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Author
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Topic: New Fender Lap Steel
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Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 April 2005 05:30 PM
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Terry, I ordered one from my friendly neighborhood GC Pro last February also.
They tell me maybe by June . .Leila, an 8 string would be cool. They'd have to make a special stratocaster pickup for it though . . |
David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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posted 13 April 2005 09:03 PM
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Nice little retro unit. Sweet! 
I suspect the powers that be, wanted to test the waters a bit,
but if the sales figures above are an indication,
they will move more into this market soon.I await the all ash body D-8 with boxcars and upright tuners....
I doubt I am the only one either... Or a bronze s-8 fryingpan!!  |
Bill Creller
Member From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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posted 14 April 2005 05:15 AM
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I never liked a tone control on the player's side of the guitar, and I built only one that way and regretted it. It's great that Fender is listening to the steel guitar "masses" about getting back in the act. They must be made off-shore to be priced affordable. They would cost over a grand if made here in our labor market.
Hopefully they will make some Stringmaster re-issues.
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Dwayne Martineau
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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posted 14 April 2005 11:02 AM
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So, is that true-- the tone knob is the one on the player's side? If so, too bad. But easily switched, I guess. Are they shipping? |
Bill Creller
Member From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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posted 14 April 2005 02:13 PM
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Dwayne it's not what the knob does, it's just in the way, and if the control moves very easy it can be brushed lightly by your right palm while playing and turn the knob where you don't want it.(just my opinion)
BILL
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BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 14 April 2005 05:25 PM
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I have 24 on order and haven't seen one yet. bobbe,
Nashville TN. |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 15 April 2005 03:46 AM
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I am getting the feeling that the boys at Fender are just sticking their collective toes in the water to see if it's worth getting in. When I tried to get an interview for the Fender CLub newsletter I could not get anyone to talk about it. Several people didn't even know they were doing steels again. My local GC has a one line description and that's it. I will wait for Bobbe. ------------------
JCFSGC member since 2005
Boyett's Glass Bars |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 11:43 AM
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Well mine came today - 7 months later.     
It doesn't sound as good as my Champion or even my Champ. It has a steel overpass that resembles the old boxcar pickup - underneath that is a strat pickup.
Nice shiny finish and mirror fretboard - and nice HSC . .
RA
[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 26 November 2005 at 05:16 AM.]
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Tom Baylis
Member From: Portland, Oregon
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posted 13 September 2005 12:49 PM
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Good looking, thanks for sharing Rick. What's the word on the pickup - is it a full magnetized boxcar...or did they rely on just the strat pup to enliven it? From your comments, it sounds like it's just the 'wannabe' that was predicted...[This message was edited by Tom Baylis on 13 September 2005 at 01:03 PM.] |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 13 September 2005 01:20 PM
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It's not a boxcar pickup (strings through the pickup); it's a regular guitar pickup with a metal cover screwed on over the top. See this picture for details: http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/acoustics/0950072821_xl.jpg ------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 01:34 PM
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quote:
It's not a boxcar pickup (strings through the pickup); it's a regular guitar pickup with a metal cover screwed on over the top. See this picture for details:
So Fender reissues the boxcar, but not really. Excel uses a horseshoe pickup on it's JB Frypans but the shoes aren't magnetized. I guess it's better to look good than feel good. ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' 
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 01:39 PM
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Here's a funny story which may shine a light on how big Fender has gotten and the corporate knowledge that's been lost.At Scotty's last week I visited the Fender demo room. I asked the Fender rep about the rumor circulating about a reissue of the Stringmaster. He said no, it's not true. He said Fender is reissuing a double 8 non-pedal steel, but not the Stringmaster. He then pointed to a picture of a Stringmaster and said "this is what we are planning on doing". ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association [This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 13 September 2005 at 01:42 PM.]
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Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 01:47 PM
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Tom, it looks to me like the strat pickup is just mounted in there underneath. The sides and top don't seem to be magnetized. Here's a closer look . .
