Black Remington Steelmaster T-8

[Rick Alexander]

I recently purchased Cindy Cashdollar's black Remington Steelmaster T-8 from her.
She's downsizing to a new double neck Remington for easier transport.
Herb is hard at work building her new custom guitar as we speak . .

Anyway, this triple neck is awesome - the best sounding Steelmaster I've ever played, and I've had occasion to play quite a few of them at one time or other.
It arrived Fedex about 2 weeks ago in a well-traveled heavy-duty flight case (with wheels), no additional packing was needed.
http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel/Black ... onT-8.html
It really sings - great sustain and chimes, and fabulous tone. It's got the mojo . .
The only mod we did was to install 3 toggle switches. Cindy just had the 3-pos switch, and I like to do a little neck jumping now and then - but unlike Jody Carver I'm not quick enough to flip the switch without missing a beat.

I played it at my Saturday gig at the RipTide on Hollywood Beach yesterday:


Here are a couple of videos from the gig.
YOU BELONG TO ME
BULA HULA
Please forgive the clams, all those hot chicks in their skimpy little bikinis can sure be a distraction:



More Pics here.

[Drew Howard]

Sweet, RA! I endorse the tarp-on-the-amps trick for hot summer days.

Tunings?

[Rick Alexander]

Drew, there was a little 2 minute sprinkle that happened halfway through the first song.
That was enough to make me dash for the tarp.
Then about an hour or so later there was a 10 minute downpour that made me real glad I had it there.
After that it was all sunshine and tropical breezes.

But from now on - that tarp will be a fixture!


A6 (technically A13 - the bottom string is tuned up a half step to G), high E13 and E7

[Mike Gross]

Rick,

The videos are super and the sound is wonderful.

Good luck with your new "toy."

[Edward Meisse]

I grew up in a little beach town in southern California. That video made me homesick.

[Don Sulesky]

Sounds great Rick.
You need to have some clams.
You're by the seashore.
Don

[Alan Brookes]

I recently purchased Cindy Cashdollar's black Remington Steelmaster T-8 from her...

Let's hope it still has some of her mojo in it. I've always been convinced that instruments pick up vibes from those who play them...
Jerry Byrd once threatened to throw his steel in the river and next day its tone had improved. If they're not alive, then what is ?

[Danny Freitas]

Great looking and sounding steel guitar and to be from Cindy Cashdollar what a score Im a big fan of hers and one of the reasons I want to learn to play the steel guitar. Also thanks for all the hard work and great videos you put out on the Dallas show I can watch them for hours.

[Bob Hickish]

Rick

When you play your gigs !!! do you ever get the
feeling your all alone ?????

Black SG's always sound good

[Scott Thomas]

Congrats on that great score, Rick. You and it sound fantastic. I read somewhere that Cindy has had the pickups on at least one of her Remingtons custom wound to more closely emulate the single coil sound of a Fender. I wonder if that could account for the difference in tone you are hearing. Did she mention any thing about custom wound George L's?

[Rick Alexander]

Thanks Mike!

That video made me homesick.

As long as it didn't make you seasick . .


Thanks Don!
Good point.

I've always been convinced that instruments pick up vibes from those who play them...

Alan, I have no doubt that this is true.


Danny, you're very welcome!
I'm glad you're enjoying them.


Hick, yes it's a lonely existence.
It's true - black is the color . .


Scott, yes they were rewound when she first got the guitar some 10-11 years ago.
It does have a unique, really sweet sound.
Her new Remington D-8 will have the same custom wound pickups.

[Alan Brookes]

...

I've always been convinced that instruments pick up vibes from those who play them...

Alan, I have no doubt that this is true....

I hope so, Rick. I have your old Airline.

[Andy Volk]

Cindy played the hell out of that guitar. I know you will too, Rick. Sounds light years better than my long gone Steelmaster with stock George-Ls!

[Kevin Brown]

Nice one Rick, that looks like the perfect gig, videos make me envious !

[Steinar Gregertsen]

Nice videos! Doesn't look (or sound) like that over here yet....

[Al Collinsworth]

Congratulations Rick!!! It's a great guitar!!!

[Bill Hampton]

Great guitar Rick -- It and your playing really sound GREAT!

Let me be the first to say however, you'll never look as good standing behind it as Cindy did.

