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Hi,
I have been a full time working musician since 1963. My very first "good" guitar was a Fender Jaguar. Since then I have purchased many Fender products, and at this time I own several Stratocasters, Telecasters, and various Fender amps. I have always cherished Fender instruments and amps, and I have always regarded Fender as the #1 musical instrument company. So it was only natural when I took up an interest in steel guitar that I would look to Fender first. I bought a used Fender Dual Professional and a Fender Champion 6 string in 1983 and started working steel into the act. Recently I bought a Fender Stringmaster D8 on eBay, and I was very excited about receiving it. Unfortunately when it arrived it had a couple of busted tuners. That was when I found out the really bad news. NOBODY makes replacement 4-in-line tuning assemblies for them!
I asked everybody - I mean everybody! I asked Herb Remington, Cindy Cashdollar, John Tipka, Jody Carver, Neil Flanz, Herb Steiner etc etc. They all pretty much said the same thing - get a "parts" guitar and rob it. Pragmatic as that may be, it still means that every time a tuner fails there will be one less Stringmaster in the world. That's just wrong.
For a long time it was generally thought that the pedal steel had made lap and console steel obsolete, and in fact many non pedal steelers have been out of work since 1953. But that would be like saying the motorcycle made the bicycle obsolete. Now there is a big growing resurgence of steel guitar http://www.steelguitarforum.com both pedal and non pedal, and just as the Stratocaster is the "holy grail" of electric guitar, the Stringmaster is considered by many to be the holy grail of console steel, and more and more steelers are acquiring them and playing them. In addition to the D8, I own a ‘57 T8 that I just love and I play it all the time. When I needed tuners for it, I finally found some on eBay - and I paid quite a high price for them - over $200! . They are not new of course, but at least they work ! There are a lot of other Fender Stringmaster players in the same situation as can be attested by innumerable threads on Steel Guitar Forum.

Now I understand how the corporate thing works, and maybe nobody would get a promotion or a raise for suggesting this because it may not bring in millions in revenue, but why doesn't Fender start making those replacement assemblies? Steelers are a very close-knit community and I can guarantee that the gratitude felt by a few hundred Stringmaster Players would be made known to and felt by ALL STEELERS including the big names (they're all on Steel Guitar Forum). There is a lot of interest in your new Steel King Amplifier, and such a "gesture" of support for your own product could serve to divert the intense loyalty that many steel players have for Peavey Amplifiers. Peavey has been very supportive of steel players for the last 30 years and it seems to have paid off. I would venture to say that 90% of steelers play Peavey amps, not only because they make a fine product, but because Peavey "listens" and supports - even their older discontinued equipment. Peavey rep Mike Brown can always be reached by phone or email and is always very helpful to steelers - he's a steel player himself. That cuts a lot of ice with us.

I realize the Stringmaster was discontinued some 25 years ago, but conscientious product support should never discontinue. It makes potential consumers wary of new products for fear they too will be one day considered obsolete and unimportant by the very company that made them. How hard would it be for a great company like Fender to tool up and run off a few tuner assemblies for the legendary Fender Stringmaster and the dedicated afficionados who play it?
I am going to post a copy of this letter on Steel Guitar Forum where it will be read by hundreds of steel players, many of whom are considering buying a Steel King Amp (especially now that Buddy Emmons sang its praises). I will of course, keep them up to date on your response and on any developments that may occur. I thank you for your kind attention in this matter and await your reply.
Sincerely,

Rick Alexander

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My wife just recently purchased a D-8 Stringmaster and I can attest to Rick's letter. They are great guitars. I'd like to see Fender start making these instruments again. I think recently theres been a ressurgence of interest in the Stringmasters. With Fender's introduction of the Twin Reverb Custom '15 & Steel King amps it's obvious they're interested in the Steel Guitar Market. Since Fender still owns the patents on these guitars, I think the time now is right to bring them back as a re-issue.

Nick

[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 25 November 2005 at 01:52 PM.]

You would think the custom shop would be doing these. You would probably really have to pay a high dollar but I bet they would sell.

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JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member
Do it with "Glass"
Boyett's Glass Bars

[This message was edited by Gary Boyett on 25 November 2005 at 06:10 AM.]

Some late model Stringmasters I've seen, as well as Fender pedal guitars I've owned from that era, have tuner assemblies made from eight individual Kluson-type "F" tuners (the ones with the newer style buttons), like you'd find on a standard Fender electric guitar. In the peghead pan, the hole for the string shaft and the notch for the button shaft keeps the tuner stationary. You might try fixing your guitar with a similar solution.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Maybe Ricky can chime in and let us know the scoop.

