Fender d-8 lap steel

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

Post Reply
John Simmons
Posts: 9
Joined: 3 Feb 2010 10:27 am
Location: Arp,Texas, USA

Fender d-8 lap steel

Post by John Simmons »

I have a Fender double neck, 8 string lap steel, no legs or places for legs, natural walnut(I think)not excellent but good condition. I have the case but it is in poor condition. Does anyone have an idea of the value. It is not sentimental and I've got too much gear. I'd like to sell it.
User avatar
Jay Seibert
Posts: 190
Joined: 14 Jan 2010 1:13 pm
Location: Woodland, WA, USA
Contact:

Fender for sale

Post by Jay Seibert »

Please let me know when you have a price figured out. I am new to the lap steel world and have been looking for a used double-neck that I can afford. Thanks!
www.stoneslides.com is my Paloma Tone Bar and Bottleneck Slide web site
www.clayrabbit.com is my Pottery web site
User avatar
Brad Bechtel
Moderator
Posts: 8146
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm

Post by Brad Bechtel »

Do you have any photos of the guitar you could share? That would certainly help determine which model you have and its potential sale price.
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
User avatar
Cartwright Thompson
Posts: 2647
Joined: 31 Dec 1998 1:01 am

Post by Cartwright Thompson »

no legs or places for legs?
you should post a photo if you want information
User avatar
John Bechtel
Posts: 5103
Joined: 1 Jul 2002 12:01 am
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Post by John Bechtel »

I don't know that Fender ever made a D-8 w/o Leg-Sockets, so; my guess is that it could be the 2 middle-necks of a Fender-Quad! I sure would like to see pictures!
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster
Matthew Dawson
Posts: 501
Joined: 1 May 2009 1:06 pm
Location: Portland Oregon, USA

Post by Matthew Dawson »

I've seen an early Roman numeral and Boxcar Dual Pro with no leg sockets. It was also a walnut finish.
User avatar
Doug Beaumier
Posts: 15642
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Northampton, MA
Contact:

Post by Doug Beaumier »

I too have seen a couple of early Fender walnut Dual 8s without legs. Legs were optional when these guitars first came out in the late 40s.
User avatar
John Bechtel
Posts: 5103
Joined: 1 Jul 2002 12:01 am
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Post by John Bechtel »

I stand corrected! I do remember now that I have seen Dual Pros w/o legs or sockets! Sometimes my memory does lag(g) behind a bit!
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster
Billy Tonnesen
Posts: 1882
Joined: 2 Oct 2006 12:01 am
Location: R.I.P., Buena Park, California
Contact:

Post by Billy Tonnesen »

Back when Leo Fender started out in a Radio Repair shop in downtown Fullerton, Ca. on Spadra Ave. later renamed Harbor Blvd. he had some kind of partner named Ray Massey who was involved in the early Amps and possibly Steels. Ray left to branch out on his own making Student Model Amps and Guitars. Maybe this was a Guitar Ray was involved with.
User avatar
Brad Bechtel
Moderator
Posts: 8146
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm

Post by Brad Bechtel »

Without a photo, we'll never know. :)
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
User avatar
Kristian Meisling
Posts: 21
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 4:54 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA

My '49 came without legs!

Post by Kristian Meisling »

I have a 1949 Fender Dual Professional that was lovingly restored by Bobbe Seymour at Steel Guitar Nashville. It came with the original case (striped luggage tweed, amber plastic handle), which has no place for legs, and it clearly did not have legs originally. Bobbe added legs and sockets and delivered it in a new ozite-covered plywood case with provision for legs. The guitar was originally dark brown, and Bobbe refinished it in the same color stain...but I believe that it is alder or maple not walnut. One of the pickups had to be rewound. It's a fantastic guitar...a very characteristic crystalline sound. I paid $1800 for it 5 years ago...fully restored, mind you! The achilles heel of these guitars are the tuning pans...I have had to buy pans on eBay (probably impossible now) just to pirate parts and keep 'er running. I say a prayer to the Patron Saint of Lost Causes every time I change the strings (St. Jude, in case you were wondering). The tuning pans (commonly referred to as lollipop tuners) were welded up at Leo's shop and the brass gears have a way of stripping with higher string tensions. So I would say price it fairly, because it's like an antique car...you have to LOVE it. On the other hand, it is an incredible piece of history to be treated with respect! I'll upload a picture of mine as soon as I can find the file!
User avatar
John Bechtel
Posts: 5103
Joined: 1 Jul 2002 12:01 am
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Post by John Bechtel »

I have always been told that Fender non-pedal steels were made of only three different wood types. Walnut, Ash and Swamp Ash. :)
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster
User avatar
Kristian Meisling
Posts: 21
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 4:54 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA

Post by Kristian Meisling »

When it comes to wood, I confess I don't know my Ash from a Walnut...I'll tell you that the guitar weighs a ton...the wood grain catches the light and has a "flamey shine" through the semi-transparent stain...which I do not associate with walnut...so it's probably ash or swamp ash.
John Simmons
Posts: 9
Joined: 3 Feb 2010 10:27 am
Location: Arp,Texas, USA

Pic's of d-8 Fender

Post by John Simmons »

Sorry it took so long to post pictures!
User avatar
Brad Bechtel
Moderator
Posts: 8146
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm

Post by Brad Bechtel »

I still don't see any photos.
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
Post Reply