Letter to Fender about Stringmaster Tuners

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

This is a copy of a letter I mailed to Fender Consumer Relations. They don't have a phone number or email address on their website like Peavey does, and they sure don't have anybody like Mike Brown in their employ - all they post is the mailing address. I don't know that a single letter will stir up any action, but many letters might. If you are a Fender Stringmaster player, please read this and consider writing a letter of your own to Fender. The address is at the beginning of the letter:
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Fender Musical Instruments
Attn: Consumer Relations Department
8860 E. Chaparral Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Hi,
I have been a full time working musician since 1963. My very first "good" guitar was a Fender Jaguar. Since then I have purchased many Fender products, and at this time I own several Stratocasters, Telecasters, and various Fender amps. I have always cherished Fender instruments and amps, and I have always regarded Fender as the #1 musical instrument company. So it was only natural when I took up an interest in steel guitar that I would look to Fender first. I bought a used Fender Dual Professional and a Fender Champion 6 string in 1983 and started working steel into the act. Recently I bought a Fender Stringmaster D8 on eBay, and I was very excited about receiving it. Unfortunately when it arrived it had a couple of busted tuners. That was when I found out the really bad news. NOBODY makes replacement 4-in-line tuning assemblies for them!
I asked everybody - I mean everybody! I asked Herb Remington, Cindy Cashdollar, John Tipka, Jody Carver, Neil Flanz, Herb Steiner etc etc. They all pretty much said the same thing - get a "parts" guitar and rob it. Pragmatic as that may be, it still means that every time a tuner fails there will be one less Stringmaster in the world. That's just wrong.
For a long time it was generally thought that the pedal steel had made lap and console steel obsolete, and in fact many non pedal steelers have been out of work since 1953. But that would be like saying the motorcycle made the bicycle obsolete. Now there is a big growing resurgence of steel guitar http://www.steelguitarforum.com both pedal and non pedal, and just as the Stratocaster is the "holy grail" of electric guitar, the Stringmaster is considered by many to be the holy grail of console steel, and more and more steelers are acquiring them and playing them. In addition to the D8, I own a ‘57 T8 that I just love and I play it all the time. When I needed tuners for it, I finally found some on eBay - and I paid quite a high price for them - over $200! . They are not new of course, but at least they work ! There are a lot of other Fender Stringmaster players in the same situation as can be attested by innumerable threads on Steel Guitar Forum.

Now I understand how the corporate thing works, and maybe nobody would get a promotion or a raise for suggesting this because it may not bring in millions in revenue, but why doesn't Fender start making those replacement assemblies? Steelers are a very close-knit community and I can guarantee that the gratitude felt by a few hundred Stringmaster Players would be made known to and felt by ALL STEELERS including the big names (they're all on Steel Guitar Forum). There is a lot of interest in your new Steel King Amplifier, and such a "gesture" of support for your own product could serve to divert the intense loyalty that many steel players have for Peavey Amplifiers. Peavey has been very supportive of steel players for the last 30 years and it seems to have paid off. I would venture to say that 90% of steelers play Peavey amps, not only because they make a fine product, but because Peavey "listens" and supports - even their older discontinued equipment. Peavey rep Mike Brown can always be reached by phone or email and is always very helpful to steelers - he's a steel player himself. That cuts a lot of ice with us.

I realize the Stringmaster was discontinued some 25 years ago, but conscientious product support should never discontinue. It makes potential consumers wary of new products for fear they too will be one day considered obsolete and unimportant by the very company that made them. How hard would it be for a great company like Fender to tool up and run off a few tuner assemblies for the legendary Fender Stringmaster and the dedicated afficionados who play it?
I am going to post a copy of this letter on Steel Guitar Forum where it will be read by hundreds of steel players, many of whom are considering buying a Steel King Amp (especially now that Buddy Emmons sang its praises). I will of course, keep them up to date on your response and on any developments that may occur. I thank you for your kind attention in this matter and await your reply.
Sincerely,

Rick Alexander

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And I will post any response as soon as I receive it.I'm not holding my breath because I'm blue enough already . . . .

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Rick Alexander
Fender Stringmaster, National New Yorker

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

BTW Before I sent the letter I edited out the line about steel players being out of work since 1953. That's just my twisted sense of humor, but it's under control - for now.

Rick

Benjamin Franz · From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Rick,

I don't know if it's much help, but I got Don Curtis (I think) at Scotty's to retrofit the tuning pan for my Fender professional S8 with some mandolin tuners. I know the pans are different for a stringmaster, but perhaps something could be done. The job that Don did was absolutely top notch and the steel works good as new. If you like I could send you some photos. My email is benjibassman@bigpond.com

