Suggestions for D8 and T8s for western swing and honky-tonk.

Danny Peters · From: New York, USA

Hello all.

Just looking for some general opinions on a couple of things.

I'm saving up for a better steel (I have a Rogue), and I have my heart set on a D8 or T8. I have no desire to ever play pedal steel. I want to play western swing, jazz, honky-tonk, and that sort of thing. I know I'll need a better amp than what I have, but what I really want to hear about is what kind of guitar I might want to look for and what I might want to avoid. I've seen a 1953 Magnatone T8 for $800 and a Gibson Consolette D8 for $900. I also won an eBay auction for a Conqueror D8, but the reserve wasn't met. (The Buy It Now was $2k.)

Thoughts?

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

As far as I'm concerned, the Cadillac of non-pedal guitars for Western swing is a Fender Stringmaster.
Single neck, double neck, triple neck or quad. For the best in sustain go with the 26" scale, like this one:

John Allison · From: Austin, Texas, USA

For the money, this one seems to be a great deal:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=198177
I've been playing my single-pickup triple for gigs and it sounds great.
However, the 2 pickup style - primarily Fender Stringmaster - is pretty hard to beat for the honky-tonk sound. The next batch of steels I make will include at least a couple of doubles with the Stringmaster-style double pickups. I better get it in gear, as I intend to have several for the TSGA Jamboree in March.
Here's a link to my steel page...right now there are only singles pictured. The doubles will be pretty similar.
http://www.allisonguitars.com/pages/steel_guitars.html
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John Allison
Allison Stringed Instruments
Austin, Texas
www.allisonguitars.com

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

The "gold standard" for the type of music you want to play is the Fender Stringmaster. However, you can sound great on just about any doubleneck eight string guitar...with practice!

Don Helms played with Hank Williams using a Gibson Console Grande, and he seems to have done all right. I personally think the doubleneck Magnatone steels are a great choice as well. Here's a good one on eBay.

I would stay away from the Conqueror or similar 1960s Japanese steel guitars. The construction quality just isn't there.

That Carvin referenced by John appears to be a very good deal, but I haven't played one of those.
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A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

I spent 15 years with a western swing band and it was mostly non-pedal, until I ended up being the rhythm guitar and I needed "fuller" chords, ie 5 and 6 pedal chords. Mostly, I played a T-10 with E13 on the front neck, C6 on the middle and A6, with a major 7th on the top on the bottom neck, because we did a lot of songs in C and I could get it more easily on the 3rd fret.

When I started, I had a S-10 Rickenbacker. Following that I got a D-8 Stringmaster, when I learned enough to require a 2nd tuning, then for the rest of the time, until the pedals, I played a Bigsby (back when nobody wanted them). The pedal guitar, usually, was a S-10 Bigsby.

Lee Jeffriess · From: Vallejo California

Danny, I would go for the Magnatone, if its still up for grabs.
Or if you really want a consul guitar that is 2nd to none, get a custom made Clinesmith.
Its like going back in time and getting a Bigsby.
Lee

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

ditto to chas.

go outside the box. get a D or a T 10. you will have all the potential to play whatever you want.

Jim Waldrop · From: Alabama, USA

The Fender Custom T8 has a very nice sound for any type of music and you can get a T8 Custom for hundreds less that a D8 stringmaster
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Georgeboards D8 Twin Princess, Fender Custom T8, Fender Stringmaster T8, Pre-war Rickenbacher 7string bakelite, Clinesmith D8 pedal steel, Clinesmith T8 non pedal steel, Simmons Genesis PSG, Simmons D10 psg, Peavey NV 112, Fender 65Princeton Reverb, Roland Cube

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i'd listen to lee, as he plays the type of music you want to professionally.

Lee Jeffriess · From: Vallejo California

Chris, the checks in the mail.
I don't believe that 10 strings is more advantages than 8 in the context of Western swing or early country.
99.9% is played on 8 string instruments, there's plenty right there.
The only limitations are above the wrists.
I know where Bill is coming from and he is(personally) right, but where do you draw the line.
If more is better then why don't we play four neck 14 stringers.
Jim, good point the Custom is a better deal.
Lee

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

My observations: I prefer the tone of the older Fenders with the trapeziod pickups. The downside is the trapezoid pickups get in the way of your picking hand when you're playing in the high frets. As for the Stringmasters, they are great too. Downside is the slants have to be a little more extreme due to the closer string spacing.

