Remington Steelmaster T8 !

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 10 Feb 2005 12:09 am

I mentioned a while ago in this
thread that ordered a custom T8 Steelmaster from Herb Remington.

Well, it arrived today!

Here are a couple of pics, and there are a lot more pics on this page.

Herb has really outdone himself this time.
This guitar plays and sounds great, and you can see for yourself how it looks.
I'm going to use it on the next song I record so you'll be able to hear it . .

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 10 Feb 2005 12:17 am

Man what a coincidence, I just got done lookin at all the guitars on your web site and saw the T8 Steelmaster...awesome to say the least. Do you own all the guitars I saw on your web site?

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Carter D-10 C6/E9, 54' Fender Champion C6, two Oahu laps C6/G, two Nationals C6/G, and two Resonators tuned to open G

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 10 Feb 2005 12:27 am

Yes I do. My wife thinks I'm crazy, and she may have a point there. Maybe obsessed is a better word.

But a feller's got to have a hobby . .

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 10 Feb 2005 1:18 am

Handsome!!

Jeff Au Hoy · Post by **Jeff Au Hoy** » 10 Feb 2005 5:34 am

Interesting that pickups are mounted so far from the bridge nowadays. Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 10 Feb 2005 5:54 am

Same as the Can-O-Puss ...
Higher initial Transient, but a lower level sustain..
Baz
I think not the sort of sound I like..
Won't record well without compression etc..

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Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 10 Feb 2005 6:09 am

Rick,

Spectacular!!!

Ditto Jeff. Can't wait to hear it!! "Champagne Dreams & Steelmaster Wishes:

Did you ever get that Fender Steelking Amp?....maybe I missed it....TX
rgds,
ron

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JCFSC member since 2005
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 10 Feb 2005 6:50 am

Nice looking axe there, Rick.
What tunings are you using?

Jay

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 10 Feb 2005 7:20 am

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely beautiful!

Don Joslin · Post by **Don Joslin** » 10 Feb 2005 7:44 am

VERY NICE Rick - quite a guitar. I too would love to hear it. Congratulations!

Don

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Country Music - (kun'tree myoo'zik) n. - Three chords and the
--------- truth.

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 10 Feb 2005 9:19 am

Looks great, Rick!

Can't wait to hear it!

Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 10 Feb 2005 11:14 am

Nice Guitar, Rick!!
Hope to hear it soon.
Congrats!

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 10 Feb 2005 11:31 am

Rick
Thats a great looking guitar and if anyone can build a good one its Herb. Funny but after all these years I have never met Herb but we were about an inch apart back in the 50's and never met.

Give Herb best when you speak to him and congratulations to you and to Herb for such a great guitar.

Play it in good health

Jody

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 10 Feb 2005 3:15 pm

What tunings are you using?

Jay, I put the same tunings that I have on my Stringmaster T8. Basically, it's E7th, A6th, and high C6th, but there are 9 or 10 different tunings I use that can be easily gotten with these gauges.

Interesting that pickups are mounted so far from the bridge nowadays.

Herb calls it the "honey hole". He says he experimented a lot to get it in the perfect spot.

Baz, it has a surprising degree of sustain, better than I figured it would. It's funny - I have a 24 1/2" scale D8 Steelmaster that has less sustain than this one (22 1/2"). It gets nice clear harmonics too. So it's already defying the laws of physics somewhat. But, the proof is in the pudding as they say - so we'll see how it records and how it is at a live performance. At any rate, it has passed the first test - it's very photogenic . .

It sounds killer, but it's a different feel than the Stringmaster. The Steelmaster is like a ritzy hotel and the Stringmaster is like coming home . . I'm going to play the Steelmaster in the next song I'm recording - It's a new tune called "Dance With Your Angel Baby"

With the Stringmaster, I use a Music Man HD 130 212 and a Peavey Session 500. But this guitar completely overpowers the Music Man - to much whallop for a tube amp I suppose. It sounds much better through 2 Session 500s.

Did you ever get that Fender Steel King Amp?

Delivery was promised by Feb 11th, so hopefully tomorrow . .

.

Jody, it's funny that in 50 years 2 of the greatest steel players in the country who both had close associations with Leo Fender never actually met face to face or had a conversation. Herb said it's because at the conventions, when you guys might like to go have coffee or something - people don't leave you alone for a minute. You could always give him a call. His number is 713 923 8435. He of course knows who you are, and he said to say hi.