take care,

Ben

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

All Parts.com
These are Kluson type tuning keys that are exact replicas of the Kluson tuner from the Stringmaster. I have replaced many on the Fender stringmaster for folks. It's real easy...
I do hope you get a reply from Fender; I'd be real interested in what they say. However; they are not building the fender stringmaster anymore; so they really have no interest in making a part that these tuners I pictured above, affix to. Or even a tuning pan assembly; because then they would have to die-cast metal again and they might as well start making the whole steel again; which they won't unfortunatly or Fortunatly?? I would hate to see them make the Fender stringmaster; mainly because it will be all wrong..ha...as there is no way they can make it like they used to and I can explain why; but it would be a HUGE posting and I'm too tired for that. But there are many great Steels being made today(well one in particular) and that is the Georgeboard. I have a georgeboard pictured below; and I have had every model stringmaster made from 55 till 65 and I also built my own Hawaiian steel pictured by my name below and yes it looks like a stringmaster but much better; but I say this with all the enthusiasm and energy I can muster up> The Georgeboard puts all them to shame in Authentic steel guitar sound eventhough it has the tone characteristics of a Stringmaster; and a few others I hear in there....but I have ZERO interest in playing any other steel after I got my Georgeboard.

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Ricky Davis

My Homepage
Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Hi Rick -

Please keep us posted if you get a reply. I've written several companies about different products over the years, and I usually get a response with some type of "form letter."

I used to work in a correspondence unit for a company, and I HATED our form letters. I always tried to personalize them to some degree.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Address your correspondence to William Schultz CEO and a copy to Larry Moudy.

You will hear from someone.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I sincerely wish you a successful conclusion to this dilemma, but sadly experience teaches, "don't hold your breath".

One of the downsides of an ever advancing, technology driven economy is that as companies find newer, less expensive ways to make things, those in society that do not replace everything often, do indeed suffer.

The facts are, that I doubt if Fender, even IF they really wanted to, would be able to pull this off and make an exact replacement part. In a word the era is just a vague memory.

Let me highlight it and really bring it home. I heard a very high ranking official of NASA say on a TV documentary last year, "there is NO way the present NASA could even begin to send a man to the moon and bring him back safely today." He went on to say that most of the drawings and documents are simply gone.

But what is even worse he said, "the incredibly and uniquely talented and dedicated technical people, that in combination pulled it off, are simply gone also." And even though it was the most awesome accomplishment ever in the history of man, it is as though it never happened.

He concluded that even its memory often lives in a vacuum.

While a lowly Fender stringmaster key in no wise falls into the category of a Saturn V5 Rocket in its unbelievable complexity, the above (relatively) is still appropo in my opinion.

"The people at Fender who pulled it off are gone". The ones that replaced those that replaced those that replaced those that were there in a word, haven't a clue where to begin. The drawings and literature have probably long since gone with it.

It would not surprise me if no one in the company even knows what a "stringmaster" even looks like, or for that matter even is; let alone any of its parts.

"ya had to be there. Ya really had to be there."

Or at least that is my opinion.

The SAME yesterday, today and tomorrow!

carl

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Listen to Ricky about the Kluson tuner.

I have a Fender 1000 from 1969 with identical tuning pans to the Stringmaster. When I removed the pan, I found Fender "F logo" Klusons identical to those found on Teles and Strats of that period. So those should be easy "drop-in" replacements.

I did use an old Kluson Deluxe to repair a Dual Professional tuning assembly, but it was more involved as I had to saw off part of an existing assembly to do it. The "lollipop" tuners were all 4 to a plate, rather than the individual ones on the later Stringmasters.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Guys - thanks for the responses!

Jody, I sent 2 additional letters to William Schultz CEO and Larry Moudy (Executive Vice President). Thanks very much for the tip.

Ricky, man that's some sweet steel! I ordered a Steelmaster T8 from Herb Remington recently, and I doubt if I'll have any tuner problems with it . .
So, exactly how do you go about fixing the tuners?

Carl, a very insightful and thought provoking post! That is an apt analogy - but now my dream of playing the first gig on the moon is shattered . . http://www.miditrax.com/RickInSpace.htm

Herb, can you actually just "drop in" the tuners? What would be the exact procedure? I have 2 friends who are working on a tuner "fix" and so far their methodology has met with minimal success, so any tips would be appreciated.

Ben, thanks for the photos of the tuners. Did you ship the guitar from Australia for the repair or were you in the area at the time?

Jeff, I certainly will keep everyone posted.
I realize the chances of this getting results may be slim to none, but my tuner frustration has made me feisty enough to get up on the proverbial soapbox.

You guys are the best! Regular guitar players wouldn't be this supportive and forthcoming. I know, cause I are one . .

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Rick Alexander
Fender Stringmaster, National New Yorker

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Rick
On the model I worked on, the individual Kluson was held in place vertically by the tuning peg shaft slot in the pan, and held in place laterally by the string shaft hole in the pan. Easy. But this was a late 60's guitar.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Edited out of respect for Carl Dixon and the Fender company I once knew.

Thank You Carl. You carry a big hammer and have hit the nail on the head once again.

Thats all I have to say.

Thank You.

In closing "HURRAH" I doubt that the company
whom we refer to has a MIKE BROWN as we do.
We did some years back,but we can rejoice that we have Mike as one of us, not many if any can boast of that.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 10 August 2004 at 07:46 PM.]