I like the playability of the Nationals and I find I take them out more often simply for that reason. The slants are good and the ease of playing in the high frets is better.

The only Gibson Console Grande I have played, I found I had to tune 442 open so it would not be so flat up around the eighth and tenth frets. The scale seems to be a little off. Slants and tone were very good.
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LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro

Charles Kleinert · From: Briggs, Texas, USA

Danny, you have had some great sugestions. Lee's sugestion of a Clinesmith would be great, just a little out of my budget. I have a Remington Steelmaster D8 and am very satisfied with it, great guitar, I think you would be very satisfied with one. They are made a lot like the Stringmasters, which are great, you can even get a pickup wound like a Fender.
Just my two cents.

chuck Very Happy

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Remington D8, Fender Champ, Peavey Nashville 112

Danny Peters · From: New York, USA

I thank everyone who responded. I've got lots to chew on.

I suppose I'm just being a bit impatient. I've been searching every music store in town, online, plus eBay and even ShopGoodwill.com for D8s and T8s. I'm finding a lot of stuff for $1500 and up (out of my budget), and so when I come across ANYTHING in the $400-600 range I have this feeling that if I don't grab it I'll have to wait until I can afford the $1500 guitars.

I'm bidding on two or three auctions this week, but I'm also thinking that perhaps I should just take it easy, watch eBay for a couple of months, and see what else comes along.

I've noticed that a lot of those higher-priced guitars aren't selling. Is this a case of the seller being out of touch, or are they actually going to get that price sooner or later?

If I hang around eBay for a couple more months, what can I expect to end up paying for a D8 or T8 Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, or Magnatone?

(I've played guitar for years, so I understand that the rarer, nicer, more desirable guitars will go for much higher. I'm talking about a basic, average, run-of-the-mill guitar here.)

Again, thanks to everyone for their input.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Danny,

You can select as a search option in eBay "Completed Listings" to see what has actually sold and what's been left hanging. For example, of the eight Stringmaster steel guitars recently up for auction, three of them sold, for $999, $1025 and $1999 USD.

You'll probably have better luck keeping up with the For Sale: Instruments section of the Steel Guitar Forum.

Good luck on your search!
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A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I have a Fender T-8 Custom that is fantastic. I like it better than the Stringmasters I've had. Of course, a Bigsby or Clinesmith would be my version of a Rolls Royce.
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HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

I think that your best value, bang for the buck at present is that D8 Magnatone...it's a great steel...the few times I've seen Jeff Ahoy play,....that's what he played and he of course made it sing (but that's the player as well as the guitar).....he plays Hawaiian style....but dial in the tone that you want for western swing......

Todd Clinesmith · From: Lone Rock Free State Oregon

I'd go for the Magnatone over a Stringmaster, and you will save a few $$. The tone is warm and rich compared to the stringmaster, which I prefer.
Todd

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

I have a D-8 Stringmaster and a D-8 Lyric Magnatone and I will take the Magnatone because of better tone. It is more mellow. Of course, I play Hawaiian music.

Aloha, Smile

Don

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

You can play both kinds of music on these: "Country and Western"!! Whoa!

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

Maybe the Mag is the fuller tone, but in a band playing honky tonk I like the bite of a Stringmaster. Its probably the same reason that guys like Red Volker don't play Les Pauls. Even though the LP is a fantastic guitar.

I can't seem to warm up to only 3 legs on a multi-neck steel, either.
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John Allison · From: Austin, Texas, USA

The more I play my single pickup triple (Vintage Vibe CC style single coils) the more I miss playing my stringmaster-style single neck. There's just nothing like the clarity and honk of a good set of Fender-style singles.
I agree that the Magnatone is going to be the cheapest way to get into a double, but I predict that you won't be satisfied until you get a Stringmaster or it's equivalent.
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John Allison
Allison Stringed Instruments
Austin, Texas
www.allisonguitars.com

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