Advice On Fender Stringmaster

Danny Freitas · Post by **Danny Freitas** » 12 Apr 2009 7:41 am

Hello Im looking to buy a Fender Stringmaster D8 I found a 22 1/2" scale in great condition. How do you date these I know the case on this one is not tweed also are the 24 inch scales a better way to go.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 12 Apr 2009 8:25 am

The date is under one of the keyhead pans. I prefer the 22 1/4" inch scale myself as many do.

Danny Freitas · Post by **Danny Freitas** » 12 Apr 2009 8:50 am

Thanks Bob for your reply Im new at this thats why I made the mistake on scale sizes. Its hard to know what way to go whether to buy a new D8 like Remington Steelmaster are go with this Fender I found. Also is the date of the Stringmaster important on its value.
Thanks

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 12 Apr 2009 9:00 am

Bob Hoffnar wrote:The date is under one of the keyhead pans. I prefer the 22 1/4" inch scale myself as many do.

Bob's right, of course. Unfortunately, it's written in pencil on the bare wood, and in some cases it will have been subsequently painted over, so you would have to strip the paint, which I wouldn't advise unless you intend to repaint the entire instrument, which lowers its value as a collector's item. It was also on a piece of masking tape under the pickups, but those pieces haven't all survived. I'm working on a Stringmaster right now which has no evidence of the date whatsoever, and the body has been stripped.

Check out this topic....

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... estoration

In this case the instrument was in such bad shape, and had already been repainted, such that a respray was unavoidable.

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 12 Apr 2009 9:18 am

Is the case brown or very light tan? That would give you a rough date of the early 60's. A black case would place it late 64 to early 70's when Stringmasters were discontinued.

If it's all there, and especially the tuning keys work well (these are very difficult to replace, but can be repaired by some)--then I would say go for it, if it's a good price. Really good 50's, early 60's D-8's are going for around $1500 more or less.

Oh yes, I think the late 50's/early 60's are more valued--especially the ones with the knife (strat style) pickup selector--but that's a generality.

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 12 Apr 2009 10:47 am

Danny, this is what I mean by "knife switch"--the 3-way selector switch with the black tip. "Tele style" would have been more apt, but you get the idea. This is from a '59 Stringmaster:

Your D-8 in question should look like this when the bridge covers are flipped open, revealing each neck's pickup "blend control" wheel.

The basic design didn't change after this point, so you can use that picture as a reference.

For instance, here is a Fender catalog showing a D-8 and T-8 from 1970:
http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/fender70p38.php

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Apr 2009 6:45 am

There was mention above of 24" and 22 1/4" Stringmaster scale lengths, wrong!

The Stringmasters came in these 3 string lengths:
22 1/2", 24 1/2" and 26".

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Apr 2009 6:51 am

Personally, I prefer the 24 1/2" scale by a mile. Better tone and sustain IMO, especially in the upper registers. Also, I like the tighter feel of the strings at that scale. Of course, if you put your own sets together by selecting gauges, you can do it anyway you like, but to me the strings right out of the pack are too slack on a 22 1/2" and just right at 24 1/2".

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 13 Apr 2009 7:06 am

Mike Neer wrote:Personally, I prefer the 24 1/2" scale by a mile. ....

When did 2" become a mile? : ) I wish there were more 24.5" Stringmasters out there for the rest of us.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Apr 2009 7:13 am

I'm not particulary talking about the Fender Stringmaster, but Jerry Byrd's preferred scale length was 22 1/2" inch.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 13 Apr 2009 7:19 am

Have you folks noticed the 26" Stringmaster at Gruhn Guitars? It's an early one. They have had it for the longest time and can't seem to move it. I wonder why. Is it because everyone wants the PU blend knob?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Apr 2009 7:23 am

Tom Wolverton wrote: When did 2" become a mile? : ) I wish there were more 24.5" Stringmasters out there for the rest of us.

Give me an inch, I take 1/2 mile.

Of all the short scale guitars I've played, I'd have to say the Stringmaster is one of my least favorites. I've owned 3 of them. The 24 1/2" Stringmaster was perfect, though, for me. FWIW, I have a Dual Professional which I like a lot and it is a 22 1/2".

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Apr 2009 7:34 am

I think that even at their discounted price of $2,000 and considering its condition, the Stringmaster that Gruhn has is overpriced. Especially considering the present state of the economy.
A while ago, Stringmasters were selling at approx. $1,000 per neck but not at present.

Talking about scale lengths, here is one of each: