The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Fender Stringmaster 3 neck 26 inch scale
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Fender Stringmaster 3 neck 26 inch scale
Duane Becker

 

From:
Elk,Wa 99009 USA
Post  Posted 21 Sep 2012 6:35 am    
Reply with quote

I have the chance to obtain a Fender Stringmaster 3 neck, 26 inch scale steel in great shape and everything works. Can anyone help me with the value? Price: $2100. Is this in the ball park for a price?

From what I've read, the Stringmasters started out being 26 inch, but Leo Fender noticed that high pitched strings broke on it and it was very hard to do bar slants. Leo then came out with the smaller scales. I think the 26 inch was discontinued in favor of the smaller scales. If this is correct, does it mean these 26 inchers are more collectable? Thanks Duane Becker
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 21 Sep 2012 6:49 am    
Reply with quote

I see one on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $1,100; one offered by Cowtown Guitars for $1,900; and one offered by Cole Music Company for $2,195. The last two are found on Gbase.com.
I don't have enough experience with the various scale lengths to be able to comment on their collectability. I think the value is more related to their playability and tone overall.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 21 Sep 2012 7:05 am    
Reply with quote

The one on e-bay isn't a Stringmaster neither is the one at Cowtown.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Sep 2012 8:28 am     Howdy Duane!
Reply with quote

I don't how much my comments will be worth however in my many years of playing.....I've seen fewer long neck Fenders on the road than the original trapazoid shorter models. They were alway popular.

Noel Boggs was here when the newer long neck multiple pickup models were introduced and they never rec'd the popularity that the earlier ones did.

I've seen the short scale models consistantly going for around $1,500 to $2,000. The long scale models for not as much.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Benjamin Kelley


From:
Iowa, USA
Post  Posted 23 Sep 2012 8:53 pm    
Reply with quote

As an owner of a long scale stringmaster I will say I think the sustain and overall tone are excellent. I can also attest to higher incidence of string breakage on the high strings as well as an increased difficulty in slanting. Overall I opine that the pros outweigh the cons and it is an exceptional instrument though $2100 seems fairly steep. $1600 seems more like it if not much less depending on how long you want to search for one.

Cheers,
Benjamin
_________________
If I die trying I will steel the world one honky tonk at a time.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

George Keoki Lake


From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
Post  Posted 23 Sep 2012 10:24 pm    
Reply with quote

[b}The guitars on ebay and gbase are both CUSTOM T-8....not the STRINGMASTER. I have a 1954 Custom...great guitar. However the CANOPUS is far superior. (jmho of course.) [/b]
View user's profile Send private message

Nate Hofer


From:
Overland Park, Kansas
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2012 4:44 am    
Reply with quote

I too have an early triple neck stringmaster in very good condition that I bought in 2011 for very close to the same price as Ben's. It's great. To be clear, two-note slants are still possible in the lower register however three-note slants are difficult to keep in tune - if not impossible. But whatever. There's still a lot you can do and learn with it.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bill Creller

 

From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2012 2:55 pm    
Reply with quote

I had a short scale D-8, but in my opinion the long scale sounded better.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP