Stringmaster repair

Greg Spears · Post by **Greg Spears** » 22 Jan 2013 8:13 pm

Hello, I am new here and this is my first post. I have my grandfathers Fender triple neck non pedal steel guitar. I have been wanting to learn to play it, but it needs to be repaired. I believe its a 1955 model. It appears to have some type of short or ground problem. I get static and buzzing when it is plugged into the amp. if you put pressure on or take pressure off the cover plate where the pickups are, it will sometimes work, then go out again. I took it to a local music store and they had it for 9 months and could not fix it. I think that they lost interest and didnt want to mess with it. I have no experience with guitar electronics. Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong with it? I also cleaned the pots, no dice. I live in in Stockton,Ca. about 30 minutes south of Sacramento. Can anyone recommend someone to make the repairs? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 23 Jan 2013 4:55 am

It should be an easy fix, it's not rocket science...
Any electronics repair man should be able to complete the ground.
At worst the pickups may need to be rewound/repaired
but it's simple electrical work...
Dom

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 23 Jan 2013 6:03 am

Greg, give Woody Boyd in Sacramento a call. I haven't personally brought anything to him because I live in northern Sonoma County and it's a two hour drive each way but I have heard good things about his work.

One example is he did some wiring work for a pro dobro player I know in regards to the Fishman Nashville pickup in his main guitar, which would seem to be a fairly simple operation, but has been known to be screwed up by some well-regarded veteran luthiers. Woody was able to get it right.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/boyd-luthiery-sacramento

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 23 Jan 2013 7:12 am

post some photos, so we can comment with more knowledge, what kind of Pickups? Neck selector switches etc.

David Goodale · Post by **David Goodale** » 23 Jan 2013 7:24 am

Meanwhile, start learning to play it unplugged.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 23 Jan 2013 9:23 am

Loosen the strings and tighten the plate screws on the nearest (back) neck... there are grounds that are made by a wire sitting under the plate; if the plate lifts up the ground can be interrupted. Important to loosen the strings first!

Greg Spears · Post by **Greg Spears** » 23 Jan 2013 10:29 pm

Thanks for the info Mark. I will call Woody tomorrow to see about getting my steel to him. I am going to try the fix Stephen recommended first. Also, I will post some photos tomorrow. I had an issue trying to post them from my phone. Thanks all for the advice.

Greg Spears · Post by **Greg Spears** » 24 Jan 2013 4:04 pm

Here are a couple photos of the stringmaster. My grandfather was the original owner when it was purchased in 1955. I have made an appointment with Woody Boyd in Sacramento, Ca to get it fixed. He is going to check my other guitars too. Thank you all for the information. Now if I can figure out how to play it!

Russ Cudney · Post by **Russ Cudney** » 24 Jan 2013 9:36 pm

Greg Spears wrote:Here are a couple photos of the stringmaster. My grandfather was the original owner when it was purchased in 1955. I have made an appointment with Woody Boyd in Sacramento, Ca to get it fixed. He is going to check my other guitars too. Thank you all for the information. Now if I can figure out how to play it!

Sure is purdy!