Y'know it's not a bad steel for the price, and it is kinda pretty - but there's just nothing really remarkable about its tone or its playability. I was just hoping that with the Fender name on it that it would be something special. Of course if Roy Thomson were to play one it would sound achingly beautiful, but that's just Roy . . Every other Fender Steel Guitar that I have - from the Champ to the 57 Stringmaster - is something special.
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 13 September 2005 02:49 PM
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Rick
From what I can see from the photo's it looks as though the fret boards are black and not the shiny silver, is this just because of the manner in which the photo was taken?[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 13 September 2005 at 02:50 PM.] |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 02:58 PM
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Jody, the fretboard is a mirror - you could comb your hair in it.
What you see in the pics is the reflection of the black walls of my cave . . |
Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 03:00 PM
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I was wonderin that too Jody but I think it's just the photo. ------------------
55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 03:41 PM
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Damn your quick Rick. you snuck in ahead of me there by 2 minutes. Don't they also come in a natural finish too?------------------
55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 05:02 PM
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Andy, as far as I know it just comes in the one color, with the mirror fretboard and off-white tele-like finish.
In all fairness, the pictures don't do it justice. It's a nice looking guitar, just very reflective so it's hard to get an accurate photo.
quote:
He then pointed to a picture of a Stringmaster and said "this is what we are planning on doing".
too funny!  [This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 13 September 2005 at 05:07 PM.] |
Bill Creller
Member From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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posted 13 September 2005 05:48 PM
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It kinda makes you think that the Fender guy is brain dead. |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 13 September 2005 06:24 PM
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Rick, it looks very nice! I may have to try one. Looks like a pretty nice case also.Can you put one of Rick Aielo's Hot pickups on it? That may be the trick. You souped up the Supro's Let's try putting a new engine under this hood!!! ------------------
JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member
Boyett's Glass Bars |
Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 13 September 2005 07:18 PM
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Hi Gary
Drop me an e mail sometime. [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 13 September 2005 at 07:19 PM.] |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 13 September 2005 08:26 PM
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Jody,You have mail... |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 14 September 2005 10:35 AM
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Garman, that's a cool concept to be sure. But it might be a case of putting lipstick on a pig.
A different pickup won't improve its playability or increase its natural sustain.
I don't know what kind of wood it's made of, but it ain't swamp ash. And I can't help but feel that the faux boxcar is an insult to our collective intelligence.No, I hate to say this because I love Fender - I've been playing Fender guitars and amps for over 45 years - but this guitar is a disappointment.  I'm returning it today. |
Bill Creller
Member From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
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posted 14 September 2005 02:04 PM
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That's really too bad. Rick. It's a good looking rig. I guess they forgot how to make the great guitars of yesteryear.
BILL |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 14 September 2005 03:45 PM
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Yes it is too bad Bill, and it truly saddens me to make these observations. Maybe if they had used a nice piece of wood and a good pickup and paid more attention to the over all playability, it could have made all the difference in the world. I'm not giving up on Fender though, not by a long shot. It's a great company with many fine products past and present, and I believe that they are capable of making a great Steel Guitar once again. In the meantime I can play this wonderful ol' Stringmaster . .
RA[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 14 September 2005 at 03:49 PM.]
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 14 September 2005 05:41 PM
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Rick my friend
DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP.Fender's on the ball..stay tuned |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 15 September 2005 11:54 AM
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Jody, just because you said so I won't give up on Fender.
It's a good thing, because I'd hate to give back all the great Fender gear I've accumulated over the last 50 years! |
Joey Ace
Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada
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posted 15 September 2005 11:57 AM
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Thanks for the review and great pix, Rick.