That is still the sweetest looking steel!

[This message was edited by Gary Boyett on 25 November 2005 at 06:36 AM.]

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Did you ever get a reply?

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Yes I did Garman. Here it is:

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Hi Rick,

Thanks for your inquiry and your interest in Fender Musical Instruments.

Our primary concern is our current products. We're happy to help in any
way that we can, but we can't maintain an inventory of parts that we
haven't used in years.

American Guitar Center at 802-464-0014 keeps a selection of vintage
parts on hand.

You might also check with Steel Guitar Works at 800-749-3363.

Thanks again for choosing Fender.

Best regards,

John Shannon
Consumer Relations

Please remember, when corresponding via e-mail, to include the text of
any prior related contacts. Given the volume of e-mail we receive, it
is very helpful to have this information as a reference so that we may
serve you in as timely a manner as is possible.

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The thread about the letter and response is here

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You might try fixing your guitar with a similar solution.

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Before I bought the extras I tried fixing the old ones, I tried contacting Fender Japan (who are marketing Deluxe 8s which have the correct tuners) but they don't sell the tuners separately. So I did what I had to do and bought tuners that came from "parts" guitars.

Fender's recent foray into Steel Guitar maufacturing is called the FS52. It is made by our good friends The Chinese, and it's nothing more than a cheap imitation of an early Fender Lap Steel. I bought one, and it's crap. The Artisan is a better sounding guitar, and for what the FS52 costs you could buy 5 of them.

So hang on to your Stringmasters. They may never come again, and even if they do they won't be the same. They probably won't be made in the USA either.

If you want a new high quality console steel, the best thing to do is call Herb Remington and order a Steelmaster. Herb is not a big company, and you can call him and discuss every aspect of your new guitar.

I still love my 57 Stringmaster T8 though!

RA

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 25 November 2005 at 07:08 AM.]

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'49 & '51 National Dynamics, Harmos Model One, Lazy River Weissenborn, Mesa Boogie DC-3, SRV Strat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/keefriff

Thanks for this post. Fender, from all appearances, is not and will not engage in this matter. I suppose it's the new Corporate World Order. Profit, Profit & more Profit!!

It seems the term "Product Loyalty" has been dropped from their vernacular. It the way of things everywhere...it use to be "build your Customer Loyalty base" by practicing good business tenet's (support, parts,etc) as an investment in the future...now, it's make $$$$ for today, don't worry about the future....

Anyway, I'll stop whining, what the heck do I know....BUT, there is a German company you probably have heard of named "Schaller". I have had a reasonable amount of success in obtaining parts for an old Vintage Echo Machine they once marketed in the sixties. Amazin isn't it? Shcaller demonstrated great Customer Service protocols via e-mail when I contacted them.

As you may know, Schaller has transitioned from an electronics company to, almost exclusively, a manufacturer of tuner's for many of the world's stringed instruments.

It's just a shot at this point, but it might be worth reaching out to them through e-mail.

BTW: I am happy to report, my Fender "55" Stringmaster D8 turned 50 years old, this month ("11/55" in the tuner pan cavity)!!! All original USA made parts and case...the tuners are fine and the sound is just out of this world. These are truly wonderful instruments! This community (SGF) is trying to save them. It would be fitting if our corporations demonstrated, in action, the same principle....TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSGC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

quote:

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there is a German company you probably have heard of named "Schaller"

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"Brot, Dat ish Guudd, noh...???"

Mike,

Thank's for the great suggestion's... and your right, why go to Fender..Like they say "find a need, then fill it"..Hmmm, Ron Victoria (metal shop teacher)....are you listenin???? TX
rgds,
Ron

[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 25 November 2005 at 10:10 AM.]

Fender FS52:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0950072321

[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 25 November 2005 at 02:22 PM.]

They must sit around in their corporate board rooms and laugh "hmmmm... let's see how else can we milk this cash-cow the Strat... I know! we'll take $15 worth of wood, put a $20 "special issue" pickup, paint it black and call it the "Eric Clapton" we can probably get $2400 for it".

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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 25 November 2005 at 02:31 PM.]

On the other hand Fender may have owned the tooling and aquired it after the production run.
"Oh is that what that was.We scrapped it with a bunch of other junk when we cleaned out the back room to make the executive wash room"

[This message was edited by Mark Vinbury on 26 November 2005 at 07:51 AM.]

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Terry is right. The Fender Hawaiian Steel sound will NEVER be duplicated by fender again. If you want that real fender steel sound....get you one that was made in the 50's; otherwise, get a Georgeboard and be done with it already...ha. Ricky

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Ricky,
Could it be that the new Fender Company of today just don't have the personnel with an EAR like Mr. Leo had for building these fine instruments. I guess he took those secrets with him when he left.

