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Topic: Difference in necks on Stringmasters |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 Feb 2003 12:50 pm |
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I am the process of refinishing my recently re-acquired 1955 T-8 Stringmaster. There has been considerable discussion on the Forum about the difference in tone on the different necks. In refinishing my Stringmaster, I noticed that there in considerable difference in the wood that make up the necks. Particularly with the neck closest to your belly. It looks like the wood used in this neck came from a different part of the tree than the other necks. Besides being the thinnest neck, the difference in the wood could contribute greatly to the difference in tone from the other necks.
Erv |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 21 Feb 2003 9:19 pm
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Erv
Your question is difficult to answer. All stringmasters and for that matter all steel guitars manufactured by Fender were made of "swamp ash" or "ash".
The color difference you refer to was a possibilty of the age changing the tint of the wood. So far as I know all guitars were consistent in manufacturing. I had something such as you are expieriencing and was told that the aging process can cause that.
Ricky Davis and Mike Black are both very knowledgeable regarding woods and such.
Perhaps if Ricky or Mike see this,they may be able to give you more information. |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 1:30 am
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What is the difference you see???
I'm not understanding what the difference is...and if you haven't bleached the wood from the old stain...than they will look differently because of the pours in the different thicknesses.
Ricky |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 8:44 am
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I am not talking about the difference in color, I am talking about the difference in "grain" in the wood. The front two necks have a real fine, tight grain and the back neck has more of an open, course grain.
Erv |
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Dana Duplan
From:
Ramona, CA
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 8:59 am
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Jody, correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume that the necks weren't manufactured to go together as a set, ie the thin necks were made with one setup, medium one setup, thick one setup, etc. Then when the assembler goes to bolt them together, they grab one from each pile. There is a lot of variation in the grain of the swamp as, as seen on vintage Teles and Strats, so that could account for the mismatch.
DD |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 1:22 pm
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Ricky,Erv,Dana.
You three make a valid point.What Ricky posted was a fact.
Erv,I beleive what Dana posted is a good example to answer your question. I dont beleive it will affect the sound or performance of your guitar.
Whenever wood was selected for a particular instrument,the grain "if noticeable" was desireable,that would be laquered over and if the wood had any not so desireable aesthetic appearance,those would be finished off in a custom color to hide the impurities
in the appearance of the guitar it was being
manufactured for maybe a small knot or natural blemish which would have no bearing on the sound.
That was the reason the "walnut guitar" was discontinued. There was not an ample supply of prime walnut at that time and it would have been a waste to cover a walnut body with a paint that would cover the beauty of natural walnut not to overlook the cost of walnut. Ricky has his own theory regarding walnut as opposed to ash or swamp ash and his description and explanation to me via e mail convinced me that Ricky knows all there is to know about various kinds of wood. Walnut guitars were slightly higher in price and no pun intended,most players preffered the blonde or now called the "butterscotch" finish. So thats what Fender went for. Its difficult to take issue with success.
When Fender went with the now called "blonde" it covered any wood blemishes that would other wise be impossible to hide. Then came what is now called the "pickled" finish. Only Custom color instruments were consistent. Candy Apple Red,Sonic Blue Foam Green etc etc.
I asked Leo for an Inca Silver Custom and he refused to accomodate me. He felt this would invite people wanting Custom colors and he wanted to stay with what he had regarding the steel guitars.
Mc Aullife bugged Leo for that Fire Engine Red guitar he played and I can assure you Don Randall and Leo were not overjoyed and told Leon,you want it Red?? you have it done.  Hey I didnt have a partnership I was a saleman,however all due respect to Don & Leo it was the opinions of the salesman they made many decision's based on what the salesman offerd as to what was happening in the field and I think that was the way to go.Who else but the salesman had their hands on the pulse of the buying public?
In any or all of the above,,it has no bearing on the tone or performance of the guitar. It was a matter of making the most do the proper job out of not having to have that perfect grain of wood.
There is a vast difference when we see the guitars of today,the finishes are carefully chosen and that adds to the cost and rightfully so.
Fender was for the most part a mass produced
product that did the job and had the mass amount of interest and buyers.
Leo was a beliver in the "waste not want not" theory and all things considered did one heck of a job with his theory.Agree??
Erv,,play that Guitar and dont be concerened
of the issue you posted. If the guitar sounds great so be it.Play it and enjoy what you have,there are not many left and consider yourself lucky to have what you have. I'm sorry,I cannot post an explanation without making a speech.
And Dana,,,you nailed it.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 22 February 2003 at 01:28 PM.] |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 6:07 pm
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Jody and all,
Thanks for your responses. However, I am not upset about the difference in the wood, the finish or anything like that. I just said that maybe the difference in the wood could contribute to the difference in tone between the different necks. Not a big deal.
Erv |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 7:02 pm
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I believe the thickness on the necks cause the major difference in sound.
Each neck is about half an inch wider (top to bottom) than the next neck, nearer you.
More Mass=More Sustain. |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 22 Feb 2003 9:37 pm
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Its no wonder I dont sustain I'm only 155 lbs
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2003 7:50 am
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Jody:
I had a gentlemen e-mail me and he said that he recently rebuilt a Stringmaster for Duke Ching and the belly neck was made of oak.
Erv |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 24 Feb 2003 8:29 am
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Erv
I have no idea about the oak wood being used.
Why are you so concerned about the wood? If you like the guitar,just play it.Who knows why? anything is possible,,maybe Leo had an oak tree in his back yard and decided to cut it down and experiment..he was sort of a "Dr.Frankenstein" and Forrest was "Igor"
Tony Orlando had an oak tree one time and he
tied a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
and had the tree refinished in "Butterscotch"
Then along came the vampires at CBS headed by "Count Dracula"
Be well
Norman Bates |
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