Is there a "Blue Book" for Stringmaster values?

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 20 Aug 2002 7:09 am

I have a 1960 D8 (22.5") Walnut color Stringmaster in excellent condition (except for the usual few knicks and scratches here and there). It works great, and sounds fantastic, but I have no clue as to what would be fair market value.

Is there a Blue Book for these, or a resource where I could get a ballpark figure? Would Gruhn's in Nashville be a good place to ask?

Thank you all for any help you can give me in advance.

TJW

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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, B11, E13); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6); Melobar SLS lapsteel (open D); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open G)

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 20 Aug 2002 10:53 am

The BLUE BOOK on Fender Guitars...

Look under JODY CARVER.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 20 Aug 2002 11:49 am

I'd say about $550.00 per neck.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 20 Aug 2002 5:28 pm

With or without "Rustproofing"?

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 21 Aug 2002 7:34 am

According to the 2002 Vintage Guitar Price Guide, a double neck Stringmaster in excellent condition from that era should be worth between $700 and $900 USD. You could get an idea of what similar guitars have sold for in the past few weeks on eBay by searching for "fender steel guitar" in completed items. Click here for an example.
Gruhn would be a good place to get an appraisal, as would Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, NY.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 21 Aug 2002 9:27 am

Brad
In my opinion,,,the blue book is only a guide
and not the "gospel". Condider the fact that
these appraisels are not accurate, We are not dealing in "used cars". I feel that a guitar such as the one mentioned as well as
another of its kind is in the category of how much does the buyer feels the instrument is worth to "him or her" and the seller must
agree on a price.

The Blue Book,,,,means nothing in my opinion
and is only a guide and I dont think it a good way to judge an instrument.

How would the Blue Book determine the price of an example,,,of Speedy Wests Bigsby?? or Noel Boggs Fender Custom and or Quad.

Only my opinion,,I have a quad that I wouldnt take $4000.00 for and I have been offered that much..Blue Book,,not my way of evaluating something....the beauty is in the eye of the beholder..This is not the automobile industry Thank Goodness.

Please take this in the manner it is intended
Im not taking issue,,,btw,I know Stan Jay of Mandolin Brothers. & I would not ask anyone including Stan for an appraisel. They are NOT
nearly even close IMHO.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 21 Aug 2002 9:29 am

Their appraisals of the instrument may be different than what they would sell them for.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 21 Aug 2002 9:40 am

I completely agree, Jody. I use it as a guideline, not as a bible. They actually do a pretty good job in the book of discussing why they come up with the prices they use and how few instruments actually meet those prices in the real world. I think with a resource like this plus the real world experience of eBay, one can get a pretty good idea of what their guitar should be worth compared to similar guitars. One of a kind guitars like yours or Speedy's are in another class altogether.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Gary Slabaugh · Post by **Gary Slabaugh** » 21 Aug 2002 10:04 am

There may not be a real world when it comes to vintage steel guitars, they are collectibles so value is in the eye of the beholder. I understand the value add that a known player might add to the sale price, maybe that is why someone paid $200 too much for my Supro on ebay, maybe they figured that this novice will be someone on the steel someday (if I live that long). In watching ebay it is really difficult to get a fix on a real world price because it is an auction and emotions get in the way.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 21 Aug 2002 8:41 pm

Gary
Give the guy the $200.00 back,,hell its tax deductible and you'll feel like a new man.

Abraham Lincoln.

My friends call me Abe,, you can too.

