1956 Stringmaster Triple at Gryphon

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 30 Aug 2011 5:04 pm

FYI ..... http://www.gryphonstrings.com/instpix/36188/36188.php

Brian Hunter · Post by **Brian Hunter** » 31 Aug 2011 3:29 am

That's my first time to look at the Gryphon site. So their listing are just pictures and no other info on the instrument?

Charlie Vegas · Post by **Charlie Vegas** » 31 Aug 2011 5:27 am

1956 Fender Guitar Stringmaster Triple-8 w/legs, Lap Steel, no case $2,200.

Lap Steel Guitars in Stock

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 31 Aug 2011 5:56 am

Man, you can get a Fender Custom T-8 for about half that price...just sayin'.

Different sound, but I do prefer it--although listening to Noel Boggs playing his Stringmaster gives me chills.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 31 Aug 2011 7:07 am

I'm amazed that prices keep going up. I didn't figure there was that much demand because western swing, Hawaiian and old country music are not in vogue. For perspective I bought my '56 T8 Stringmaster with case for $650 in 1994 and my '58 Fender 1000 for $580 in 2000. Too bad they're not Strats - I could retire!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 31 Aug 2011 9:24 am

I don't regret having sold my Stringmaster but I sure do miss my Fender Custom Triple. The late Rick Alexander was the last owner. No idea where it is now. Gryphon is a good store and THE go-to store for vintage guitars in the Bay area. The prices reflect what the current market will bear.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 31 Aug 2011 12:48 pm

I've played the guitar being discussed, and it's very nice indeed. I would dread changing 32 strings, and carrying that around without a case. Whether or not it's worth the price, it's been sitting there for a while now.
They also have a White (Deluxe 6) with legs for $900.
As Andy said, this is the store to visit in the Bay Area.

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 31 Aug 2011 1:05 pm

well...they have had this stringmaster for a WHILE - at least since last winter cause i was looking for one - looks clean, just no one jumping on it.

T-8s were hot for a while and now i see them going equal with the D-8s, just my observation, i'm not in the market anymore so they can go where ever they want.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 31 Aug 2011 2:06 pm

I was there 2 1/2 weeks ago to pick up my new Martin Custom Shop dreadnought (CS21-11) which is by the way a wonderful guitar and I'm really enjoying it.

I checked out the Fender but unlike Brad I didn't play it as I was too excited about the Martin and not in "steel mode" (though I actually had a bar and picks with me). It does look pretty nice, but not great in person.

Brad - it's a triple - you'd be changing 24 strings but not 32.

Andy mentioned our departed friend Rick, and I know Rick really thought the ticket for non-pedal is the triple neck and though I could see his logic, if ever there's a Stringmaster in my life I don't want to go any bigger than D-8. With all the other musical irons I have in the fire and a brain already spread too thin, I think a setup with say E13th on one and C6th on the other is the most I could handle.

Then there's only 16 strings to change and it would be easier on the back moving the guitar around.

At Gryphon that day they also had a 1935 Model 27 Dobro which I'm thinking was probably a Regal-built. It was pretty darn clean, a nice Dobro.

And last but not least, they had the cleanest looking Gretsch-built ShoBro I have ever seen - it looked like it had been in the case under someone's bed and hadn't been touched in about the past 40 years.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 31 Aug 2011 2:50 pm

Who changes strings? Once they're on, they're on for life!

I don't have a problem with my T-8. I think I change the strings about once or twice a year. The third neck is always my experimental neck.

It can be a little heavy, though, so I had a gig bag made for it which helps it out considerably.

Dennis Peterson · Post by **Dennis Peterson** » 2 Sep 2011 9:52 pm

Here's where the cool stuff is:

http://frets.com/

Frank Ford's machine shop and luthier works.

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 3 Sep 2011 7:09 am

At that price I am willing to bet a case of Sam Adams that it will be for sale this time next year. Any takers?

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 3 Sep 2011 11:03 am

The cost of living in the SF Bay Area is high. Palo Alto is on the Peninsula which is more expensive than the South Bay or the East Bay. I had heard about Gryphon for acoustic guitars but I didn't know they had a selection of lap steels. I have heard great things about their luthier, Frank Ford.

With eBay and PayPal it is easier for us Bay Area folk to take advantage of the lower prices elsewhere in the US. So the local prices actually have come down a little bit...

Steve Ahola

The Steel Guitar Forum

1956 Stringmaster Triple at Gryphon

1956 Stringmaster Triple at Gryphon

Behind the Gryphon Showroom