Hey Jimmie -- nope, no Omer Huttos in this band. Haven't seen any of those cats for a long time. I did see Chris Hattingh though in March 2003 for the first time in 16 years, and then several times after that, the last being about a year ago. He was living in Cocoa Beach, but now lives in Sarasota. Still a shredder like nobody's business. Not my cup O' tea, but to each his own, I guess.

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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)

That reminds me of the first band I was ever in back in '62. The bass player had a Jazz Bass, I had a Jaguar and the other guitar player had a '56 Sunburst Strat (this'll kill you) So we got the bright idea to be matchies. We had a local paint shop strip 'em all down and paint 'em baby blue The chicks dug it I guess. I remember he shaved the neck of that strat a little too far, revealing the truss rod. Not long after he traded it in on a Tele and thought he was real slick because he got $300 tradein for it. A '56 Sunburst Strat! You can't even look at one of those for under $30,000 now. That Jag would be worth a few grand now too. I traded it in on a Gibson ES330, so I didn't come out too bad. The bass player swapped his blue Jazz Bass for an early 50s P Bass - he always was the smart one! Ah memories . . .

Okay, back to the topic . .

I don't think my friend Chuck Brittain will mind the plug . .

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 02 January 2005 at 09:59 PM.]

He said it was one of the "end of the trail" Stringmasters ... '70s version.

I asked how it compared with those early ones ... and he said ...

quote:

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"step away your computer, get in your Jeep ... and drive down there NOW"

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Sure is a nice one ... Thanks Jody.

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Aiello's House of Gauss

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 30 December 2004 at 05:09 PM.]

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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 30 December 2004 at 05:38 PM.]

Thanks to Dana Duplan for this sweetheart '56. I also have a honey of a '57 D-8 Tommy Cass sent me.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Thanks, Herb!

Man, this is Stringmaster HEAVEN!!

I contacted Mr. Carver ... described it and told him $700.

My wife then went in to get it for my birthday a few years back ... and came out with it for $600.

She's tiny ... but tough as nails

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Aiello's House of Gauss

quote:

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She's tiny ... but tough as nails

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Ah yes, that's the best kind to have! You got a sweet deal there, no doubt about it . .

.

quote:

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Fender made Stringmasters through the 1970's and they were discontinued by 1981, according to George Gruhn's book

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But I never hear anybody talking about their late '70s or '80 Stringmaster. Does that mean they cut back on production in the 70s and then just let their existing stock deplete during the last few years? If so, the late 70s (and 1980) models, being the rarest, might be . . . really valuable?

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These are new pictures of my "55" Stringmaster D8. I got this one
a while back, where it was sitting in someone's collection for
decades.....The Legs are stored in the upper half of the case lid, which
is in fantastic shape! Also worth pointing out, are the White Fender
rubber feet on the bottom of the Legs. The push button neck selector is
a neat mechanism as well.

I bought my Ebony "59" Stringmaster D6 in 1959 , brand new from Manny's
Music in NYC. Played it on the road
from 62 to 67. It has the blade neck selector (easier to use) and the
case holds far more and all equipment is stored in the bottom half. The
D6 was my first, had it all these years .....both Steel's are 22 1/2"
scale.

I bought the Tele, new, in 1967. The Fender Concert Amp I bought, new,
in 1960.

The cover & grill cloth on the Concert Amp were redone in my dumb early
20's. The Amp is all tube and in fabulous condition. The Stringmaster
D6 was repainted at the same time from Walnut to Ebony. Otherwise, all
the equipment is in original store bought condition.

Save the Stringmasters.............I am impressed with your campaign. I
would love to see someone start a Stringmaster Preservation Club or
society..........you're on the right track,

Yeah, I get together with Ron Victoria in NJ.......he's got a beautiful
"60's" Butterscotch Stringmaster D6.......

Thank you for your help in posting, Rick, and have a Happy New Year. TX
rgds,

Ron
"55" Stringmaster D8
"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster
"60" Concert Amp, Fender
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[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 January 2005 at 08:20 AM.]

Howard, was that on the high C's?

Hey, wait a minute - I've heard of no picks, but no bar?? Now that's a whole new slant!

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 01 January 2005 at 10:16 AM.]

Thank you for posting my pictures (gonna have to learn how to do that). We snapped them outback, in cold New Jersey yesterday.

But, one thing is for sure, Fender Stringmasters and equipment are always hot!!!

We are very fortunate to live in this country, especially, when you think about what's happening around the rest of the world today.......Soooo with that, Happy New Year to you and to all. TX

rgds,

Ron Brennan

quote:

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I'd rather look at these pics than pics of chicks!

