Recommendations for a D-8 with legs

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

I've had a Stringmaster T-8 for five years now and I am ready to live with only two necks/tunings. I don't want any heavier than the same guitar in a D-8 would be and I'd really like a medium scale length if possible. I love the look of the Nationals but I don't know about the sound or the scale. Can anyone give me some advice, please?

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

I had a Remington D8 that sounded fantastic.
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Just get a D8 Stringmaster.
Erv

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

Erv, I'd go for another stringmaster but the price has gone up beyond 1k per neck for a D-8 or an S-8. I don't expect them to do anything but increase. Whereas T-8's were 350 per neck just a few years ago and are not competitive with the smaller guitars. I'd lose too much on the deal. So I'm considering my options.

Thanks to both of you for your input.

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Short-scale vintage Valco steel guitars (Supro, National, English Electronics, made in Chicago) cost less and weigh less than similar Fender guitars. Generally speaking, the pickups are wound to higher ohm values and the tone is darker.
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Nic Neufeld · From: Kansas City, Missouri

I'm partial to the Magnatone D8. They aren't a particularly lightweight guitar though. But my trick for making them extremely portable...a Savior brand "tactical" double rifle case fits it perfectly, and a lot of the weight is in the case itself. You can even sling the guitar on your back with that case. Even so, I end up most of the time just bringing two S8s when I play, recently...

The Mags come in two main versions, one with dual pickups per neck, black fretboard and chrome tuners (the type I own) and one with a single covered pickup per neck, a white fretboard, clear tuner keys and a curved headstock. The latter type, there's one out on Reverb for $995. Often times Craigslist is where the best deals will end up though.
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · From: Quebec, Canada

The favourite of lots of players are the Dual Pro!

And it’s happen that I have one for sell!

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=385493

Joe A. Roberts · From: Seoul, South Korea

Another vote for the Dual Pro!

Jeff Mead · From: London, England

Bill Sinclair · From: Waynesboro, PA, USA

I hope I don't get drummed off the forum for suggesting this but considering that the fate of most T8s being sold in the current market is to be broken down into parts guitars, you might consider converting your T8 to a D8. It's not too difficult and the only thing that couldn't be undone is the leg socket holes that would have to be drilled into the bottom of what is currently your middle neck. What year and condition is your T8? If it's not a museum piece, I don't think I'd feel too guilty about it. At least it would still be a functioning guitar and not an empty husk that would probably never be a guitar again. If you're at all interested, I can go into more detail.

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

Don't cut it! I'll trade my '53 blonde Dual Pro for your T-8, to save it from that fate!

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

Bill, I don't think I would actually trim it down, but I have wondered what is involved in the conversion from T-8 to D-8 as far as the wood body is concerned. If it's not too much trouble would you please share that info either here on the forum or by PM? Mine is a somewhat beat-up (definitely not a museum piece) guitar from June of '56. Thanks so much.

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

National D8s are pretty heavy and have a much darker tone than Fenders. Yes the Stringmaster prices have recently shot way up! Options are getting pretty slim. They are rare but the Guyatone Fender knock offs sounded good. It’ll take patience but keep an eye out for one of those.
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Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

Jim, thanks for the generous offer.

Bill Sinclair · From: Waynesboro, PA, USA

As you've probably discovered, most D8's other than a Stringmaster are going to weigh just as much as your T8. I gigged with a Gibson D8 Console Grand for a while but eventually went back the the Stringmaster because it's so much lighter and a little easier to set up. The Remington that Bill mentioned and the and the Guyatone that K Maul mentioned might be good alternatives. Carvin also made a nice lightweight D8 made of maple but those are pretty rare.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=326347

Here is a link to a thread where I described bringing a gutted long-scale quad back to life as a D8 and an S8. The long scale hardware is almost all different but the principle basically the same. Another possibility that wouldn't require drilling for leg sockets would be to remove the middle neck and just use the inside and outside necks for the D8. Cut a couple of pieces of all-thread to length for the neck joining rods, move the middle neck bridge/control plate to the outer neck (involves a little desoldering and resoldering and possibly enlarging the wiring hole on the outside neck so that it lines up with the wiring hole on the inside neck) and there you go. You don't even have to change the wiring of the 3-position and 2-position toggle switches. The top position of the 3-pos switch will just be an off position in the individual neck mode. It could be returned to a T8 at any time with no scars showing. The main drawback would be that there would be a bit more of a step between the necks than you are accustomed to. The bottoms of the necks should still be level with each other though. The other drawback is that, realistically, it will probably never be put back as a T8.

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

Bill, wow, thanks for the link and the info. The fact that this can be done without damaging the integrity of the instrument is a huge factor. Would it ever return to a T-8? Maybe not in my lifetime, but one of my sons plays a Shobud D-8 and I trust he would treat my Fender with all due respect. I am loathe to drill on it but it has already been altered somewhat--an earlier owner left two holes and routing in and beneath the tuning pan on the tallest neck. DIY pedal steel in the 50's, I guess. American ingenuity!

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

Wow - there are only so many intact Stringmasters. No they are not as rare as Bigsbys, but the number is for sure not going up, especially with many being parted out. I would implore you not to cut it down! Like the Red Violin, you are only a small part of its story and then it will move on.

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

Tim, the dirty deed has been done. Widening of one hole, but unless it is disassembled there are no visible alterations. And it can be restored to its original T-8 glory with no harm done. Many thanks to my friend Francis Stefani for his time and effort, and to Mark in NC who lent his expertise concerning the rewiring. And to Bill who convinced me it could be done this way.

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