| Author |
Topic: Fender Stringmaster D-8 Lap Steel Double Neck Blonde 1960's |
Molin Oleg
From:
Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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Posted 7 Apr 2021 1:11 pm |
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         Hey guys!
Recently found guitar for sale. Just want to make sure before making deal - if information that was provided by seller is correct and is it a fair price to pay.
Thanks in advance.
Info from seller;
Body: ash
Scale: 22,4”
Electronics: original
Pickups: original
Hardware: original
Modifications made: none
Pots: 1966 year made
Case: none
Color: Blonde
Price: 1500$
https://loud-lemon.com/guitars/fender-dual-lapsteel-guitar-60-s-usa |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2021 2:39 pm
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| Without a case, I would think $1,200 would be closer to what it would sell for over here. I don't imagine Stringmasters are exactly plentiful in Russia though, so $1,500 certainly isn't obscene. The finish issues don't bother me at all but it would be nice to see a front shot to see if the decal is intact. Let us know if you get it! |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 7 Apr 2021 3:04 pm
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By the time you get done paying for shipping something from, e.g., the US to Russia, I would expect that anything is going to be more expensive than what you'd expect to pay here in the US. I looked at their website, 125,000 RUB seems to be running more like $1600 at the moment. Looking at some of their other guitars, they also seem a bit higher than US prices.
So as long as everything is intact, original, and in good working order, that doesn't seem like a crazy price for a Russian shop. The cosmetic wear doesn't bother me at all, but should impact the value. I agree on wanting the Fender decal on the front. But someone had to import this guitar to Russia at some point. The only other comparison point would be to see what the combined guitar + shipping cost would be to import something yourself. And assuming you are local to the shop, you can check this one out personally. If true, I consider that a big advantage.
BTW - in 1966, Fender bought a LOT of 1966-dated potentiometers, and many guitars made right up into the early 1970s had 1966 pots. So if they're original, you know it wasn't made earlier than 1966. They may have other info to date the guitar to 1966, but the pots alone are not that specific in that era. But that doesn't mean much as to value - Stringmaster prices don't seem to vary much based on the year, condition being the same. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 7 Apr 2021 4:01 pm
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Molin Oleg...not sure which is your first name? Did you ever get that all aluminum lap steel finished?
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2021 4:26 pm
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Super cool steel! I love its patina, the smokey clubs that its played....
I can't imagine a guitar like that becomes available very often where you are,I'm in its home state and rarely see them. Git it! |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 7 Apr 2021 4:31 pm
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| In this case the tuners can be helpful to roughly date the guitar. In 1966 Fender changed to F style branded tuners and Stringmasters followed suit and they appear a bit later, around 1968. These had characteristic octagonal heads. So based on the pots and tuners it's likely this Stringmaster is a c.66-67 |
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Molin Oleg
From:
Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 1:30 am
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Спасибо! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 7:11 am
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I doubt if that decal is original. It is too bold looking.
That guitar came out with what was called a "spaghetti" logo.
Erv |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 7:23 am
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For more of an authoritative dating, the month/year is usually scrawled in pencil in the wood underneath one of the tuner pans. Of course, if you don't own it, the shop may not care for you detuning and disassembling it (although it looks like they did to show the bridge plate).
I'd agree, the price isn't a steal for here in the US where these are a bit more common, but neither is it terribly overpriced based on what I've seen. In Europe it may be an even better deal based on scarcity driving up cost.
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 7:27 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
I doubt if that decal is original. It is too bold looking.
That guitar came out with what was called a "spaghetti" logo.
Erv |
Erv,
Fender logos changed a couple of times in the mid to late 60's. First to a gold/black "transition" logo that was thicker than the original spaghetti and later to a thick, solid black one. It sure looks like an original finish guitar and I'd bet it's the original logo as well. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 7:31 am
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Bill,
You might be right. 
Erv |
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Molin Oleg
From:
Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 7:47 am
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| There is no date under both tuners pans((( |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 9:03 am
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| Nic Neufeld wrote: |
| For more of an authoritative dating, the month/year is usually scrawled in pencil in the wood underneath one of the tuner pans. |
They had stopped doing that by 1966.
The logo looks fine to me for that date.
I have no idea on a fair price and prices are all over the place right now. If it's for sale in a shop in Russia, I'd expect it to be more expensive than in a similar shop in the USA. Also, I doubt that there are many around so it's a seller's market.
Last edited by Jeff Mead on 8 Apr 2021 9:33 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 9:14 am
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| Jeff Mead wrote: |
They had stopped doing that by 1966. |
Good to know! Then yeah, I guess at that point you have to infer by pots, tuners...maybe case details? Seems like there is a good page on Fender case identification that might also help to narrow it down, if it comes with a case, but I'm certainly no expert there.
But this guy may be:
http://www.guitarhq.com/fender.html#cases
| Quote: |
In early 1964, Fender moved to a black tolex case with the (same) dark orange interior. This type of case was basically used till the end of the 1970's, with some minor changes (mostly the exterior logo). Early 1964 to 1965 cases have no exterior "Fender" logo.
mid to late 1965 to the 1970s use the same black case but with a Fender logo. This logo had two black plastic rivets holding the logo to the case exterior. There was no "tail" under the "Fender" logo.
About 1967: Still used the black tolex case, but now the case exterior has a plastic Fender logo with a "tail" under the "Fender".
about 1972: The logo on the black tolex case changes to have no "tail" and a small "R". Also the white piping around the leather case ends becomes more pronouced.
Mid to late 1970s: The logo on the black tolex case changed yet again. No "tail", a bigger "R" (registered) mark, and a "Made in USA" marking. Also the interior of the case got more padding. |
EDIT: reread the original post...no case, ah well...in case the link is useful to others...
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 11:58 am
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| Also it is weather checked like a clear nitro finish. By 1968 Fender had switched to poly clear coat. |
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2021 5:59 pm
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That steel has character. I wouldn't let a couple hundred bucks stand in my way.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
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