It's disapointing, but not unexpected.The really good instruments these days are not being made by large corporations. I don't even think they could produce one at an acceptable price. They have way too much overhead expenses. I suspect the Stringmaster reissue will have the same problems, and the corporation will site low sales as the reason to ignore this market. I think the sucess of the recent MSA guitars is evidence that there is a market for high quality, well designed, Steels. Jody, I'll never give up on the old Fenders. |
Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 15 September 2005 03:17 PM
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Joey Ace quote..........Jody, I'll never give up on the old Fenders. Thanks Joey and "dont give up on old Fender salesman either" Thank You Rick,you are a Gem,Dont Give up the
word has it that Fender will have what most people are looking for, and I hope that Fender meets that goal. Thank You |
Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 16 September 2005 04:19 AM
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I just hope that this guitar doesn't do poorly and stor Fender from making a decent lap steel or console. I can't imagine how many times a company has done a poor job on a rerelease of something and not continued with it when the sales of an obviously inferior product weren't good. I had intended to get one of these, but the fake boxcar kills it for me. Let's hope for better from Fender- they should certainly realize that accuracy in reproducing vintage instruments would be key. They have been doing it for years! '50's and '60's reissues have been selling like mad due to them spending a little time getting them right! Seems like they'd make more of an effort... |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 16 September 2005 04:35 AM
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quote:
But it might be a case of putting lipstick on a pig.
true.......unless you also include a pair fishnets & a pair of stilettos..... 
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 16 September 2005 05:16 AM
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I had to edit this Howard you break me up.hahahahahahaha[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 September 2005 at 05:18 AM.] |
Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 16 September 2005 07:22 AM
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Hey Howard, don't you ever get serious??? I hope not.------------------
55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 04 October 2005 09:08 AM
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Perhaps I missed something somewhere, but has anyone mentioned that this so-called "FENDER" is made in China ? Not that this is a negative, but I have to wonder how much input was put into this by Fender and how much by the Chinese manufacturer ? It is NOT a FENDER as we have come to know and love it. It is a good guitar, well made and well finished with a standard pickup. I am annoyed they, (whoever designed this critter) put a useless metal cap over the pickup. Really a nuisance. This can be removed safely by turning the screws which hold it. The tone is good, but I fail to see where it is any better than brand "X". It has the FENDER name, however I wonder what Leo would say if he were around today ? All I can say, it is good value for the buck but it is certainly not a "Fender" as we know it! JMHO of course. [This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 04 October 2005 at 09:09 AM.] |
Joey Ace
Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada
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posted 04 October 2005 12:42 PM
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I disagree George. If it says Fender and is sold by Fender dealers, it is a Fender.The company has to take responsibility for the good and bad, no matter where they contract it to be built. They've been getting a lot of positive kudos for the Steel King Amp, and no one seems to care that it's not made in the USA. |
Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 04 October 2005 01:12 PM
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George
I agree with Joey. |
Loni Specter
Member From: West Hills, CA, USA
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posted 04 October 2005 02:00 PM
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The reason the little Fender lap steel has a cover over a Squire Strat pickup is to create the illusion of that you are buying something better sonicaly than those other $99. lap steels we see all over Ebay. They all use the same looking pickup and probably sound similar. Sure the Fender has a nicer retro design to the body and better tuners and chrome finger board yada yada..but basically it's it's own knockoff of a better made guitar.
Squire guitar manufacturing has has shifted from Japan to Mexico, to Korea, to Taiwan, to Indonesia, to India, and now, China. Just follow the Labor vs. cost trail and it's a NO Brainer for Fender to justify.
My response to this is if you like the look and feel of the thing, buy it cheap and upgrade the pickup, pots, caps, and take of the pickup cover if its in the way of your muting. At least you can still feel the pride of saying it's a Fender, even if in an hour you'll still be hungry.
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Jody Carver
Member From: The Knight Of Fender Tweed. Dodger Blue Forever
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posted 04 October 2005 03:29 PM
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Loni writes the pride of saying it's a Fender, even if in an hour you'll still be hungry. Rim Shot
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Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 04 October 2005 03:46 PM
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I didn't want to do this ... but y'all forced me to ... The little Fender is sure a better effort than The Rickenbacker Limited Edition S100N   ------------------
Aiello's House of Gauss
My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
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George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 04 October 2005 07:03 PM
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Well I guess I opened a can of worms...If you read what I wrote, you'll understand I think the guitar is very well made and is darned good value for the price which incidently, is low because it is made in China. I just feel it is not something which Leo would have built....or perhaps it's a helluva lot better than anything Leo would have built ? Could be ! |
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