[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 05 December 2005 at 10:09 PM.]

That's why steels are currently being built by guys in their garages or small businesses.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 05 December 2005 at 09:45 PM.]

That's a picture of my "55" D8..."old blondie" at a recent car show!! She just turned 50 years old this past November. All parts original...Push button neck selector...Best yet, she growls, moans & sings like no other. Had a pedal player come up, said he was amazed at the sound....he opined he hadn't heard that great classic steel guitar sound in decades. Nice compliment for "old blondie". She blushed!!

Anyway, all of us who have one or more, are really Caretakers for now. We have to take care of "em" for the future players and youngsters. And I just don't mean Fenders, either.

BTW: That's my steel buddy, Ron Victoria in the red cap. He's a great metal smith...I'm trying to convince him to make some replacement parts for steelers out there. We'll see. Fender won't...TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSGC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

The problem seems to be that non-pedal players love the Stringmaster more than the Fender Corporation does, and resents the fact that Fender doesn't want to cater to a tiny market segment that would probably not be happy with a new Stringmaster if they DID build one.

You can call this refusal to get back into non-pedal steels... or for that matter, any steel guitars... by a major corporation to be "greed," but it's really "maximizing resources."

Factories owned by mega-corporations gear up to produce many thousands of units, and spend big bucks because they know those units will sell. Not only machinery and raw materials, but manpower hours spent in assembly, AND training for that assembly. All that stuff costs money, big money. And disruptions in the production system also cost big bucks.

In-house ideas like "let's build a Stringmaster again" often come from from mid-level management or mid-level sales, if they come at all. These managers may risk their jobs if, after having convinced the suits that the idea would work and large sums of money are spent, the product turns out to be a flop. I'll wager it's a career risk to do something like that.

So we steel players, in denigrating a huge company for not doing what we in a ridiculously small market want, are possibly asking a few guys to put their jobs on the line.

Witness the many negative reviews of the reissue lap steel (probably deserved, though I haven't personally played one). The Fender guy that said "let's build one of those again" probably isn't coming forth with "let's reissue the Fender Blender next! Then we can reissue those cool solid-state amps we produced in the late 60's"

Maybe the Fender Custom Shop, which specializes in small run-off orders, could build a few Stringmasters, but at what cost? Would the Custom Shop then get their collective butts chewed out by us, because to make a new Stringmaster would have to sell at a prohibitive cost higher than that at which a vintage specimen could be purchased?

How about at the retail level? Realize also that for the materials/costs in every Stringmaster built, probably three or four Telecasters/Stratocasters could be made... maybe more. These are instruments that Fender knows will fly off the shelves quickly and can be easy restocked, vs. an instrument that will sit in a store for ages waiting for a customer. All this goes on while the music store owner stares at the steel sitting on his sales floor gathering dust for six months or more, but what he sees is a bag of money that he spent that's not being turned over, and wishing he had that money hanging on his wall in the form of Telecasters/Strats.

Corporations are first and foremost WEALTH CREATING ENTITIES, not labor-of-love factories. Fender (and Gibson, et al.) create wealth by selling widgets, in their case, guitars. Which is why steel guitars are made by small operations or one-man shops who still see a way they can make a little money by doing something they LOVE. Smaller operations can move quicker, change things around easier, and don't have to answer to higher-ups, boards of directors, and stockholder meetings.

To use another analogy, turning around a bass boat is easier and takes much less time, risk and involvement than turning around an aircraft carrier.

Right now, there are at least 3 builders I'm aware of that could build a Stringmaster style guitar: Remington, West Coast Steel, and Georgeboards. I'm sure there are others.

Remington comes closest to the actual "look" of a Stringmaster, but misses the sound totally because he uses a George L humbucker instead of the two single-coils Fender used, and doesn't use Kluson tuners, which I feel also contributes to the sound. And Remingtons are not cheap guitars to purchase.

I think the best bet for a new version of this type guitar would be to have one of our smaller companies attempt the job. But I don't think Herby Remington is at the age or has the inclination to want to change anything in his system. Ricky Davis and Archie Cox built the SSHawaiian, which is closest to a SM knock-off cosmetically, but probably of a much higher quality than either the original SMs and certainly higher quality than any corporation would be willing to invest in. I'd like to hear RD's input as to how much one of their guitars cost to build, and how much he sold them for, if he sold any. He has the experience in actually making them.

Sorry for the long opine.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 06 December 2005 at 07:09 AM.]

