1951 Fender three neck custom $1250.00

[Jim Eachus]

very nice Fender three neck 8 string custom with original tweed case from 1951, date and inspection signatures are under top tuners , some light wear but nothing out of the norm, needs new strings i think the string on this thing ar 50 years old, i am selling for a friend, will ship but only to lower 48 u.s.a $1250.00 obo + $100 fed ex shipping

the last pic is of my steel its not forsale....

[Howard Parker]

The model name is "Custom".

Fine guitars.

h

[Jim Eachus]

thank you!!

[Mark Helm]

I have a 6 string Dual Professional, 50s, trap pick-ups. So the 3 neck 8 string version is just called a Fender Custom Trip 8?

PS) Can you post more pics?

Thanks!

[Chris Scruggs]

Mark Helm,

The single neck was called the Deluxe, the double neck the Dual Professional, and the triple neck was called the Custom.

The single neck and double neck guitars came with six or eight string options and are sometimes referred to as the Deluxe Six, Deluxe Eight, Dual six and Dual Eight. The three neck guitar was only available with eight strings per neck.

In the Stringmaster era, all multineck steels with eight string necks were called Stringmasters, while singleneck steels with Stringmaster features retained the name Deluxe and doubleneck six string steel guitars with Stringmaster features retained the name Dual Six Professional.

[Erv Niehaus]

[Jeff Mead]

It's interesting that the Dual 8 and Custom guitars in that catalogue are either incredibly rare or may not have existed "in the wild".

The earliest version of those instruments had boxcar (rectangular) pickups instead of the trapezoid shape and the Roman numeral fretboards.

I've seen a few with boxcar pickups and the more modern "Stringmaster style" fretboards, suggesting that the fretboards were changed first and that these were transitional models.

Other than in this catalog, I've never seen a picture of either with Roman numerals and trapezoids.

[Erv Niehaus]

Jeff,
The pictures I posted were from Fender's 1954 catalog.
The boxcar pickups and the roman numeral fret boards were guitars built prior to 1954.
Erv

[Jeff Mead]

Jeff,
The pictures I posted were from Fender's 1954 catalog.
The boxcar pickups and the roman numeral fret boards were guitars built prior to 1954.
Erv

Yes I know, it was the combination of trapezoid and roman numerals I was questioning.

As far as I can tell from what I have seen the fretboards would have been changed first. The catalogue suggests the pickups were changed first.

[Chris Scruggs]

Yeah, those pictures must have been taken in 1949 when the pickups and fretboards were changed over. I've seen a picture of a transitional triple with Roman fretboards and Trap pickups. In fact, I believe Buddy Emmons said his triple neck Fender had those features!

[Chris Scruggs]

[Chris Scruggs]

Also, regarding the catalogue pictures, notice how the pictures of the guitars in their cases shows a later guitar with the "arrow head" fretboards...

[Jim Newberry]

I really like the looks of the Roman numeral fretboards. My late '50 Dual Pro has the arrow-style and all slot-head screws.

[Aaron Jennings]

Not to hijack a thread about a fine guitar for sale; here is a picture of my triple custom with roman numeral fretboards:

[Guy Cundell]

Not to hijack a thread about a fine guitar for sale; here is a picture of my triple custom with roman numeral fretboards:
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That's a hijack!

[Jeff Mead]

Yeah, those pictures must have been taken in 1949 when the pickups and fretboards were changed over. I've seen a picture of a transitional triple with Roman fretboards and Trap pickups. In fact, I believe Buddy Emmons said his triple neck Fender had those features!

Fantastic. Never seen a picture of that configuration before and you found two!!!

I think I prefer the "arrowhead" boards though.

[Scott Spanbauer]

PM sent. No longer a lurker!

[Scott Spanbauer]

And meanwhile, someone is selling this on eBay with arrowheads and boxcar pickups...

[Chris Scruggs]

Notice the mismatched keyheads on the Boxcar/Arrowhead guitar. Me thinks it is a "parts" instrument!

[Scott Spanbauer]

Didn’t see that!

[Mark Helm]

Hmmmm.. Both my Dual Pros are 50s models and neither has the cool roman numeral's like Chris' have.

Chris-- Was that a feature only on the 8-strings?

He's my 'ol faithful 1955 (see pics at bottom for date)


My "new" one (arriving Tuesday!). I'm going to be looking to trade one of these guys for an 8-string, or sell outright. PM me if you have ideas!


He's the dating on the 1st one (which, as you can see, is a hairsbreath away from being a 1956) . Will have more info on the new one once I have a chance to explore it:

[Chris Scruggs]

They stopped doing Roman numeral fretboards in 1949 and switched to the more conventional ones like what are on your guitar. There are six string Fenders with Roman fretboards but only singleneck lap steels, as Fender didn't offer a Dual Six guitar in that era.

[Francisco Castillo]

hi. could you please explain how do the electronics work in this gorgeous Fender? i see two different switches and two knobs?

thanks a lot

[Jeff Mead]

hi. could you please explain how do the electronics work in this gorgeous Fender? i see two different switches and two knobs?

thanks a lot

I have one of these (they are great guitars). There is a 3 way switch that selects a single neck. The toggle switch activates all 3 necks together.

[Matteo Ringressi]

Is this guitar still available?