Please help identify this T8 console

Denny Turner · From: Oahu, Hawaii USA

Seller claims it to be a Gibson Grand. I've never seen a grand like this. Anyone know what this Steel might be?

Thank You,
Aloha,
Denny T~

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

I don't know what it is, but it is definitely not a Grande Console, and maybe not a Gibson.

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Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 69 Strat, Rickenbacker BD6
Music Man & Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 03 January 2005 at 10:18 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Looks like a Gibson to me
don't know the name of the model though
not a Consolette
i've got pics of Gibson's like that one that have those type of PUs on it
it looks pretty used but still looks like a Gibson to me
Denny email me & i'll send you pics of this type of model

Jackiso · From: Yokohama, Japan

Each neck looks identical to Gibson Console Grande CG-520, a D8. T8 was not listed in 1960 Gibson catalog. My guess is that it would be custom made using two front necks and one back neck of CG520.
Jack Isomura

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

REMOVED

Denny Turner · From: Oahu, Hawaii USA

Thank You for the info Gentlemen.

I'm watching and thinking about that Steel as a candidate for a custom refurbish demonstrator.

Yea Rick, that's exactly what I thought, ...but figured I'd ask since I darn sure haven't seen them all.

Crowbear; Email sent. Thank You.

Jack; Now that I look closely there seems to be a faint line on the bottom of that console that seems to suggest the outside neck joined to the inner 2 necks. SWAG'ing by the near identical color tones on either side of that "joint", and work good enough to almost hide the joint, and no sign of a plug in a pre-existing leg socket; this might be a factory custom if not a production model not in the catalogue. I guess a person wouldn't know until they inspected it closely.

Has anyone played pickups like those? How do they sound? The spread on their 3 separate coils is interesting, ...although it seems that a slanted / offset pair of coils would be better than the apparant long tone jump between string 4 and 5 on that scheme.

Any other info anyone might have about this model steel would be appreciated.

Thank You again,
Aloha,
DT~

Denny Turner · From: Oahu, Hawaii USA

Thanks Mike; We were both posting at the same time. Might you provide some opinions about owning / playing one of these?

I like quite-used instruments; seems like a history of vibrations makes them sound better to my ears (or maybe just to my prejudiced brain); ...and strange that I enjoy doing detailed work for others but prefer easier personal projects a bit more than dealing with bindings, multi-tone finishes, etc, ...which is what makes this one seem like a good candidate for some custom refurbs I want to do for myself this year.

Aloha,
DT~

[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 03 January 2005 at 06:25 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i sent you some pics Denny of a real nice T8
since it's a yellowish wood on the model i sent you, i guess that would be Korina ?
let me know if you get them
Thanx

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 03 January 2005 at 06:19 AM.]

Michael Lee Allen · From: Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois

REMOVED

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Denny...I own and play a 1956 Gibson Console Grand which has those "4-8-4" pickups.
The original wiring is much more complex than
simply switching pickups.
I'd really like to meet the guy who designed that system.
I'll be in touch with you by e mail with the details.
Blake

Denny Turner · From: Oahu, Hawaii USA

Gentlemen,

Thank You for your kind and excellent information.

I have decided not to persue buying this steel. Thanks to some privae emails I've received from Forumites, I have found that it is much more complicated and complex in construction than I had anticipated; A WAY-heavy monocoque cabinet built around metal framing with very complicated electronics ...and an overall design quite contrary to my preferences.

Thank You all again,
Aloha,
DT~

[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 03 January 2005 at 08:00 PM.]

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I had a D–8 model when they were first introduced and advertised as having 4–8–4 Humbucking P/U's. The main difference that I notice in the Triple and my Double is the fact that, the Originals like mine were constructed with (2)-seperate ‘boxes’ bolted together. Each neck was on a hollow (4)-sided box and they were closed on the bottom-side by (1)-large piece of thin (masonite-type) material which could be open by removing the small screws all the way around the outside (4)-edges. This body appears to be solid-wood. It could be the body which is not true-Gibson! Actually, the individual fretboards were about 1/2” high and formed a neck-insert. The fretboard could be removed from the inside which would expose an Aluminum frame on which all the top-parts were mounted. I didn't own it very long, but; I sure did explore it's construction, at my young curious age of about 14 yrs.! The reason I explored it was because I was expecting the solid body of earlier model Console Grande's! I really can't say anything bad about the guitar. I remember that I had to wait a little longer than expected for my guitar, because; I was told that it was being ‘road-tested’ by the Steel player for Pee Wee King at the time, but; I've never found out who that person was. He could certainly tell the history of that model Gibson Console Grande! The year was ’56!
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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 03 January 2005 at 09:30 PM.]

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 25 January 2005 at 07:47 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

299 $ got it

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

After re-examining the pictures closer and re-reading the Toggle-functions, there is no doubt in my mind that this is definately a T–8 Gibson Console Grande from the mid-’50's. My only dislike of mine was the fact that the Bridge-Covers were Nickel-Plated rather than Chrome and turned Black in a matter of weeks and I had to have them Chrome-Plated! Otherwise, whoever purchased this instrument got a very-good deal, if the problems are only ‘dirt’! If I had seen it, and it wasn't on eBay, I would have gladly paid that amount for that vintage-instrument!----------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 25 January 2005 at 07:45 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

it's back ! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33040&item=3777312933&rd=1

Russ Young · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

According to Gruhn's Guide, the pickups with the 4-8-4 pole configuration were introduced to the Console Grandes in 1956. The T8s were first offered in 1951 with a sunburst finish (model CGT), and a natural finish (CGTN) was introduced in 1953.

Based on his description, this appears to be from between 1956 and 1959, when the last tripleneck was shipped. At that time, the model number was CG 523.

[This message was edited by Russ Young on 20 January 2005 at 09:42 AM.]

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

If the 4–8–4 Humbucking P/U was introduced in ’56, then that is also the year that that particular body-construction design was introduced! They were both introduced together and that was the same design as my D–8 Console Grande! So, I stand corrected. That model was introduced in 1956, and it is a hollow-bodied instrument.

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“Big John” Bechtel

Russ Young · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

John -- If it's any consolation, I don't recall much of 1956 either.

Russ "Soon to be 50" Young

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