Fender Corporation is in the instrument business & somebody in the company ladder should love the thought of making a great classic instrument. It is what they should be doing. If Leo had the mind set that the current suits have, then we would not be talking about Fender today, because they would not be so famous. The fact that they made a lap steel shows that they see a market. That instrument should not have been such a dog.

As far as a small builder making a close copy of a vintage Fender steel, Fender would then sue them for making a product that they have no interest in. So sad!!!

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'49 & '51 National Dynamics, Harmos Model One, Lazy River Weissenborn, Mesa Boogie DC-3, SRV Strat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/keefriff

The Steel King amp was designed by Forumite Sam Marshall, and they've sold a lot of them, though I don't know if they've reached the numbers that will make Fender money yet. But the FSK was designed for the PEDAL steel market, which is a lot larger than the Stringmaster market.

I look at the Reissue lap as Fender "sticking our toes in the water," without a full commitment to non-pedal guitar. Someone at Fender said, "hey, there's a lot of rocker-types out there that want an *affordable* lap steel, and there's a BUNCH of companies making inexpensive 6-stringers. Let's give one of our foreign factories a side project and see what an inexpensive lap steel will do for us."

This instrument is a long cry from the creation of a high-quality professional instrument like a Stringmaster reissue would have to be.

Hawaiian music is very popular in Japan, and Fender/Japan made a few Stringmaster models several years ago. They were very expensive (currency exchange, I think), and didn't sell well at all as far as I know. That might tell us something.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

For what its worth, I agree entirely with your extremely well spoken presentation and analysis of the above subject. There is great wisdom, truth and clarity in what you have written. In today’s world, your are right about how corporate governance works, the marketing requirements, and the retailer’s need to survive.

For my part, it was not my intent to disparage the Fender Corp and its fine people. To be sure and fair, I am more inclined to be less than happy with the times we live in. This is not a Fender problem.

To wit: I made an observation at the Classic Car show above. There was a common denominator between the cars and my Fender Stringmaster.

Skilled and proud craftsmen made both the cars and Steel Guitar from the USA.

Nearly 100% of the materials for both came from the USA.

The design, leadership and management for both came from the USA.

The quality and longevety were second to none.

“Made in the USA” was a source of deep, deep pride.

Now as Bob Dylan says, “the times, the times, they are a changing”. This is what has come to pass.

I guess this is why Classic Car shows exist. This is why we love and cherish the old Fenders, Gibsons, Rickenbackers, Sho-Buds, etc from days gone by.

IMHO: The good ol’ days were better.

For me, I am at the end of a 40-year career in a very troubled industry, once famous for its world class service, former worldwide leadership and expertise. And now, as we say ……..It is what it is!

Sorry to be down….but, I am hopeful, optimistic and cheerful in the knowledge, that somehow, the cycle will take a more positive direction. The quality, service and leadership will renew itself….just look at the MSA Superslide…They found the code over there and now, History repeats itself… …TX
Rgds,
Ron

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JCFSGC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

A lot has been said here and elsewhere about Leo Fender. I only met the man once, at a NAMM show 20-odd years ago. He was elderly and I was awestruck. But Jody knew him personally, so maybe he could comment on this as well.

Consider the time frame in which Leo Fender was making steel guitars. Hawaiian music, while in decline from its heyday, was still very popular. Country music was big and every band had a steel guitar, a great percentage of them Fender Dual Pros or Customs. Steel guitar was still being taught as a legitimate instrument in Music Schools and lessons were sold door-to-door. Pedal steels were unheard of or in their infancy. The Stringmaster came out in 1954, so the instrument had to be in the planning stages in 52-53, right? IOW, non-pedal steel was a very viable instrument in those days.

Don Randall was Leo's sales maven. He was the guy who was responsible for selling the stuff that Leo and the boys in Fullerton were building. Would Don R. have told Leo to build a guitar he'd have a problem selling? And would Leo, a manufacturing guy and not a musician would have built an instrument there was no market for?

Somehow, I don't think even Leo would build a Stringmaster in this day and age.

I indavertently omitted MSA in my list of builders making non-pedal guitars, especially embarrassing since I own a SuperSlide and love it. Fantastic tone and playability. But it's not a Stringmaster knock off or anything like it. If I were to compare it to a vintage-type guitar, I would say it owes a debt to Rickenbacker, both in cosmetic design and sound. But the SuperSlide is its own guitar. And MSA is itself part of a larger, non-musical entity, MicroSpace Inc. But Micro is family owned, and is still a small business compared to Fender. The guys at Micro still have agility and a very centralized marketing system. And SuperSlides, a very high quality product, are not an inexpensive instrument.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 06 December 2005 at 08:39 AM.]