[Tom Wolverton]

Nice guitar, Rick. Since we're talking about it on another thread, what is the scale length of this T-8?

[Doug Beaumier]

Very nice, Rick! Playing steel on the beach... it doesn't get much better than that!

[Ray Montee]

Hey Daddy-O........(I look up to Rick as a Father image)... He said it was okay.You're supposed to be bent seriously forward at the waist and the neck so you can gaze straight down upon your strings........

This also minimizes distractions of girls in skimpy beach wear.

The American flag is a seriously nice touch.

My hats off to the great video cameraman that you have with you. Great, crystal clear, always in focus shots......good color balance too!

I'm amazed at how clear and perfect your music sounds while playing out of doors. Do you have a wind cancelling device in your little tent?

How many grips do you employ and how long does it take them to set up all of your electronic devices and g'tars? Just curious.......

Great performances as always!

[Les Anderson]

Great job Rick. I too am wondering how you muffled the sound of the wind because it appears to be blowing substantially.

Another thing that I noticed and it bothers most musicians, there are no people hanging around to listen to you. We played a Hawaiian themed gig at a mall last Christmas and I am not sure if anyone even noticed that a live band was playing the music. Some stopped for about 60 seconds or so then hustled off with the crowd of Christmas shoppers. All of the benches in the mall had been removed. A waste of time?????

[Tom Wolverton]

Everybody gets those "gigs from hell" from time to time where it appears that no one listens or cares. If you love the music, it shouldn't matter that much? I figure I'll play to some bird or cockroach that is listening and diggin' it. Or maybe there are those "beyond the veil" in a world not of this one that can hear it and are diggin' it. Who knows? Also, sometimes I find just *one* person out there who is listening - in a sneaky manner, but listening. Like the guy at the end of the bar staring into his beer. So I'll play to them - even if they don't know it. : )

[Roy Thomson]

That is a great sounding Steel Rick and
you do a fine job!

I am facinated by the movement in the
background and the carefree setting.
What a fortunate man you are.

Congratulations.

Roy

[Rick Alexander]

I hope so, Rick. I have your old Airline.

What a nice thing to say Alan - thank you.
My old Airline - you must have gotten it from Keith Cordell!
Sweet little guitar, and it's black too!

Andy, this really is an exceptional sounding guitar.
It has a sweet sound I really like, and the reliable playability Remingtons are known for.
It's very responsive, a joy to play.
And - it was the photo of Cindy with this very guitar in your wonderful Lap Steel Guitar book that made me want to get a Steelmaster in the first place!

Kev, it really is a great gig buddy.
I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Steinar, thank you my friend!
When does summer begin there anyway?

Thank you Al!

Thanks for the nice comment Bill, and I'm actually glad you feel that way.
Now I know I'll never have to worry about you standing behind me . .

Tom, this is a 24 1/2" scale guitar.

Doug, you're right - except possibly The Bunny Ranch!
On second thought, that would be way too many distractions . .

Ray, thank you for the advice my son.
I'll have to give that a try.
I was having a big problem with wind noise on the camcorder mic, as you know if you checked out any of my videos from the previous 2 weeks.
I finally solved it by scotch taping a small thin piece of foam over the mic. Very high tech stuff . .
Because of my lower back problem I actually do have an assistant who totes the gear and sets it in place for me -
but I do most of the plugging in and setting up.

And the flag rocks!
It's a reminder of the greatness of this country even in spite of the all problems we face - from within and abroad.
It's a good feeling to see it flying there.


Les & Tom, there's a large tiki bar right in front of me that's almost always full, as well as a number of tables that are usually occupied. And there's also a sea wall where people stop and sit - but they're all directly behind the camera.
There are usually anywhere from 20 - 50 or more people in the audience.
They don't always applaud wildly, at least until they've had a few - but they do tip and buy my CDs . .

And at least 10 people stopped to ask one of two questions:
1. What is that?
answer - It's a Steel Guitar
2. What's the name of that song?
answer - Sleepwalk

Thank you Roy!
Yes, Hollywood Beach is a real nice place to be.
You should come and visit sometime - I bet you'd love it . .
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[Rick Collins]

It's a beauty, Rick __ great sound.

I'm assuming it has the George L pickups too.