Well, it arrived today!

Here are a couple of pics, and there are a lot more pics on this page.

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Carter D-10 C6/E9, 54' Fender Champion C6, two Oahu laps C6/G, two Nationals C6/G, and two Resonators tuned to open G

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Steel players do it without fretting

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http://www.waikiki-islanders.com

Spectacular!!! Ditto Jeff. Can't wait to hear it!! "Champagne Dreams & Steelmaster Wishes: Did you ever get that Fender Steelking Amp?....maybe I missed it....TX
rgds,
ron

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JCFSC member since 2005
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

Don

Give Herb best when you speak to him and congratulations to you and to Herb for such a great guitar.

Play it in good health

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What tunings are you using?

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Interesting that pickups are mounted so far from the bridge nowadays.

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Baz, it has a surprising degree of sustain, better than I figured it would. It's funny - I have a 24 1/2" scale D8 Steelmaster that has less sustain than this one (22 1/2"). It gets nice clear harmonics too. So it's already defying the laws of physics somewhat. But, the proof is in the pudding as they say - so we'll see how it records and how it is at a live performance. At any rate, it has passed the first test - it's very photogenic . .

It sounds killer, but it's a different feel than the Stringmaster. The Steelmaster is like a ritzy hotel and the Stringmaster is like coming home . . I'm going to play the Steelmaster in the next song I'm recording - It's a new tune called "Dance With Your Angel Baby"

With the Stringmaster, I use a Music Man HD 130 212 and a Peavey Session 500. But this guitar completely overpowers the Music Man - to much whallop for a tube amp I suppose. It sounds much better through 2 Session 500s.

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Did you ever get that Fender Steel King Amp?

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Have you noticed any difference with or without the Hilton Digital Sustain on this beauty??? TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSC member since 2005
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

I beleive Herb's guitars are an extension of what Leo would have done if he were here today.

Herb if your seeing this ,,good luck you did a great job and I think your non pedal expertise and experience is what made you develop a great guitar.

Great job,,let the others produce pedal guitars you can "Out Ride Em Anytime"

Edited for one of the Greatest Steel Players
in our generation HERB REMINGTON.

[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 February 2005 at 12:08 PM.]

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Have you noticed any difference with or without the Hilton Digital Sustain on this beauty???

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Ron, I hadn't even tried the Hilton Sustain with the Steelmaster till just a few minutes ago, as I thought it was sustaining just fine and of course I'm still getting "acquainted" with it. But the difference is remarkable! The Hilton seems to have more of an effect with these pickups than it does with Stringmaster pickups, and now the sustain is endless. Maybe it has something to do with the impedence, I guess the Hilton Sustain was designed more for the PSG type pickups. In any case, it really brings out the sustain . .

Dan, Bill is correct - the bridge and nut are grooved. There is slight taper in the string spacing from bridge to nut, same as a Stringmaster. The precision machining of all the hardware is very noticeable close up. I'll try to get a clear close up pic of the bridge and nut.

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nice pic of you too. sure glad there is no hawaiian shirt in the way

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Well, thank you Randy. I just can't stand to wear any stuff with patterns or prints anymore. I used to, but for some reason I can only wear solid colors now. Funny how that is . .

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Herb if you're seeing this ,,good luck you did a great job and I think your non pedal expertise and experience is what made you develop a great guitar

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Jody, Herb doesn't have a computer as we know it - he gets text email but that's it. I'll be sure to pass your comments along though. In fact, in a day or two I'll print this thread and mail it to him. So if anybody has additional comments they'd like Herb to read - now's your chance!

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 11 February 2005 at 03:54 PM.]

Not doubt about it, Herb does understand how to make a steel guitar. I never did own or even play a stringmaster, but I do own a Gibson Console Grande and while I still feel it is hard to beat the tone of the original guitars made back in the 50s, my steelmaster is certainly the next best thing.

If I was only as good as my guitar I would be great....

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Remington Steel T-8 Steelmaster
Gibson Console Grande

[This message was edited by Chuck Halcomb on 11 February 2005 at 04:11 PM.]

I have a black T-8, short scale. The tone and sustain are excellent. The George L pickups are nicely mounted. Rick, I like how he painted them the same color as the guitar.

I don't know if everyone can see it from the pictures, but Herb makes a little indentation on each neck where the pinky finger of the picking hand rests. This is really a great ergonomic design to make the hand more comfortable, giving the fingers some extra room. The tuners are a little further from the nut, also to give the fingers more room when playing on the 1st fret.

I like the independent neck switches. It makes it easy to turn them on or off with a quick flick. It's easier for me to use than a "dial" system like is on my T-8 Magnatone...I say "system", because there's basically two switches (a knob and a 3 way lever switch) that have different neck configurations...it's easy to forget what postion I have to have them in.

Herb puts several coats of lacquer paint on the Steelmasters...you don't have to worry about it peeling like the paint on some of my other guitars have done.

Herb makes a fine instrument. Excellent quality and sound!

Neat about the Hilton Digtal Sustain...your right about PSG pick-ups and the Hilton...still, to me, its great on the Stringmaster. Looking forward to hearing that beauty........what are you going to call it? Willie!!!.... TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSC member since 2005
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

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I don't know if everyone can see it from the pictures, but Herb makes a little indentation on each neck where the pinky finger of the picking hand rests. This is really a great ergonomic design to make the hand more comfortable, giving the fingers some extra room.

