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Topic: Old Fender. I need help |
Terry Bethel
From:
Hollister, Missouri (deceased)
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 8:39 pm |
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A freind brought me a T-8 Fender to see if I could find out when it was built.
I know it was before 52, as I have a 52 T-8 and the fret boards are different.
The guitar he brought me has the Roman Numerals for the fretboard markers.
I would also like to find the serial number. The number on my 52 is clearly marked next to the input jack. I cannot find any thing resembling a number anywhere on the guitar. So I am presuming it is under one the the plates or under the keyhead.
The guitar has no leg mounts on the bottom on the cabinet. Overall the guitar is in need of tlc.
IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY,PLEASE DO SO,
Terry Bethel
bethelgtr@aol.com
_________________
www.ozarksteelguitar.com
www.terrybethelmusic.com
D-10 Mullen G2 9 x 9, 2-D-10 Bethels 9x9 , 2= Nashville 112's, a Walker Stereo steel Amp Hilton VP, Hardwire Reverb with Lexicon Reverb Peavy Pro Fex II Peavey Digital power amp with effects.Sarno Black Box
Other than that, I ain't doin' nothin'... |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 9:35 pm
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Wow, I have never seen a triple with the Roman numeral markers. If it has those, then does it also have the rectangular shaped pickups known as "boxcars"? Usually guitars of that era are solid walnut as well, I believe.
I think the change from Roman numeral markers and boxcars to trapezoid pickups with bar and diamond shaped(?) markers occured around 1948 or so. There are "transitional models" that have combinations of both from around that same time. So based on the info you gave, that guitar is at least as old as that, I would venture to say. |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 7:31 am
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Pictures! Let's have pictures of this beut.
It sounds very early. I would expect it to have a number the same place as your '52. The earliest Dual Professionals (D8s) had an option for legs in '47-48 (even my no legger has a serial number). I would expect T8s would follow through the same way.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 9:26 am
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Does it look like this one (except for the number of necks)?
This is a 47 Dual Pro with boxcars and Roman Numeral markers.
It has no leg sockets either . .
_________________
BIG STEEL |
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Tom Zielinski
From:
Buffalo, New York, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 4:16 pm Nice steel Rick!
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| Rick, I actually had the same exact steel but in triple neck. Same wood, Roman Numerals, Pickups, etc. I got it from a farm auction--it was in a barn for nearly 40 years! I sold it on ebay a year or two ago. I didn't care for the boxcars, and it was beat, but I sure miss it. |
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Terry Bethel
From:
Hollister, Missouri (deceased)
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 9:44 pm
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Rick,
Yes it looks very much like the D-8 in the picture.
Would you have any idea where the serial number would be???
Terry Bethel
bethelgtr@aol.com
_________________
www.ozarksteelguitar.com
www.terrybethelmusic.com
D-10 Mullen G2 9 x 9, 2-D-10 Bethels 9x9 , 2= Nashville 112's, a Walker Stereo steel Amp Hilton VP, Hardwire Reverb with Lexicon Reverb Peavy Pro Fex II Peavey Digital power amp with effects.Sarno Black Box
Other than that, I ain't doin' nothin'... |
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Terry Bethel
From:
Hollister, Missouri (deceased)
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 1:07 pm
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The serial number is not on the outside of the steel.
Could it be under the tone and volume control plate?
Terry Bethel
_________________
www.ozarksteelguitar.com
www.terrybethelmusic.com
D-10 Mullen G2 9 x 9, 2-D-10 Bethels 9x9 , 2= Nashville 112's, a Walker Stereo steel Amp Hilton VP, Hardwire Reverb with Lexicon Reverb Peavy Pro Fex II Peavey Digital power amp with effects.Sarno Black Box
Other than that, I ain't doin' nothin'... |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 2:08 pm
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The SN on my Dual 8 Pro is right below the jack.
It's D83.
BTW, I paid $75 for it - many years ago. |
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John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 4:40 pm
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If your serial number is not stamped on the jackplate, the only things that make sense to me are that:
It is one of the very first ones made, or the plate was replaced at some point (I can't imagine why, you can't really wear it out). I have heard that they would order them in batches (pre- stamped) and pull them out of a basket as they needed them, but maybe with a Custom T8 model, because there were so few made, the process was different and maybe they stamped them as they used them.
It should have a T** type of serial number if it is very early or maybe just 3 or 4 digits if it's later. It may not have a date under the tuners because it could be too early for that. You should check the voume and tone pots to see if they are original and a date can be determined.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
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Tom Zielinski
From:
Buffalo, New York, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 6:29 pm old T3
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| I wonder if that old guitar was once mine. Like a fool I sold it on ebay. It was beat---I got it from an auction, the thing sat in a barn for nearly 50 years I was told. It looked just like Rick Alexanders but with 3 necks. The body was a little moldy , needed a lot of care. The chrome wasnt too bad in certain places. There was no stamped serial number. One pot was newer (60s) while the other was very old. It had the boxcars which I was not fond of (I prefer the traps), and had the roman numerals. I don't miss it but I am sure it was one of the first! |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 8:48 pm
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| It was one of the first. Fender came out with the Dual 8 and Custom with boxcars in 47, and by 49 it was all traps. Leo Fender loved Bob Wills music, and back then he kept the Playboys supplied with guitars and amps so they could road test them. Herb Remington was the Playboys Steel Player in those days, and his input greatly influenced the development of Fender Steel Guitars. |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 10:30 pm
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| My T-8 with trapezoids (Roman numerals, leg sockets, no decal on front) is T115--jack-plate location, individual dies with irregular spacing and verticality unlike the familiar later regular Fender serial numbers. Unfortunately, pots have been replaced and no pencil date marks anywhere, so dating is approximate...somewhere between 1949 and the arrows and rectangles fretmarkers. |
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