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Topic: Stringmaster scale/tone/sustain |
Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 3:00 pm |
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I know that the 26" (ultra-long) scale Stringmaster is known for it's tone & sustain (documented in the Smith book as Leo's favorite for those attributes, I believe). And I can attest that my 26" SM is just amazing sounding. So the question is: how different are the tone & sustain on the other two SM scales?
My reason for asking is that I have been very disappointed in this Melobar Skreemr I recently got. It had a 23" scale. I am radically modding this guitar and one thing I've done is extend it to 24" and this has made a significant difference. But I'm wondering---am I spoiled by the 26" sound? Would I have been disappointed by a short scale Stringmaster too, in comparison? |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 3:49 pm
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| Jon, there are too many factors besides just scale length for tone and sustain. A lot of it is voodoo that we don't really understand. I've had steel guitars in 22.5, 23, and 24 inch scales. Some of the longer scale guitars had less sustain and worse tone than the short ones. I don't konw why. |
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 6:08 pm
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Jon, I think you said it __ you're "spoiled".  ...me too.
I have a 26" triple Stringmaster and I prefer it, over all of the Fenders. I like the sound of the Dual Pro. and the Custom more than the 22.5" and 24.5" later Stringmasters.
Rick |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 6:44 pm
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I like the sound of the Dual Pro. and the Custom more than the 22.5" and 24.5" later Stringmasters.
Yes sir ye bOb |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 7:54 pm
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You heard it from Jody, folks. I wondered why i liked my dual pro better than stringmasters. Guess it was 'cause I never played a long scale SM, but then, i like shorter scales anyway.
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Dan Sawyer
Rickenbacher B6, Fender Dual Professional, Fender Deluxe 8 (trap), Fender "White" 6-string w legs, Carvin steel w HiseTri-plex.
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 8:34 pm
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Yes but if you play a 24 1/2" or 22 1/2" scale Stringmaster between '56 and '59; you'll never go back..ha.(Unless you have a GeorgeBoard of course)
Jon; I can get the same tone and sustain from a Middle scale stringmaster and short scale stringmaster; as I can from a long scale stringmaster> but two variables are very very important to do it.
One> Must be a stringmaster before 1960.
Two> String gauging is the UP-Most important for the sustain; then the tone is very similar.
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Ricky Davis
Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 9:11 pm
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| Quote: |
| So the question is: how different are the tone & sustain on the other two SM scales? |
Jon, there is a difference in tone and sustain between the 22 1/2" and 24 1/2" Stringmasters, but as Dan alluded to with his voodoo reference - there are other variables. Even among Stringmasters. Wood, metal, strings, tone bar, technique etc. And I'm very glad of that, because 22 1/2" scale is my comfort zone.
My 57 Stringmaster T8 22 1/2" has great tone and decent sustain - better than my 60 T8 24 1/2", probably mainly due to the fact that Fender switched from swamp ash to regular ash after 1959.
(edited to add: Dang, Ricky - you beat me to it!)
And my Customs & Dual Pro, which are all 22 1/2" sing like birds - especially the pewter Custom with Jason Lollar rewound pickups that Big John gave me for my birthday . .
But there's something missing from this picture . .
The Tweed Knight.
[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 23 March 2005 at 09:15 PM.] |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 25 Mar 2005 9:29 am
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| Late come-back from me here....yeah, as always seems to be the case, a little of both. I'm spoiled by my 26" SM and there's other voodoo, juju, mojo involved in the total picture. I just needed to rule out the possibility that I was chasing after a phantom---satisfaction out of a shorter scale. Can I get happy with this Melobar?--that remains a question and a work in progress. But if I can't, it won't be because it has a shorter scale. It will be for other reasons. Yeahyeahyeah, I can't expect it to sound like a Stringmaster. I knew that, I know that, but I still want what I want. |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 25 Mar 2005 1:04 pm
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Hi Rick Alexander. Your T-8 Fender looks a bit unstable, on only 3 legs. Wouldn't 4 legs be safer?
Roger |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2005 11:06 pm
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| I don't know about the triple necks, but the Dual Professionals came with 3 legs. Keep in mind, that these (trapazoid pickup) Fenders are smaller than stringmasters, so they are inherently more stable. |
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 26 Mar 2005 7:23 pm
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Three legs on a double or triple steel guitar makes the instrument stable enough; especially if you have 18 degree spread leg sockets.
Three legs always set in the same plane when the instrument is relocated around different floor areas. Sometimes a four-legged guitar will need the fourth leg adjusted to set level __ it's more pronounced from a standing position. |
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