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It's ergonomic!

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you're right about PSG pick-ups and the Hilton...still, to me, it's great on the Stringmaster.

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Looking forward to hearing that beauty........what are you going to call it? Willie!!!....

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Willie ?!? nahh, he's persona non grata!

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 11 February 2005 at 09:36 PM.]

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Ricky Davis

Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com

I'm sure there have been other full reviews of Herb's Steels here before that I haven't noticed; But it's good to see Herb get such deserved coverage. That steel sure tickles my fancy.

Thanks for the number of nice things you've posted for all to enjoy.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 12 February 2005 at 08:11 AM.]

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Next time you see Herb,ask him for the lyrics to Remington Ride will ya?

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I'm going to hammer-on and hammer-off and hammer-on my steel git-ar
I'm going to hammer-on and hammer-off and hammer-on my steel git-ar
I'm going to hammer-on and hammer-off and hammer-on my steel git-ar
Until my bar drops on my foot

(2nd verse same as the 1st)

And then I'm going to go and have a cup of coffee
And if I want a smoke I'll have to go outside
And then I'll come back in and crank up my Steelmaster
And then I'll play the Remington Ride
I'm going to hammer-on and hammer-off and hammer-on my steel git-ar
I'm going to hammer-on and hammer-off and hammer-on my steel git-ar
I'm going to hammer-on and hammer-off and hammer-on my steel git-ar
Until my bar drops on my 
bar drops on my
bar drops on my foot

But thankfully, it's usually performed as an instrumental . .

Howard - nice pic!

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 12 February 2005 at 10:50 PM.]

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Gosh; I wish you would rip those George L pickups out of there and put some real pickups in...

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I don't know Ricky, if this guitar sounded any better I might not be able to stand it . .

What kind of pickups would you recommend?
They'd have to be available in the cream color so as to co-ordinate with the "Corn Silk" finish on the Steelmaster . .

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Ricky Davis

Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com

[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 12 February 2005 at 07:02 PM.]

My main Steel is a 57 Stringmaster T8, which I love dearly. I'm not forsaking it at all, in fact the Stringmaster & the Steelmaster are set up side by side in my studio right now. I like to try all different sounds/styles etc in my Quest. I've been making my living singing and playing Guitar for 40+ years. I'm a Singer/Songwriter. And I'll never be a pedal steel player - I stand up, I sing, and I play guitar. I even jump around a little. When I do shows I play my Strat or ES335 and my Stringmaster. It looks and sounds like this.

I guess what I'm getting at - this is the closest I'll come to adding a pedal steel type sound to any of my mixes. (I also play Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Keyboards, Harmonica, Drums, Percussion, Diddley Bow and Kazoo - I work alone)

But I didn't really plan it in terms of getting a Pedal Steel sound per se - I just saw pics of Steelmasters and heard Cindy Cashdollar playing one and Herb is one of my heroes - so I asked him to build me one.

I really like the sound and feel of it. To me the Stringmaster/Steelmaster comparison is apples to oranges - I want both!

I have 3 Stringmasters and an assortment of other steels (Herb calls it "The Museum")
They're on display at http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel along with several of my tunes, purchasing info on my CDs, and various other whacky stuff.

Anyway, I'm going on and on here - see what happens when you get me thinking? It's true what you said about the single coil/hawaiian sound - and you'll hear it in some of my tunes. I haven't recorded with The Steelmaster yet, mainly because I just got it. But I'm a-fixin' to - I already have all the tracks recorded for the first song I'm going to use it in. I just have to get more used to it and also work up the part. It takes me longer to work up Steel parts than anything else!

And Ricky, BTW - if you're ever in South Florida, stop by my studio and lay down a few tracks - we'd be stars in no time!

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 12 February 2005 at 10:03 PM.]

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Just casual thoughts: Ricky makes a very good point about single coil "old"-Steel type tone(s), ...but were that Steelmaster mine (drool) I would leave it like it is for at least several months of exploring what Herb had in mind in a culmination of his many years of expertise that could likely never be explained / presented even in many pow-wow sittings with him. And I suspect that I would wind up experimenting with one or a pair of split coil humbuckers on at least one neck, for the variety of tones afforded in the several wiring / switching options ...even if I had to have 2 "strat"-width humbuckers made to fit the cavity and string span. 4 coils would afford allot of variety options in impedence, phasing, scale datum position and compound phase signal (as in humbucking).

I think you're right about the culmination of his expertise - there are qualities about this guitar that aren't readily explainable. Why is the tone so even up and down the neck and from string to string? Why does the sustain go on and on? Why does it play so in tune? What makes the harmonics chime out like that? etc. etc.

I know he experimented a lot to find that "honey hole" for pickup placement and height. Everything is set just right, he put in a lot of time making sure it was all "true". He takes a lot of pride in his guitars.

And like I mentioned earlier, I'll never be a pedal steel player - this is as close as I'll come. All 3 necks are balanced perfectly with each other, and I just wouldn't want to mess with that. Wait'll you hear this thing!

I love it! The straight through sound like Leon is setting in my room. )He just can't play like he used to though)

The only problem with ths set-up is when I rum BIAB. I get a high pitch hum.

Any ideas?

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JCFSC member since 2005
D-8 Stringmaster
Fender Dual Pro