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Topic: Need help identifying a Fender Dual 8 |
Ed Mooney
From:
Evanston,IL
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Posted 3 May 2011 3:59 am |
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A local music tore asked if I could find out if this apparent 1948 Dual Pro is all original. I was told the pots date it at 1948. It is black. I don't recall ever seeing a black one this early. The body appears to be walnut. One strange feature, under the tuning pans, instead of a nice clean routing, it appears to be drilled out. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Ed
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 3 May 2011 6:56 am
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It does appear to have original parts, but it has been repainted. The original finish was either walnut or blond. Go here and flip back to page 107 to see what they say about it in Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars.
Moved to Steel Without Pedals from Pedal Steel.
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A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Chris Byars
From:
Denver, CO
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Posted 3 May 2011 1:21 pm
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What's not original:
Necks. Should be the type with roman numerals, as I understand it. These look like they're off of a later 50-54 model of Dual Pro or Custom. Or even a later Fender perhaps. I don't know much about Stringmasters, except they were longer scale. If those necks are from a Stringmaster, your intonation will be off. The spacing between the end of the neck and the pickup mount plate looks right though.
Switch knob, this is a newer style, probably actually for a Telecaster. The originals I have seen and own have the top indented, instead of a bubble like that.
The finish. May as well strip it and take it back to the original stain look to show off that walnut!
Those tone & volume knobs look suspect too. They also look like Telecaster hardware.
Otherwise:
Everything else looks straight. This looks like it has all the original slot-type screws too. They switched to Phillips-head in '52. If it sounds right and it's the right price, get it! Make sure the tuners aren't stripped. Make sure the pickups aren't shot, the pickups and the tuners are the most expensive fix for one of these.
If it weren't for that serial number, I would almost think this is a 50-54 that has boxcars installed on it. Then again, that control panel could be from an older guitar too. |
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Ed Mooney
From:
Evanston,IL
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Posted 4 May 2011 4:20 am
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| Thanks for all the help. Ed |
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Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 4 May 2011 4:59 am
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I disagree with Chris slightly on the knobs. Those look to be the flatish top, coarser knurl broadcaster type knobs which would fit the era.
I also had a dual pro with a D number and boxcar PU's that had the trapezoid fret markers. Yes, they could be replacements, but with early Fenders, they had transistion periods where they mixed parts as they transitioned to the next generation, so to speak. Who knows, I would lean towards them being replacements in this case.
Either way- Looks to be a cool refinished players dual pro. I would love to have one of those 40's versions to go with my custom. |
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Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 4 May 2011 5:03 am
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| Oh, by the way- those fretboards are the right scale. |
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