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Post new topic 26" scale Stringmaster
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Author Topic:  26" scale Stringmaster
Rick Collins

 

From:
Claremont , CA USA
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2013 11:10 am    
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After pulling out a tuner pan of my triple 26" Stringmaster, I noticed the mfg. date as 7/54.
I had thought it was made earlier __ also thought the model redesign was early 1954.

Does anyone know the approximate date the last 26" scale models were made?

Many thanks.
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Scott Thomas

 

Post  Posted 11 Dec 2013 11:47 am    
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I had a 26" T-8 dated 11-54 in the tuning pan, with a 12-54 date on masking tape in the control cavity.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 12 Dec 2013 12:53 pm    
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I believe this 26" guitar is an early 1955.
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chas smith R.I.P.


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 12 Dec 2013 8:20 pm    
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This one, ser# 0237, is from 1953
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 13 Dec 2013 8:07 am    
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Just to show that you can't go by the serial numbers on Fender guitars, that quad that I posted has serial number #0002.
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Rick Collins

 

From:
Claremont , CA USA
Post  Posted 13 Dec 2013 9:25 am    
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Some have said that Leo Fender liked the sound of the 26" scale Stringmaster better than the later design.
If so, the change must have been for "easier assembly". I see the blend pots as the only improvement.

Also, some say the 26" scale makes for more difficult slants.
It isn't too difficult. Johnny Sibert didn't have that problem __ I find it quite easy.
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Scott Thomas

 

Post  Posted 13 Dec 2013 10:04 am    
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I understand there were also problems with strings breaking, especially if you tried to go above an E.
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Bill Creller

 

From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2013 9:08 am    
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I still believe that the 26 inch has the best tone, in general.
Anyone know how much a quad weighs ?
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chas smith R.I.P.


From:
Encino, CA, USA
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2013 12:47 pm    
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Erv, proving once again, that, "however I think it works, it doesn't".
Scott, string breakage for the high G, on the C6 tuning, for me, was never ending.
Bill, this one weighs 36#.

Years ago, I was asked for a steel lesson by a friend of a friend, who had an 8 string guitar. He showed up with a D8 long scale Stringmaster and it was one of the best sounding instruments that I've heard. I told him that if he ever wanted to sell it, call me 1st and I'll write him a check.

About a year later, he did call, because he was moving to Hawaii, and thought he wanted to sell the guitar. It made no sense to me and I told him that, yes, I wanted it, but to be honest with him, he didn't want to sell that guitar. He kept it and called me about 6 month later to thank me so very much for not buying it.
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Scott Thomas

 

Post  Posted 14 Dec 2013 4:35 pm    
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chas smith wrote:

Scott, string breakage for the high G, on the C6 tuning, for me, was never ending.


Yeah, I broke a couple just bringing them up to pitch and never tried again after that.
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Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2013 4:46 pm    
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Just for the hell of it, here is a very old discussion where Ricky Davis addresses string breakage:

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/004144.html
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2013 7:27 am    
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I never had a problem with string breakage on my 26" guitars.
However, I never went higher than an E on the 1st string.
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Nate Hofer


From:
Overland Park, Kansas
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2013 7:10 am    
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Scott Thomas wrote:
I understand there were also problems with strings breaking, especially if you tried to go above an E.


No string breakage on my 26er and I use a high G# on my E13 neck. I think I use an .011 (or a .010) there.
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