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Topic: New Fender Lap Steel |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 12:39 pm |
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Here's a funny story which may shine a light on how big Fender has gotten and the corporate knowledge that's been lost.
At Scotty's last week I visited the Fender demo room. I asked the Fender rep about the rumor circulating about a reissue of the Stringmaster. He said no, it's not true. He said Fender is reissuing a double 8 non-pedal steel, but not the Stringmaster. He then pointed to a picture of a Stringmaster and said "this is what we are planning on doing".
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 13 September 2005 at 01:42 PM.] |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 12:47 pm
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Tom, it looks to me like the strat pickup is just mounted in there underneath. The sides and top don't seem to be magnetized.
Here's a closer look . .
Y'know it's not a bad steel for the price, and it is kinda pretty - but there's just nothing really remarkable about its tone or its playability. I was just hoping that with the Fender name on it that it would be something special. Of course if Roy Thomson were to play one it would sound achingly beautiful, but that's just Roy . .
Every other Fender Steel Guitar that I have - from the Champ to the 57 Stringmaster - is something special.
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 1:49 pm
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Rick
From what I can see from the photo's it looks as though the fret boards are black and not the shiny silver, is this just because of the manner in which the photo was taken?[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 13 September 2005 at 02:50 PM.] |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 1:58 pm
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Jody, the fretboard is a mirror - you could comb your hair in it.
What you see in the pics is the reflection of the black walls of my cave . . |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 2:00 pm
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I was wonderin that too Jody but I think it's just the photo.
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55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 2:41 pm
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Damn your quick Rick. you snuck in ahead of me there by 2 minutes. Don't they also come in a natural finish too?
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55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 4:02 pm
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Andy, as far as I know it just comes in the one color, with the mirror fretboard and off-white tele-like finish.
In all fairness, the pictures don't do it justice. It's a nice looking guitar, just very reflective so it's hard to get an accurate photo.
| Quote: |
| He then pointed to a picture of a Stringmaster and said "this is what we are planning on doing". |
too funny!  [This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 13 September 2005 at 05:07 PM.] |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 4:48 pm
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| It kinda makes you think that the Fender guy is brain dead. |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 5:24 pm
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Rick, it looks very nice! I may have to try one. Looks like a pretty nice case also.
Can you put one of Rick Aielo's Hot pickups on it?
That may be the trick. You souped up the Supro's Let's try putting a new engine under this hood!!!
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JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member
Boyett's Glass Bars
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 6:18 pm
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Hi Gary
Drop me an e mail sometime. [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 13 September 2005 at 07:19 PM.] |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 13 Sep 2005 7:26 pm
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Jody,
You have mail...
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Sep 2005 9:35 am
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Garman, that's a cool concept to be sure. But it might be a case of putting lipstick on a pig.
A different pickup won't improve its playability or increase its natural sustain.
I don't know what kind of wood it's made of, but it ain't swamp ash. And I can't help but feel that the faux boxcar is an insult to our collective intelligence.
No, I hate to say this because I love Fender - I've been playing Fender guitars and amps for over 45 years - but this guitar is a disappointment. 
I'm returning it today.
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Sep 2005 1:04 pm
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That's really too bad. Rick. It's a good looking rig. I guess they forgot how to make the great guitars of yesteryear.
BILL |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Sep 2005 2:45 pm
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Yes it is too bad Bill, and it truly saddens me to make these observations. Maybe if they had used a nice piece of wood and a good pickup and paid more attention to the over all playability, it could have made all the difference in the world.
I'm not giving up on Fender though, not by a long shot. It's a great company with many fine products past and present, and I believe that they are capable of making a great Steel Guitar once again. In the meantime I can play this wonderful ol' Stringmaster . .
RA[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 14 September 2005 at 03:49 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 14 Sep 2005 4:41 pm
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Rick my friend
DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP.
Fender's on the ball..stay tuned  |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 15 Sep 2005 10:54 am
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Jody, just because you said so I won't give up on Fender.
It's a good thing, because I'd hate to give back all the great Fender gear I've accumulated over the last 50 years! |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 15 Sep 2005 10:57 am
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Thanks for the review and great pix, Rick.
It's disapointing, but not unexpected.
The really good instruments these days are not being made by large corporations. I don't even think they could produce one at an acceptable price. They have way too much overhead expenses.
I suspect the Stringmaster reissue will have the same problems, and the corporation will site low sales as the reason to ignore this market.
I think the sucess of the recent MSA guitars is evidence that there is a market for high quality, well designed, Steels.
Jody, I'll never give up on the old Fenders.
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 15 Sep 2005 2:17 pm
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Joey Ace quote..........
Jody, I'll never give up on the old Fenders.
Thanks Joey and "dont give up on old Fender salesman either"
Thank You Rick,you are a Gem,Dont Give up the
word has it that Fender will have what most people are looking for, and I hope that Fender meets that goal.
Thank You |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 16 Sep 2005 3:19 am
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| I just hope that this guitar doesn't do poorly and stor Fender from making a decent lap steel or console. I can't imagine how many times a company has done a poor job on a rerelease of something and not continued with it when the sales of an obviously inferior product weren't good. I had intended to get one of these, but the fake boxcar kills it for me. Let's hope for better from Fender- they should certainly realize that accuracy in reproducing vintage instruments would be key. They have been doing it for years! '50's and '60's reissues have been selling like mad due to them spending a little time getting them right! Seems like they'd make more of an effort... |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 16 Sep 2005 3:35 am
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| Quote: |
| But it might be a case of putting lipstick on a pig. |
true.......unless you also include a pair fishnets & a pair of stilettos..... 
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2005 6:22 am
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Hey Howard, don't you ever get serious??? I hope not.
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55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 4 Oct 2005 8:08 am
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| Perhaps I missed something somewhere, but has anyone mentioned that this so-called "FENDER" is made in China ? Not that this is a negative, but I have to wonder how much input was put into this by Fender and how much by the Chinese manufacturer ? It is NOT a FENDER as we have come to know and love it. It is a good guitar, well made and well finished with a standard pickup. I am annoyed they, (whoever designed this critter) put a useless metal cap over the pickup. Really a nuisance. This can be removed safely by turning the screws which hold it. The tone is good, but I fail to see where it is any better than brand "X". It has the FENDER name, however I wonder what Leo would say if he were around today ? All I can say, it is good value for the buck but it is certainly not a "Fender" as we know it! JMHO of course. [This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 04 October 2005 at 09:09 AM.] |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 4 Oct 2005 11:42 am
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I disagree George. If it says Fender and is sold by Fender dealers, it is a Fender.
The company has to take responsibility for the good and bad, no matter where they contract it to be built.
They've been getting a lot of positive kudos for the Steel King Amp, and no one seems to care that it's not made in the USA. |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 4 Oct 2005 12:12 pm
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George
I agree with Joey. |
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