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

THE REPLY FROM FENDER
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Well guys here it is - uncensored, unedited and unexpurgated:

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Hi Rick,

Thanks for your inquiry and your interest in Fender Musical Instruments.

Our primary concern is our current products. We're happy to help in any
way that we can, but we can't maintain an inventory of parts that we
haven't used in years.

American Guitar Center at 802-464-0014 keeps a selection of vintage
parts on hand.

You might also check with Steel Guitar Works at 800-749-3363.

Thanks again for choosing Fender.

Best regards,

John Shannon
Consumer Relations

Please remember, when corresponding via e-mail, to include the text of
any prior related contacts. Given the volume of e-mail we receive, it
is very helpful to have this information as a reference so that we may
serve you in as timely a manner as is possible.

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So there you have it.
I called the 2 numbers they gave me. The first one I talked to a nice man named John who said he'd try to dig something up and please call back in a week. The second one hooked me up with our own Ed Naylor who sympathised with my problem and is in fact trying to help. He says he gets about 10 calls a day for Stringmaster tuner assemblies. I believe it.

So I guess it wasn't entirely a wasted effort. I got some exercise walking to the mailbox and I made some new friends. And maybe got one step closer to a viable solution . .

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Rick Alexander
Fender Stringmaster, National New Yorker

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Rick,
At least they sent you a nice individual letter and tried to help.
That puts a Gold Star by Fender's name in my book.
When I wrote Gibson for information about my Console Grande, they didn't even have the courtesy to respond.

Blake

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

This is my reply to Fender's reply. There may be no more replies, so cherish this one:

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Hi John,
Thanks for the response - my faith is renewed. I called the numbers you gave me and Ed Naylor may be able to help. He says he gets about 10 calls a day for Stringmaster tuners. It would just be such a good thing if someone would manufacture replacement assemblies - they are very difficult to fix. Maybe some Japanese tool&die outfit whose owner loves Stringmasters?
Well, I love them with a passion in spite of the tuner thing. I just bought yet another one - a Walnut T8 from a fellow in CA. It should be here Friday. That's one Stringmaster that will never be parted out, I can guarantee you that.
Thank you very much for the tips.
Rick Alexander http://www.savethestringmasters.com http://www.rickalexander.com

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Incidentally the email address is custserve@fenderusa.com if anyone is inclined to address their comments to Fender.

Rick

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Carl and Ricky,

As to Fender not being able to do it again, I think it wouldn't be that hard. Just look at the reissue '52 Telecaster. They are made of premium ash, and they sound, look, and play great.

I spoke with several Fender reps about Dual Pro's and Stringmaster's a couple of years ago. They said that they where going to make an American Stringmaster reissue, but the prices of vintage ones where not high enough to justify a reissue. You can buy a mint 1956 D-8 Stringmaster for $900.00-$1200.00. American Vintage Fender reissue's retail for $1899.99 and sell on average for $1259.00.

Fender figures that most people would rather buy an original made-by-Leo pre CBS guitar for less than a new reissue one. Plus, they would have to retool all there equitment to make these parts that haven't been made in years.

I completely understand why they don't make them(or the parts) anymore. But I still wish they did. They do make a Deluxe 6 and Deluxe 8 in Japan, but they cost $1150.00. I find original's for half that price on a regular basis, and the Japanese ones are probably made with basswood or some other kind of inferior Asian ash.

CS

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Can you buy the Asian Fender tuners through Fender USA?

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

Hey Chris I do agree that it wouldn't be that hard for them to do it....but my point is they won't as per the explanation you just gave and if they did...they would do it wrong anyway..ha
Jim that is an excellent question; I wonder that myself for these guys looking for the tuning pans and bridge covers for the stringmaster...because their Japanese made single-8 and single-6; look exactly like the stringmaster tuning pan assembly and bridge/plate/cover stuff...Hummmm...anybod inquire about THAT???
Ricky

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

No.

Fender Japan and Fender USA ae two seperate companies. That is why Fender Frontline catalogs only have American and Mexican products. Fender Japan is made by a Japanese company(Fiji Instruments or something like that) that bought the rights to make Fender products for the Japanese market. Japanese Fender's for sale in America are bought from independant distributor's(like Ishi-Bashi Music), and not directly from Fender Japan.

Fender USA has no say in what Fender Japan does, and vice versa.

CS

PS Ricky, I think an American Vintage '57 Stringmaster reissue with a nitro finish and an ash body would be a pretty cool guitar. I'd pay the price of a reissue '52 Tele for one(about $1259).

[This message was edited by Chris Scruggs on 18 August 2004 at 07:45 PM.]

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

I agree Chris; as long as it's the "Swamp Ash" wood Fender used in the Mid/late 50's for the Stringmasters. When Fender started using regular Ash wood in the 60's that was when the stringmaster started sounding like Crap in my Opinion.
Ricky

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

It's true - my '57 T8 kicks major butt over my '61 D8. It's twice as loud and ten times fatter.

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 19 August 2004 at 01:02 AM.]

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