Of all the steels I've played so far, this is the coolest one - huge tone, great sustain, and there's just something about the way it reflects the light . . .

Who else has a Stringmaster that is their favorite guitar?

Rick Alexander
click 4 more pics

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Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 63 Fender Stringmaster D8, 60 Fender Stringmaster T8, 57 Fender Champ, 47 National New Yorker - Music Man and Peavey Amps . .

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 02 January 2005 at 09:56 PM.]

The T-8 that I had was also a wonderful steel. Todd can take it so much farther than I can and he deserved it.

I am running the Stringmaster straight into the amp with NO other effects. incredible tone, deep resonants, incredible highs.

I gotta say, I am glad I waited. I am going to hang on to this one for a long time.

"Now, Take It Away Leon! That whining guitar"

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50'sFender Dual-Pro, 56 Fender Double Stringmaster, Melobar "Red Rat" 63' Gretsch Country Gentleman, Fender TV Front & my lil Roland Micro Cube!!!

I had Fodera make my 6 string bass from Swamp Ash and a layer of Purple Heart wood on top,
and Vinnie F. said it sustains better and more prettily than many oft he other basses he has made.

If you play the 2nd octave G on the top C string it sustains long, but then fades into an equal level harminic smoothly.

He atribuutes this lovely resonant quality to the swamp ash.

Yep - swamp ash. When I AB'd this guitar with the 63 D8 the difference in sound was remarkable. The 57 has twice the volume and 10 times the tone - fatter mids, sweeter overtones, and way more sustain. That's not to say the 63 doesn't sound great - it surely does. When I got the 63 I thought it was all I'd ever need - until I played this one.

It's great that you got that '56, Gary - I won't even say I told you so . . . You must be in steel heaven now! Now that you got it all shined up how about posting a pic? Also, I was wondering - how does that case smell?

David, ne pas attendre longtemps mon ami - les "Stringmasters" ne devinirent pas moins chers (pretty terrible, huh?) Oh, and one more thing - they ain't gettin' any cheaper. Gary just got the last sweet deal on the planet.

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50'sFender Dual-Pro, 56 Fender Double Stringmaster, Melobar "Red Rat" 63' Gretsch Country Gentleman, Fender TV Front & my lil Roland Micro Cube!!!

This 1960 model is the 24 1/2' scale
more pics

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 26 December 2004 at 09:14 PM.]

I just plugged it in and played it for the first time in a while - it sounds really good! Better than I remember . .

more pics

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 27 December 2004 at 01:12 AM.]

Jimmie -- how are things in Bloomington? Did I hear y'all got a little bit of snow? How's the finish on that "poly-urinate" guitar doing!? Do you keep in touch with Ferg?

Gary -- you're too kind. Thank you. Yep, this '56 T-8 is one fine, fine guitar. It has an amazing tone, and is really fun to play.

I like both my Stringmasters for different reasons. My '60 D-8 shortscale has a tone that I like for a lot of the more up-tempo hapa-haole stuff we do. I particularly like it when playing the single note melody stuff. Easier for slants, too. The longer (24.5") scale '56 T-8 I bought from Mr. Boyett is my fave for the more slower, more lush sounding tunes like "Sand," and "Beyond The Reef." It sustains forever, too.

Stringmasters definitely have a vibe and sound all their own.

TJW

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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)

Todd, don't worry too much about Jimmie - I think he's coming down to S. Florida for little "visit" . . But it ain't so warm here either - it went down below 60 last night, brrr! I hope it warms up by New Year's Eve - I'm doing an outdoor show on Hollywood Beach.

Erv, is it true what they say about 26" scale Stringmasters - that the tone and sustain is incredible? What about slants on the lower frets? I sure would like to see a pic of that Quad . .

Any of you fellers who would like to share a pic of their Stringmaster(s), just email it to me rick@rickalexander.com and I'll post it right here on this thread.

Sound & Tone is the name of the game. Yet, the looks of a Stringmaster are incredibly beautiful as well. These Stringmaster steel's are workhorses. With a little care, they just keep going, going & going!! The best is the bridge tone control, how can you beat it!!! I am fortunate to have a November "55" Strngmaster pushbutton D8.

Also, I'm happy to have a Sringmaster "59" D6. Easier neck selector and I like the case with that one. What else can I say. If you got one, take great care of it for the next generation. Tx
rgds,
Ron

This is Erv's '54 T8 - truly a thing of beauty!

And here are Erv's D8 and Single neck Deluxe8 with the T8 - dang!

I'm really looking forward to seeing that Quad8 when you finish the restoration, Erv!
Thanks for sharing . .

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 27 December 2004 at 07:13 PM.]

quote:

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If you got one, take great care of it for the next generation

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Ron, you're so right. These Stringmasters have survived for half a century - and we're still playing them! Most of us won't be here 50 years from now (I'd be 108 years old!) but there's no reason these intelligently crafted instruments have to bite the dust too. My son who is now 38 is a pro guitar player - he's been playing since he was a little kid. I sent him a lap steel for Christmas and he's getting steel fever. He has been working with slide guitar and open tunings for years, so he has a lot of knowledge to draw on. There's a ray of hope for the future of Stringmasters!

So, Ron - how about emailing me a couple of pics of your Stringmasters, and I'll post them on this thread . .

And one more thing -

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 27 December 2004 at 06:00 PM.]

Introducing the 5 neck Stringmaster:

So you and Ron Brennan play together up there in Jersey - that's pretty cool!
How about sending me a Stringmaster pic for this thread . . .

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 27 December 2004 at 07:05 PM.]

Here's my 65 D-8

And my restored 56 pushbutton T-8. I rechromed all the metal parts, got a pro paint job from a guy who paints a lot of "boutique" guitars here in L.A. and believe it or not - I found a set of NOS Fender fretboards on E-Bay for $160.

The T-8 in action with The Riders. I also played this guitar on most of the new Red Simpson CD
It's got that "Banana Pudding" color I love so much on a Stringmaster.

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Wow! Thanks Mikey, those are both just beautiful! And what a cool shirt . .

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 28 December 2004 at 10:41 AM.]

Michael - sorry about that, it's fixed now. Thanks again for the killer pics. And thanks for the Steel King comment - I've been thinking about getting one. "Spectacular" - I like the sound of that!

PS: I forgot to mention that there also was a difference in how the different necks were switched on. My '54 has the little black slide switches and later on they went to the push buttons. I'm not sure if they did something different after that or not.

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 29 December 2004 at 02:47 PM.]

When I tap on the pickup nearest the fretboard, with a metal finger pick, it seems to raise the intensity (volume ?) of that pickup as I rotate the tone control counter-clockwise.

This next one is a better shot of the guitar. I'm playing with a local cat by the name of Charlie Ho. We were playing some deck luau thing. It was hot and rainy, but at least the wind was blowing the rain in on us and all our gear!

I'll see if I have any good pics of my 1960 D8.

TJW

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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)

[This message was edited by Todd Weger on 29 December 2004 at 11:34 AM.]