The Restoration of a Fender Stringmaster D8

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 19 Mar 2008 5:01 am

Wow, Alan -- you did an amazing job on that Stringmaster! Just beautiful. Congrats Baz on getting it. I can't wait to hear the sound clips of it!

TJW

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 19 Mar 2008 6:36 am

That turned out great, good save

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 19 Mar 2008 7:41 am

Thanks folks. Basil, I'm glad you're happy with it. As Basil mentioned, I shall be flying over to visit on Friday, so we'll record something together to put on the Forum.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 19 Mar 2008 9:31 am

Basilh, what tunings will you use on the two necks?

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 19 Mar 2008 10:16 am

Looks Great Alan!
Will look forward to hearing it.

Roy

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 19 Mar 2008 10:30 am

Why the toggle switch between the neck selector switches on the outside bank?

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 19 Mar 2008 9:46 pm

Rick, There was never a balance control on the Mk1's, just a switch that allowed you to select 1 or both of the necks, BUT both of the pickups were ALWAYS on, on either neck. , so, I've rewired it and added a (Toggle) switch that allows the selection of either or both of the pickups on either or both of the necks.

As a point of interest the pickups are between 5.7k and 6.14k normal magnetic orientation and normal winding direction. Obviously the humbucking arrangement of the Mk2 Stringmaster was new to that model.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 19 Mar 2008 9:51 pm

David, the outside neck is tuned to B11th and the inside one to E13th
All wound strings just plain old fashioned 'Nickel Wound', NOT Stainless or Flatwound..

Fender Stringmaster 26" Scale
E13th neck (NEAREST TO PLAYER)
1= E .013
2= C#.015
3= B .017
4= G#.022 PLAIN
5= E .032 WOUND
6= D .040
7= B .046
8= E .054

B11th neck
1= E .013
2= C#.015
3= A .019
4= F#.022 PLAIN OR 24 WOUND (Depending)
5= D#.032 WOUND
6= B .038
7= A .048
8= B .068

That way at my 3rd fret I'll have G, C and D9 .. Tonic, Sub Dom. and Dominant, as well as the usual Minors etc. My two fret "Pocket" is quite comprehensive using those two tunings.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 20 Mar 2008 5:52 pm

Great effort in saving a classic Alan. I saw on page 5 of this thread that "Mary" was in a Fender cavity. Her name in in my Dual pro also, 1954. She must have been busy!

Her name in on a piece of masking tape in my Fender, near the control plate.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 31 Aug 2008 2:39 pm

I swoped the tunings around. Nearest is the B11th and the front neck is E13th.
The first public performance of this guitar since the restoration by Alan Brookes:-

The video of it can be seen in the forum section "Steel on the Web" on Click This

Played opening the Brolly & Friends Concert at the Birmingham Symphony Hall June 29th 2008
E13th and B11th, Tribotone Bar.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 31 Aug 2008 2:44 pm

Thanks Basilh! That was a pleasure to listen to!

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 31 Aug 2008 2:51 pm

Very Impressive, Basil!!!

And what an environment!!!

I like the sound of that non-pedal Fender. WOW!!

But no Pat, where's Pat?

Aloha,

Don

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 31 Aug 2008 2:52 pm

Double posted.
Sorry!

Aloha,

Don

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 31 Aug 2008 3:11 pm

Thanks John and Don, I think that Bob Brolly's a bit like the Waikiki Hotel proprietors of the 50's, he likes the band to stand, and Pat being a Lady, does it sitting Down !!! (Like Ladies do)

Maybe I'll talk Bob into using her next year, this year it was a diplomatic thing, Shane O Bourne, the electric guitar player, is a regular on our bigger gigs and wanted his son to get some experience.
After all, I'm only the show's musical director, not the paymaster..

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 31 Aug 2008 3:13 pm

Well,,, I just watched it again. Because it makes me smile!

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 31 Aug 2008 6:32 pm

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 1 Sep 2008 1:49 pm

Basilh, all I get is a message that says, "This video removed by poster."

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 19 Nov 2008 5:22 pm

John it plays for me HERE

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 19 Nov 2008 6:18 pm

basilh

I have taken my String master to 15 county fairs
32 Goat breading contests and never sound that good !

That was impressive -- thanks for posting it .

Hick

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 19 Nov 2008 6:27 pm

Thanks again Basilh! Needed another smile tonight! Great performance!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 20 Nov 2008 7:30 pm

Wow!....from a basket case to the maiden performance with step by step photos of the progress along the way.

This is truly an amazing place with amazing people....

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 22 Nov 2008 6:22 am

HowardR wrote:Wow!....from a basket case to the maiden performance with step by step photos of the progress along the way.

This is truly an amazing place with amazing people....

Amazing indeed Howard, almost 13,000 views.. stands at 12997 now,
From "Basket Case to Showcase" Nice CD title

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 22 Nov 2008 12:12 pm

I have to say that Basil's Stringmaster was the first I'd ever worked on. Despite the kind remarks on the restoration, if I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have fallen into some of the traps. I'll do a better job on the next one.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 22 Nov 2008 3:52 pm

I just now got around the watching that video. That was really outstanding Bas

Sure brought back the old days of good country music

You certainly did that guitar justice!!

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 22 Nov 2008 9:44 pm

Basil - You made my night - hearing the good old R of SA. In fact, you made my whole weekend. Wonderful playing. That old guitar has a new lease on life - especially in your hands. May it never be silent again.

The Steel Guitar Forum

The Restoration of a Fender Stringmaster D8

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