This past March at the TSGA, I got to know Dan Campbell from Caladesi Guitars. A friendship was quickly struck up, and we've remained in touch since. I played some of the guitars he built, which I was very impressed by. I had been thinking for a while about a new lap steel before, but hadn't decided what I wanted..
Now, I have always wanted a Stringmaster guitar, but never got one for whatever reason. When I was in Dallas, one of the guitars Dan had built was a Stringmaster. I played it for almost the entire weekend, and couldn't hardly drag myself away from it. A short time laster, I asked Dan if he would build me a custom Stringmaster-style D8 guitar. I already knew exactly the color I wanted, etc. It was really nice to have the option to have many upgrades on the guitar.
One touch that is really nice is the pickguard in between the two necks - thankfully, I don't have to scratch up my guitar with my picks and bar!
The guitar sounds incredible - I've never heard sustain on any guitar like this one. The guitar really barks, and is "very alive" and responds amazing.
Huge thanks to Dan!! This is really something I've wanted all my life - thanks for the amazing work! It turned out perfect! Enjoy the pics
A few specs:
Color: Surf Green
Fretboard: Roasted Flame maple with Abalone dots on top edge. Wood Inlay on all sides
Pickups: Lollar Stringmaster Pickups
Pickguard: Ivory pearl design
Bridge / Nut: Brass
BTW - Here is Dan's guitar from Dallas:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com//viewto ... highlight=
Brand new Caladesi 'Stringmaster' style guitar
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
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- Location: Florida, USA
Brand new Caladesi 'Stringmaster' style guitar
Last edited by Jeremy Ball on 13 Aug 2023 4:33 am, edited 3 times in total.
- Dan Campbell
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- Joined: 27 Sep 2014 8:32 am
- Location: Florida, USA
sustain
Thanks Jeremy--it was a real pleasure working with you on this design. The primary diversion from the original is the brass nut and bridge. The nut is inserted .5 inches into the wood and the bridge is larger than the original. It is .375 inches in diameter and solid brass. I believe these innovations are the primary reason for the increase in sustain. Dan
- Dan Campbell
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- Joined: 27 Sep 2014 8:32 am
- Location: Florida, USA
pickups
The pickups in Dallas were Seymour Duncan's antiquity series, but these are Lollar stringmaster pickups.
- Jim Fogarty
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- Location: Phila, Pa, USA
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- Dan Campbell
- Posts: 222
- Joined: 27 Sep 2014 8:32 am
- Location: Florida, USA
mini controls
Thanks Jim -- the mini controls are the "blend" knobs. It is wired just like the original so the bridge pickup is always on and this knob dials in the neck pickup.
Re: mini controls
Lovely guitar. What does the third chrome knob do?Dan Campbell wrote:Thanks Jim -- the mini controls are the "blend" knobs. It is wired just like the original so the bridge pickup is always on and this knob dials in the neck pickup.
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- Posts: 9
- Joined: 3 Feb 2019 8:37 am
- Location: Florida, USA
Re: mini controls
The 3rd chrome knob is the volume control for the outer neck.Jeff Mead wrote:Lovely guitar. What does the third chrome knob do?Dan Campbell wrote:Thanks Jim -- the mini controls are the "blend" knobs. It is wired just like the original so the bridge pickup is always on and this knob dials in the neck pickup.