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Roy McKinney

 

From:
Ontario, OR
Post  Posted 26 Oct 2004 11:52 am    
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What is the difference between a Fender D8 Dual Pro and a Fender D8 Stringmaster??
What one is suppose to be the better of the two?
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Ron Victoria

 

From:
New Jersey, USA
Post  Posted 26 Oct 2004 3:32 pm    
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The Stringmaster is the more valuable guitar with it's dual pickups and 4 legs. The dual pro has trapezoidal pickups with the strings passing thru them. It has 3 legs. Both are excellent instruments.
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George Keoki Lake


From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
Post  Posted 26 Oct 2004 6:43 pm    
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Well, perhaps it is the more "valuable", but I still prefer the CUSTOM over the STRINGMASTER even though it has only 3 legs. I think the CUSTOM has the warmer tone but that's JMHO.
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Rick Alexander


From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 27 Oct 2004 1:17 am    
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Yes, the Dual Pro has a nice fat warm honkytonk kind of tone. The Stringmaster has a bright, chimey, unmistakeable tone that cuts through everything. It's kind of like comparing a Telecaster to a Strat, and in fact the Tele and the Dual Pro came out about the same time as did the Strat and the Stringmaster. I love 'em all, but I just can't get enough of my '57 T8. There's nothing like a Stringmaster.

As far as the 3 legs vs 4 legs thing is concerned, 4 legs are more stable in the sense that it is less likely to tip. 3 legs are more stable in the sense that it is less likely to rock if the legs are not perfectly even. If you have to move a 4 legger over a few inches on an uneven stage you may have some adjusting to do - with 3 legs, no worries.


Roy, if you're trying to decide between the two you're in an enviable position - there's no wrong decision here! They are both great guitars, and either one would be an excellent investment. It's just a matter of what sounds best to the individual player.

If you're still undecided, get both!

Pics of the above mentioned guitars and more can be seen at http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel http://rickalexander.com/ClassAxe

Rick
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Roy McKinney

 

From:
Ontario, OR
Post  Posted 27 Oct 2004 4:54 am    
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Thanks folks, I decided on the 1956 D8 Stringmaster.
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2004 9:46 pm    
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The scale-length in the mix will also cause changes in the overall sound. You have (2)-different instrument styles and a total of (4)-scale-lengths. That's (4)-different sounds in itself plus the different combinations of P/U's. It becomes a matter of preference all the way! If you scroll down a ways, I'll explain what I mean by (4) Scale-Lengths! Right now I have to listen to O’Reilly! because, he's l©©kin’ out for me! ------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
(2)-Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Customs
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click hereclick hereclick hereclick here

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 10 November 2004 at 05:44 PM.]

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Dan Sawyer

 

From:
Studio City, California, USA
Post  Posted 28 Oct 2004 11:24 pm    
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John Bechtel, please explain the scale lengths a little more. I know the stringmasters came originally in 26 inch which was changed to 25. There was also the 22.5 inch scale which Fender offered, i believe. What was the fourth scale length?
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Andy Volk


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2004 2:21 am    
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As far as I'm aware, Stringmasters came in three scale lengths: 22.5", 24.5" & 26". Over the course of their production life, they were available in blond, almond, white and black. My Stringmaster was refinished in a sort of Lake Placid blue by a previous owner.
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2004 3:24 am    
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and Inca Silver, according to Jody Carver.
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Roy McKinney

 

From:
Ontario, OR
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2004 5:35 am    
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Boy, what a wealth of information.
Now the next quetion, What is a source and identification for the color and type of paint/stain that is used on the "blond version" for a restoration of the original color? I want to get rid of the bar dings etc and this one will be kept in the house.
Also, is there a source for the Fender Decal on the front?

[This message was edited by Roy McKinney on 29 October 2004 at 06:36 AM.]

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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2004 5:45 am    
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Roy,
The place to get the nitro-cellulose lacquer like the guitar was originally finished with is: www.reranch.com They are located in Texas and have all the original Fender colors to choose from plus all the other supplies you will need. I refinished a T-8 Stringmaster using their products and it turned out GREAT! The key to getting that nice golden blonde we associate with a Fender steel is to use their tinted clear coat to get an "aged" appearance.
As far as the Fender decal is concern, that is available from our good friend, Bobbe Seymour. Just pull up his site and you will find it under "decals".
Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 29 October 2004 at 06:47 AM.]

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Todd Weger


From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
Post  Posted 29 Oct 2004 7:12 am    
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I agree with the aforementioned. I have a '56 T-8 (24.5"), and a '60 D-8 (22.5"). They both have similar tones, yet they're different enough to be significant. I would describe the longer T-8 as more "lush" sounding, with quite a bit more sustain, but I tend to use the shorter D-8 more as an all-purpose gigging guitar. It's easier for bar slants, particularly below the 7th fret, plus, it's just smaller and lighter to schlep around!

But I love 'em both. I'd love to add a Dual-Pro to the lineup someday, but I think it will need to be one of Rick Aiello's "Dustpans" first! Yowza!


TJW

------------------
Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, E13); Melobar SLS lapsteel (open D); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

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Webb Massey

 

From:
Villa Park, California, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2004 6:34 pm    
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Can anyone tell me what year Fender changed from the 24 l/2" scale to the 22 l/2" and what year did they stop making the 26"?
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Dan Sawyer

 

From:
Studio City, California, USA
Post  Posted 7 Nov 2004 9:26 pm    
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They didn't change to a scale, but made both scales available to players. The 26 inch scale was only made in the beginning and was discontinued because of broken strings. (supposedly)
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2004 12:10 am    
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What I was referring to when I said there were (4) scale lengths involved was Fender Dual-Pro/Custom = 22½”, and Fender Stringmasters 22½”, 24½” and 26”. This constitutes ‘(4) different sounds’. [not 4–different scale-lengths]

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
(2)-Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Customs
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click hereclick hereclick hereclick here
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2004 9:35 am    
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I have always played the long scale Stringmaster (26"). I have never encountered a problem with string breakage, but then again, I never used anything other that an E for the 1st string. It has always been my opinion that the longer the string, the longer the sustain.
Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 10 November 2004 at 09:36 AM.]

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