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Thongmaster D8.....26" gams

Those of you who purchased your Fender Stringmasters or whatever Fender on the east coast during those years. I have to confess that is was me who received the commision.

If I were able to I would re-imburse all of you
for choosing what I always knew was the best for years to come. It was difficult to convince the music dealers back then, but you all proved I was right,at least the one time in my life.

If Mannys or Sam Ash and others are seeing this..I told you so.

Edited. There will never be another Leo Fender.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 02 January 2005 at 08:29 AM.]

You got it wrong, (for once), it's us who would gladly pay you a bigger commission for what you and Leo Fender & your great company did for millions of us out here.

Please know, the excellence of craftmanship in executing the production of ideas the Fender family & it's employees came up with, along with the honourable salesmanship & marketing of these incredible instruments will never be surpassed.

You guy's got it right. The legacy will continue for generations to come. All we have to do is take care of these instruments, play them and get paid for doing so. Our most important assignment is to pass the legacy on to the next generations to come.

It's an honor for me, an ordinary fellow, to comment to you, about what you guy's did...TX
rgds,
Ron E. Brennan

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"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 02 January 2005 at 10:05 AM.]

quote:

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Those of you who purchased your Fender Stringmasters or whatever Fender on the east coast during those years. I have to confess that is was me who received the commission.

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Jody, You deserve it all, and more! Hope you socked some of it away for a rainy day . .

quote:

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If Mannys or Sam Ash and others are seeing this..I told you so

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They never listen, they just don't get it.

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Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 69 Strat, Rickenbacker BD6
Music Man & Peavey Amps

Hope you socked some of it away for a rainy day . . I did years back but since then too many rainy days in my life have depleted
the $$$. But the memories still are with me.
Recently I lost the most precious thing in my life. That was the biggest loss ever.
Ron,Thank you for your nice comments as well.
There are few originals that remember those glorious fun days at Fender. All with the exception of Bill Carson, George Fullerton & Dale Hyatt and myself can reflect on those days. And most of all the main man Donald D.Randall who was the man responsible for most of Leo FEnder's success story.

Thanks again. edited to add Save The Stringmasters,there will never be anything like it.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 02 January 2005 at 12:51 PM.]

Rick

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 02 January 2005 at 01:58 PM.]

quote:

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Hey Rick:

If you're still posting pictures, here's one of my D8
22.5. Not sure of the date of manufacture (no date
under the tuning pans) but it does have a black tolex
case.

Aloha
Bill Leff

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That guitar wiil outlive all of us.

Hope this is some help to you. edited for spelling.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 02 January 2005 at 05:36 PM.]

I can promise you I'll do my part to make sure my Stringmasters live on long after I do.

I made you this Cool3D Logo - hope you like it.

I do appreciate it.

Thank You.

I saw your question about the Push Button vs. the Blade Throw Switch, neck selector.

I have both. It really comes down to whether you use the various necks often and in the same number your playing. If that's that's the case, then the blade throw switch is far more efficient for quick changes.

Additionally, the Push Button makes an audible noise when switching necks. This might not be desirable when recording. Further, if you want both neck's on, you have two movements to make (time & motion) and it can be tricky in this case. The blade is much more quieter and precise. For me, I generally stay with one neck when playing anyway.

But I have to say, the pushbutton is really neat. It's a complex mechanisn and an engineering feat!! I admire it. My "55" D8, with the push button's, is the one I primarily use. It's no major problem in either case for the foregoing reasons. TX
rgds,

Ron

P.S. If you haven't, have you ever thought of writing memoirs about your experiences with Fender. If not, I hope you would do us an immeasurable service by writing one. It's my conviction, you have a wonderful story to tell.

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"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 03 January 2005 at 07:14 AM.]

quote:

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Nice of you to do that and make me feel important. But I am not as others on this Forum.

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Jody, having your unique experience and expertise to draw on is an invaluable resource to us all. And you're always right there with the answers to our questions. So I have to respectfully disagree - you are very important.

quote:

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What's your opinion of the push button neck selector switches rather than as opposed to the blade throw switch?

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All 3 of my Stringmasters have the blade throw switches, so I haven't actually tried a push button Stringmaster yet. But I guess the big advantage of push button on a T8 would be that you could turn on any combination of necks. And the advantage of the bt switch is that you can see at a glance which neck is hot.

I think a 5 position stratocaster-type blade throw switch plus a toggle switch that turns on the front neck would be cool. This would enable any combination of necks and still allow the player to see at a glance which necks are hot (I had a toggle switch like that installed on my Stratocaster so I can get any combination of pickups - that's what gave me that idea).

quote:

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If you haven't, have you ever thought of writing memoirs about your experiences with Fender. If not, I hope you would do us an immeasurable service by writing one. It's my conviction, you have a wonderful story to tell.

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