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 10 Feb 2005 4:42 pm

Rick
That is one good looking guitar. Is the "R" for Rick?
Do you use the same string guage for either 22.5" or 24.5" scale?
Thanks
Mike

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 10 Feb 2005 7:02 pm

Mike, yes - the R is for Rick, or Remington - or Rock & Roll Riot !

I didn't actually string the 24 1/4" up, it had a new set on it when I got it. I don't care for the longer scale, but if I did want to play it I'd probably put a slightly lighter gauge on it to get the same tension. I'd have to experiment like I did for short scale . .

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Feb 2005 3:30 am

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 11 Feb 2005 6:05 am

Rick,

Have you noticed any difference with or without the Hilton Digital Sustain on this beauty??? TX
rgds,
Ron

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JCFSC member since 2005
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 11 Feb 2005 10:49 am

That's a very nice looking steel you've got there. It looks like the bridge and nuts are un-grooved. If you pick real hard by the bridge, do you find that the strings move around?

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 11 Feb 2005 11:03 am

They are grooved. I sat down with Herb at a show and he gave me the tour of his instruments.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 11 Feb 2005 11:26 am

wow. that is so beautiful. kinda reminds me of my dad's old vette. white and chromey is all I remember.
congrads on your new beauty.

nice pic of you too. sure glad there is no hawaiian shirt in the way.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 11 Feb 2005 12:06 pm

Herb Remington spent enough time with Leo Fender over the years exchanging ideas along with Noel Boggs and Leon McAuliffe that is no wonder Leo's innovative ideas has had an effect on Herbs guitars.

I beleive Herb's guitars are an extension of what Leo would have done if he were here today.

Herb if your seeing this ,,good luck you did a great job and I think your non pedal expertise and experience is what made you develop a great guitar.

Great job,,let the others produce pedal guitars you can "Out Ride Em Anytime"

Edited for one of the Greatest Steel Players
in our generation HERB REMINGTON.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 February 2005 at 12:08 PM.]

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Feb 2005 2:53 pm

Have you noticed any difference with or without the Hilton Digital Sustain on this beauty???

Ron, I hadn't even tried the Hilton Sustain with the Steelmaster till just a few minutes ago, as I thought it was sustaining just fine and of course I'm still getting "acquainted" with it. But the difference is remarkable! The Hilton seems to have more of an effect with these pickups than it does with Stringmaster pickups, and now the sustain is endless. Maybe it has something to do with the impedence, I guess the Hilton Sustain was designed more for the PSG type pickups. In any case, it really brings out the sustain . .

Dan, Bill is correct - the bridge and nut are grooved. There is slight taper in the string spacing from bridge to nut, same as a Stringmaster. The precision machining of all the hardware is very noticeable close up. I'll try to get a clear close up pic of the bridge and nut.

nice pic of you too. sure glad there is no hawaiian shirt in the way

Well, thank you Randy. I just can't stand to wear any stuff with patterns or prints anymore. I used to, but for some reason I can only wear solid colors now. Funny how that is . .

Herb if you're seeing this ,,good luck you did a great job and I think your non pedal expertise and experience is what made you develop a great guitar

Jody, Herb doesn't have a computer as we know it - he gets text email but that's it. I'll be sure to pass your comments along though. In fact, in a day or two I'll print this thread and mail it to him. So if anybody has additional comments they'd like Herb to read - now's your chance!

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 11 February 2005 at 03:54 PM.]

Chuck Halcomb · Post by **Chuck Halcomb** » 11 Feb 2005 4:09 pm

Rick that is absolutly beautiful and I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks. I am into almost my 3rd year with my steelmaster T-8 and while mine isn't as pretty as yours, I couldn't be happer.

Not doubt about it, Herb does understand how to make a steel guitar. I never did own or even play a stringmaster, but I do own a Gibson Console Grande and while I still feel it is hard to beat the tone of the original guitars made back in the 50s, my steelmaster is certainly the next best thing.

If I was only as good as my guitar I would be great....

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Remington Steel T-8 Steelmaster
Gibson Console Grande[This message was edited by Chuck Halcomb on 11 February 2005 at 04:11 PM.]

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 11 Feb 2005 4:11 pm

Okay, I got in as close as I could without bumping my chin. I moved the high E string out of the groove on the bridge so you could get a better look at it.