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Topic: Opinions, value of Richenbacker non-console D-8 |
John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 11:31 am |
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How good are the Richenbacker D-8's with bakelite necks, metal body? Not a console, but individual necks jutting out of the body.
When were they made? What's the average price for them these days? Do they have good tone? A local friend has one for sale, so need some education.
His has a bunch of missing tuning key buttons, are they hard to put back on, or replace the key strips entirely? He doesn't want to just replace the strips entirely, says because it's a bakelite headstock, it's tricky doing that without stripping threads. He thinks he can heat up and slip back on the original buttons. Whatcha think?
Thanks in advance.
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Mark Bracewell
From:
Willow Glen, California
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 11:55 am
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Wow, thanks, Mark, perfect help! If I buy the steel, I may just do the work myself, this series of photos and instructions is awesome!
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Richard Sevigny
From:
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 12:37 pm
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Would that be one of these?
I paid $1000 for on last year and saw one in a music store for $1400 last march. I've seen some for $1200-$2500 online.
Good luck with the buttons!
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If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.
-Albert Einstein |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 12:57 pm
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That's the one, Richard!
So dish: how's it sound; is it awkward on the lap with 2 individual necks; sustain well; like the neck scale, OK for bar slants? Any info is appreciated.
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 1:54 pm
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| Most of the Old Timers that played these double necks used a tubular chrome stand to cradle the guitar and make it easy to play both necks. I think these stands are still available. They are adjustable for height from the floor. |
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Richard Sevigny
From:
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 2:27 pm
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John,
I mostly play mine on a stand... I've found this Hercules stand works well for the job.
The 'shoes kick butt, lots of sustain, plenty of tone. The short scale is great for slants, thought you might find it a bit cramped at the higher frets.
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If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.
-Albert Einstein |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 11 Jun 2009 7:52 pm Rick double 8
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| John, remember the Cerritos Ukulele Fest. when we attended a class by local great steel player Pete Kahele. He was playing this very same model guitar! Very Hawaiian and collectable. He had it attached to a drum stand of some sort, very solid, great sound. If you can score it for a very good price ($700-$800) go for it. Put new tuner buttons on it. Soak them in coffee for a few days to get the right color and then use a soldering iron to get them on. If you need any help let me know. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 1:55 am
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Thanks for jogging my memory, Gary, I'd forgotten that! I remember Duke's black Panda Ric, what a nice sound it had. Thanks for the offer to help, I might need your assistance if I decide to go with this model. Btw, what is this model called?
Anyone know the neck scale on these?
Also, my friend says the pickups are strong, but without tuner buttons the steel has only a couple of strings on 1 neck. Is there a simple way to jury rig strings so I can hear the pickups? Any tips on what to listen for?
_________________
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▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Andrew Roblin
From:
Various places
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 4:41 am
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I owned one of these for about a year. The pickups and tone were nice; the sustain was poor. Also, the instrument was extraordinarily sensitive to temperature changes. Body heat--even with the instrument on a stand--caused big tuning changes.
It took some finagling to get the lowest strings dead center over the pickup poles, and they had to be dead center to get adequate volume.
I tried everything I could think of to make mine satisfactory. Regaussed the pickups (which helped); filled the slots on the bakelite bridge (which did not); filed the nut for my exact string gauges (which helped).
In the end, it didn't work for me. But perhaps some of these are better than mine was. Some people say they like them.
About soaking the tuners buttons to make them look old: I soaked some plastic buttons with tea bags for about a month, heating them in a microwave now and then. They didn't change color, and the shrank a little, making them hard to put on the tuning posts. Some cracked in the process.
Bottom line: If it were me, I'd buy a pre-war B6 instead. That's the ultimate, and about the same price. Better tone, sustain, tuning--the whole shebang that turns me on. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 12:29 pm
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Seems these models are often inconsistant in their sustain, playability, and tone values.
If this one is a winner get it, if under 1K. Two necks are better than one..., and these can be made to sound even better with an EQ.
Make sure the neck sets are tight. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 12:44 pm
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Appreciate the feedback, everyone. By neck set, Ron, you mean where the neck joins the metal body?
This sucker is really heavy, btw! Do wood body dual neck console steels have a warmer tone, plus lighter weight?
This Rick is in very good shape, just minor wear. The pickups both are very responsive to even just tapping on them. It's barely strung up so a little hard to gauge, but one neck has a few strings, and the output is strong.
Andrew, your comments about temp and intonation are a concern, guess that goes along with a metal body, right?
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Andrew Roblin
From:
Various places
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 1:15 pm
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| Yes. That's my opinion, John. |
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Richard Sevigny
From:
Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 2:13 pm
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As far as tuning is concerned, I haven't noted the intstrument going out of tune much except when the outside temp is at extremes (ie below freezing or above 100 F) and it seems to stay in tune fairly well. Because the tuners are 60+ years old, I noticed some tuners seem a little less efficient at changing the pitch, particularly on the treble side of the necks.
I haven't noted the issues Andrew had with his pickups, the string response seems even accross the board on mine.
I suspect Ron is talking about whether the neck is attached firmly to the body (these are bolted on from the inside).. a loose neck joint would result in poor sustain.
As with all vintage instruments, whether one is a dirtball or a diamond I suspect depends on how the instrument was treated over it's lifetime.
_________________
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If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.
-Albert Einstein |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 3:09 pm
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Gruhn's Guide calls it the "Electro double-neck",stamped metal body, Bakelite necks.
Introduced by 1942.
Discontunied by 1953.
If it has the T-Logo I'd say it's probably closer to the late 1940's, I've seen them with the Flip-Top string covers and they're probably closer to the 1950's. |
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John Drury
From:
Gallatin, Tn USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 3:28 pm
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I had an all bakelite double 8, sounded ok but it was like having a piano on your lap, got rid of it.
Had a metal body, bakelite neck D-8, lighter but no sustain, got rid of it.
Did a resto on an all metal, had "Big Jim" wind the pickups, nice axe wish I still had it! Traded it to Bobbe for a couple guitars.
These were all made in 1950 according to the Rick book. Mine is the one on the left, on the right is Bobby Blacks from a photo he sent me. Great looking guitars!
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John Drury
NTSGA #3
"Practice cures most tone issues" ~ John Suhr |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 3:35 pm
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| Richard, the one I'm eyeing is just like yours, but has a neck selector switch, like the metal ones shown by John Drury here. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 12 Jun 2009 7:29 pm
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I did some repair work on one of those which was all metal. It had decent sustain. A bit on the trebly side for my taste, but OK. After playing bakelites and frypans for a few years, it's hard to call the others as good.
Most steel guitars have a slight character of their own, even frypans and bakelites. Guitars made of wood can sound beautiful, and some just mediocre. Some of the tone is in the ears of the beholder 
I had two 7 string bakelites for a few years. One actually did have better tone than the other. Too many variables to figure out why. |
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