| Author |
Topic: June 1954 Stringmaster triple |
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 24 Dec 2012 6:22 pm |
|
I just got one from fleebay and was wondering if it was standard for them to be configured with the 'outside neck' to be set up for the bass tuning as the quad was ?
I understood that the norm was just 3 NORMAL 8 string necks ?
But ideal for doing the "Baritone Steel" parts that were a feature on the early Hawaii Calls Instrumental albums..
The machine heads (tuners) are in "as New" condition and show absolutely no wear. The chromework is also excellent on the guitar..
I'll post some pictures and soundclips when it's fully restored..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380527303617
° . . . ☾ °☆ . * ● ¸ . ★ ° :. . • ○ ° ★ . * . . ° . ● . ° ☾ °☆ ¸. ● . ★ ★ ° ☾ ☆ ¸. ¸ ★ :. . • ○ ° ★ . * . . ¸ . ° ¸. * ● ¸ . ° ☾ ° ¸. ● ¸ . ★ ° :. . • ° . * :. . ¸ . ● ¸ ★ ★☾ °★ . . °☆ . ● ¸ . ★ ° . • ○ ° ★ . * . ☾ ° ¸. * ● ¸ ° ☾ °☆ . * ¸. ★ You have been sprinkled with Peace, Love, & Happiness! Now go forth and sprinkle other people too!★ ° . . . ☾ °☆ . * ● ¸ . ★ ° :. . • ○ ° ★ . * . . ° . ● . ° ☾ °☆ ¸. ● . ★ ★ ° ☾ ☆ ¸. ¸ ★ :. . • ○ °
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——>
Last edited by basilh on 28 Dec 2012 1:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
 |
Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
|
|
|
|
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 7:22 am
|
|
Happy Christmas Stephen.
Yes, all the Quads I've seen have had the deeper nut and larger holes on the tuner barrel (Capstan)
BUT, this is the first triple that I've seen set up for the bass tuning on any neck.
And I was wondering if that was the norm or was it a custom option ?
Maybe a catalogue from 1954 would provide the answer. Where's MLA when you need him ? |
|
|
|
Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 7:44 am
|
|
| Interesting! My March 1954 triple Stringmaster also has the outside neck geared for heavy strings. |
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 10:04 am
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 1:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 10:33 am
|
|
| I dont know the date of mine but my T8! also have the bass neck, in fact I dont really know what to do with it. |
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 12:12 pm
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 1:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 1:06 pm
|
|
I've never bought an instrument to "compete" with other musicians. Interesting ploy.
What does the adjustable string spacing bridge look like and how does it work? |
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 1:47 pm
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 2:18 pm
|
|
| I'm guessing the "tailpieces" are what set the string spacing since the bridges are non-grooved cylinders. I imagine only the first generation Stringmasters had the variable spacing option since later versions had the tailpiece integrated into the faceplate? |
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 3:01 pm
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 7:53 pm
|
|
What I've found interesting is that the tone control is actually a balance control betwixt the twin pickups,(Tone control fully clockwise is just the bridge pickup and fully anticlockwise is both pickups.)
No balance controls under the bridge covers, which are fixed as opposed to 'flip-up' on later models.
AND the string spacing is narrower (5/16") than the later models, as are the pickup polepieces, AND the output volume remains fairly constant regardless of how many necks are switched on.
The legs are not angled as much as the later models.
The twin that I have is different in the angle of the legs although they both are from the same era, this one from June 1954 (Assembled by Freddy Tavares)and my twin from October 1953 (Assembled by Mary Lemus)
The five Fender employees who did assemble were Gloria Fuentes, Tadeo and Freddy Tavares, Mary Lemus and An Other.. According to the available videos and Also Jody Carver.. |
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 8:47 pm
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Dennis Smith
From:
Covington, Georgia, USA
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 8:56 pm
|
|
HI.
I have a 54 T8 and checked and I have the outside neck geared for the heavy strings. What would be the gauges and best tuneing for the heavy strings. |
|
|
|
Scott Thomas
|
Posted 25 Dec 2012 9:29 pm
|
|
| My '54 had the nut (and larger tuning post holes) for a bass tuning. I thought it was rather the norm for these than the exception. I've seen several pictures of older Stringmasters with the same set up. |
|
|
|
Alexander Stepanenko
From:
Moscow, Russia
|
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 8:00 am
|
|
I got this guitar new in 1954 and one neck was set up for bass strings. At the time I got it, I was playing with a polka band. We didn't have a bass player or tuba player in the group so I put bass strings on the bottom 4 strings on that neck. I left regular strings on the top 4 strings.
 |
|
|
|
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 8:11 am
|
|
| That guitar looks remarkable Erv, has it been refinished ? |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 8:20 am
|
|
Yes, I completely disassembled it and refinished it.
This guitar has a little history.
I bought it new and then when I got my fingertip Sho~Bud I sold it. Another steeler played it for a number of years and then passed away. I had a chance to buy it back and I did. By then, it was pretty beat up and needed restoring. It looked like it had been played with a claw hammer.
This is what it looked like when I got it back:
 |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 8:47 am
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 2:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
|
|
|
|
Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 2:24 pm
|
|
deleted
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 21 May 2018 2:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 2:38 pm
|
|
| How's you quad coming along, Basil ? |
|
|
|
basilh
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 26 Dec 2012 2:52 pm
|
|
Alan the quad is being stripped down and refinished by Mike.
The gauges for the Bass neck would be approx.
E = .030
C# = .036
A = .042
F# = .048
E = .056
C# = .062
A = .070
F# = .076 |
|
|
|