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 25 Aug 2002 1:10 pm

In the Last 2 years Stringmaster Prices have done better than the stock market...and unless you can find one on the forum or a friend or someone who is not guitar savy...Ebay and collectors(who for the most part have a vested interest in driving prices up, or strip 'em for the Pre-CBS parts...I've seen the controls and tuners go on Strats and Teles for the "correct" date codes in order for people to make bootleg guitars)...so, If you want your guitar to go to a player, ask what you think is fair on the forum(or Best offer, you know what you paid and an idea of how much you want, especially if it goes to a player or better yet a friend whom you can make a deal to get it back for the same price if he decides to sell it)...if you want to make money, let the dogs loose on Ebay and you'll find out what the market will bear...and it seems to increase every day....
Mike

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 4 Sep 2002 12:56 pm

I just bought another one from the Music Exchange in Colo. Springs CO for $675. Came in on consignment. It's a D-8, yellow, tweed case, case works but cosmetically trashed, no tailpiece (blend) covers, slight damage to body, all legs. I actually bought it sight unseen! There shipping it up. Get it Thurs. I have one real nice one that's almost mint and need a spare. I play these, I'm not a collector. Seemed like a good deal to me since they are hard to find. I have a money back guaranty from the store as well - good store. Anyway thought I'd share this data point for your reference. If I don't like it I'll put it on ebay and make a million-bajillion dollars......... (Dr. Evil this is 2002 it won't be worth that much until 2079!)

btw, my 'good' one cost me $200! a real attic guitar story.

cheers - chris www.book-em-danno.com

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature run wild" - govt. offical - Alaska www.seldomfed.com

[This message was edited by seldomfed on 04 September 2002 at 01:59 PM.]

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 6 Sep 2002 10:27 am

well nobody's reading this thread but me, but I like to talk to myself lately....

Fedex dropped it off sometime yesterday. It was on the front porch when I got home after work - and played it all night. I would prob. rate it as 'good' condition. Plays great!, tone is great!. Seems more mello than my other one. Tuners are all in good shape - no stripped gears. So functionally it's exactly what I need. Cosmetically - it's no where near as good as my other one.

Someone along the line painted the top again. It's yellow, but different. The front is original, sides original etc. They also stripped the tweed off the case and tried to do a natural finish on the wood - yuck. I think I'll see if the case can be restored a little.

I need to learn more about the different models. This one just looks older (cause it is). It's heavier, bigger slightly it seems. The case is different. Legs go in the lid! My other case has a place in the bottom just like a pedal steel case for legs - better!. So I think this one was made in the 50's and my other one may be one of the later models before they stopped makeing them. Just guessing.

Anyway , for what I needed - it was worth the $675 + tax + shipping. Can't beat the tone on these things.

cheers

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature run wild" - govt. offical - Alaska
www.seldomfed.com

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 9 Sep 2002 12:45 pm

Todd,

Here's my two cents. The short answer is there is no good printed price guide for Fender steels, in my opinion. The Vintage Guitar Price Guide book seems to usually run a little low for Stringmasters. Of course, prices vary with geographic area too--but that is not always consistent.

In my opinion $1,000 to $1,100 would be a good selling price for a clean short scale D-8 missing no parts. $1,200 would be even better. So $550 per neck is a pretty good guideline.

BTW, the $550/neck rule doesn't really work for DeLuxe 8 single necks, which can go for $800 or so depending on condition and demand. I bought a dead mint Deluxe 8 a year or two ago through the Forum for $775 including freight. It was so spotless it scared everybody who saw it! I sold it to Darick Campbell, who still plays it when not using his new Sierra.

I think the Fender steels are some of the best bargains out there, as players and collectibles. Just try buying a vintage Telecaster and see how far $1,000 gets you!

Buying and selling through the Steel Guitar Forum sure feels better than dealing with some "stranger" on eBay.

Good luck.

Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Stone on 09 September 2002 at 01:51 PM.]

Bob Anderson · Post by **Bob Anderson** » 9 Sep 2002 2:12 pm

I dont know if this is of any value to you or not. But I bought a D8 Fender from Ghrun Music (blonde) two years for $850. Too be honset, I thought the price was a might high. Two weeks ago Ghrun sends me a letter say they have a D8 Fender (blonde) for $1250..They will not get go down in price..So if you wait another year that walnut Fender of yours will sell for $2000