Fender Dual Pro Mahogany

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Oct 2005 6:03 am

I recently had to need to check out some pickups and on the guitars under discussion, the pickups checked out in the 10-12,000 Ohm range, really not too consistant.
Erv

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 16 Oct 2005 6:57 am

I like the looks of old steels that have marks, chips etc

Garman, how's this for marks & chips?

I think it looks cool the way it is. It certainly has been played . .

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 16 Oct 2005 7:05 am

Marks, chips? Yeah, I got 'em.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 16 Oct 2005 7:45 am

Jon
Its has chips and marks YES but I'll bet that baby still cuts the mustard. Leo F didnt call it the tank for nothing. Have you even seen a tank that went through battle? Their still running strong.

Its whats inside that counts.

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 16 Oct 2005 8:00 am

Rick,
That "pewter" finish is GORGEOUS!!!!I've never seen one in that color. I'm totally smitten with it!

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 16 Oct 2005 8:10 am

Jody--one day I will spend the time on this that it deserves and make your statement come true. Sadly, (I've told this story before) I bought this on ebay several years ago on the advice of a forum member who is no longer with us. I knew it was cosmetically shaky but didn't know that it was literally shaky, also--wobbles on its (4!) legs (but so do I--well 2 legs except for those honkytonk nights--well nevermind). It arrived semi-strung with rusty strings and with one dead pickup circuit. I decided it wasn't even worth stringing up until I brought it up to some degree of snuff. Then I got the Stringmaster and this went into the to-do pile. Some day, some way.
Meanwhile, this makes for a good illustration of how to abuse an instrument. I have no quarrel with the home adaptations of the old instruments that we always see. Unfortunately this one was hacked by someone without a clue. Bored big holes in the tuner pans for pedals. Stomped on the pedal and the guitar keeled right over. So he added a 4th leg next to the original. Still was tippy. So he moved the two legs to the corners. All along, making incisions in the wood with an arrowhead stone, apparently. I admire ingenuity. I do not admire hackery.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 16 Oct 2005 8:48 am

Jason, it was refinished, rewired, rechromed, and the pickups rewired by Jason Lollar - all under the auspices of Big John Bechtel. It's like having a brand new Custom - it even smells new. There's not a scratch or scuff on it and the hardware is gleaming and unscratched. The pics don't really do it justice, but there are lots more of 'em here.

Gary Boyett · Post by **Gary Boyett** » 17 Oct 2005 3:08 am

Rick that steel has history! I seen the other thread about it and that is what I am talking about. Players playing steels!

But that other picture Jon posted is just wrong.. That guy should have been ARRESTED!!!

------------------
JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member
Boyett's Glass Bars

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 17 Oct 2005 3:25 am

It sure does have history Garman!
As I mentioned in that other thread (Customs are a hot topic this week), it's on pg 247 of Lap Steel Guitar aka the bible. Andy owned it and sold it to Bobbe and I guess Chris got it from him. What I'd like to know is its history before that. After all, it's a 51 - so it was around before Elvis and PSG . .

Alvin Sydnor · Post by **Alvin Sydnor** » 17 Oct 2005 5:26 am

What is the function of the toggle switch next to the lever switch?
On the question of resistance readings on original pickups I think the method of winding those pickups has a lot to do with their resistance varying + - 15 to 20 %?
Keep on pikin Fenders
Alvin

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 17 Oct 2005 4:45 pm

The toggle switch activates all 3 necks.

Gibson Hartwell · Post by **Gibson Hartwell** » 19 Oct 2005 10:29 am

Gary M. Great to see your Dual Pro on this thread. I've been trying to get a better date on my mahogany Dual Pro - serial number 1597. Mine has blue flocking on the bottom which I believe Jody said was discontinued in 1953? The date on mine has been boogered up as someone did a chisel/drill job trying to add a lever or pedal. Being about 20- some guitars apart from the factory, and knowing that your's was made in April of '52, we could figure out an approximate date of production if I knew the production rate. Jody? How many of these guitars were being pumped of Bakersfield back then?

Bill Quinn · Post by **Bill Quinn** » 27 Nov 2005 11:31 am

My entry in the "Scratch, dent, chips and marks" category. This guitar was evidently either dropped or had a drunk fall on it (the player?!?) , at some point it was broken in half between the inner necks and then repaired. The controls and middle p/u do not function. The other necks sound FANTASTIC.I have been known to put on a back brace and haul it to a club.It is on the project list to do this instrument justice and get it in functioning properly.It is signed "Tadeo 3/53". I always did like the older ladies....

[This message was edited by Bill Quinn on 27 November 2005 at 12:02 PM.]

Aaron Schiff · Post by **Aaron Schiff** » 27 Nov 2005 2:57 pm

I thought I would add a photo of my 1954 Walnut Dual Pro. I bought it from the original owner who gigged with it for 30 years in most of the Grange Halls within a hundred miles of here. Her 1942 near mint condition 0028 went to Japan for big bucks, but I managed to keep the Dual Pro here in its hometown.

[This message was edited by Aaron Schiff on 27 November 2005 at 02:59 PM.]

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 27 Nov 2005 3:11 pm

This is my ol' 48 with boxcars.

Kevin Bullat · Post by **Kevin Bullat** » 28 Nov 2005 8:46 pm

My '51.

Yeah, sometimes I look at a particular ding or nick on my guitar and wonder what led to that? Was it a bar room brawl, lover's quarral, drunk patron, earthquake...

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 29 Nov 2005 3:04 pm

This has been a great topic so far. I love my dual pro (blonde ash). A year ago i bought a stringmaster after hearing so much about them. Well, it just didn't sound as good as the old trap pickup Fenders. So i sold it and haven't regretted it once. Looks like i'm in good company with Jody preferring them too.