK eBay site. You should be able to see the seller's pictures here, even though the auction has ended:
http://tinyurl.com/39jw4ey
I will happily post more pictures as soon as I collect the guitar, which will probably be on Saturday. |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 11:33 am
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Looks like real beauty. I just got a blonde version a few years older and absolutely love it. Real sweet tone from these beauties.
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www.facebook.com/countrydaveharmonson |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 27 Jul 2010 7:28 pm
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Chris, that Deluxe 8 is in Excellent condition! It hasn't been played much. Even the case in excellent condition.
I question the date of 1960 however. I think the guitar was made between 1963 and 1966.
The case is black tolex with reddish/orange lining. Fender started using those cases in late 1962. 1960 Fenders had brown tolex cases.
The tuners are Klusons. Fender used Kluson tuners until 1966, when they introduced the Fender "F tuners" The F tuners have hexagonal-shaped buttons. Your tuners have oval buttons (Kluson), pre-1966.
So I would say your guitar was made between '63 and '66. You could check the date/source codes on the pots if you're curious about it. Those codes with tell you when the pots were made. But Fender often bought huge supplies of pots... enough to last for a couple of years, so pot dating is not an exact science. The exact year has no relevance to the value. It's a beautiful steel guitar, highly desirable, and you got it at a reasonable price, especially considering the excellent condition. 
Now you have to decide on a tuning... ask 10 players and you'll probably get 10 different answers! I vote for C6! 
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 29 Jul 2010 3:17 am
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Thanks for the detailed information, Doug. I have arranged to collect the guitar on Saturday and will try to establish its age from the information you've provided.
On a related matter, I watched your C6 version of Send Me The Pillow on YouTube and was very impressed. I will have to try learning that to get into the tuning. I have the basic techniques for slanting etc from playing dobro in a bluegrass band and a little lap steel in D tuning. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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