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Post new topic Dating My Deluxe 8
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Author Topic:  Dating My Deluxe 8
Chris LeDrew


From:
Canada
Post  Posted 31 May 2006 8:08 am    
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It's been refinished, so the date is no longer under the tuning pan. It has a Stackpole pot that reads 304-6420, which accordng to the vintage guitar guide online means the 20th week of 1964. However, the guide also says that Fender stopped using Stackpole pots and switched to CTS in early '63.

Can anyone shed some light on this?
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 31 May 2006 8:26 am    
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Do you have the original case? Sometimes the style of case will help indicate approximately when it was built.

A better description (or even better, photos) will help us figure out what you have.

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Chris LeDrew


From:
Canada
Post  Posted 31 May 2006 9:10 am    
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No, I don't have the original case either.....
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Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 31 May 2006 9:11 am    
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Just because the book says they stopped using them in 63 does not mean that you can count on that. Fender used parts until the bin was empty even if it meant mixing some different tolex colors or grill cloths or tube sockets or pots. If your pots are original and they are dated 64, your guitar could be made from 64 up to possibly 65 or 66 depending on when the 64 dated pots ran out.

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Chris LeDrew


From:
Canada
Post  Posted 31 May 2006 1:13 pm    
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Ricky Davis


From:
Bertram, Texas USA
Post  Posted 31 May 2006 10:53 pm    
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Well without having the case and it being refinished and it being hard to tell from the pot code....; I'm pretty good as seeing the difference between "swamp ash"(used in the late 50's and "ash"(used in the 60's); if somehow maybe they didn't over coat under the tuning pan or on the bottom...??
But if there is no grain left to be seen anywhere....I'm clueless and other than trailing back who you bought it from and who he bought it and so on; until you find the right guy with the right info on that particular steel> it will be tuff to date.
ricky
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Chris LeDrew


From:
Canada
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 5:50 am    
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Hey Ricky,

The tuning pan is coated; there is no sign of wood on this one at all. The former owner didn't know the year. If I was going by the pots, it would be mid-60's at closest estimation I guess. It says '64, but like the boys said, that could mean any year for several years after.

Was there a difference between 50's and 60's logos?
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Joey Ace


From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 7:36 am    
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You tell me.
Here's my 1959's logo:
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Doug Beaumier


From:
Northampton, MA
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 8:11 am    
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My '68 Telecaster has '66 CTS pots (original). Fender often bought large quanities of pots and used them over a couple of years.

Since there are no other serial numbers on your Deluxe 8, no written date, I'd say the source/date code on the pots would define the year... 1964. Or you could just call it mid-60's. The year is not relevant in terms of the value, oddly enough. I think by the mid 60's Fender had stopped writing the date under the tuner pan anyway, but I'm not sure about that.

Some of the late 60's stringmasters (and other Fender guitars) had the nickel button Kluson tuners, which your's does Not appear to have. My '67 stringmaster has those.

Also: your Deluxe 8 may have non-original Legs. I believe that model had the standard extension legs?

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 01 June 2006 at 09:17 AM.]

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Chris LeDrew


From:
Canada
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 9:32 am    
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You are correct, Doug. The legs are non-original. They don't extend, but luckily they're the right height for sitting. I'd like to get extendables at some point, though. I wouldn't have the first clue where to start looking for those.
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 12:32 pm    
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Doug Beaumier


From:
Northampton, MA
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 1:49 pm    
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Original Fender legs are nearly impossible to find, and if you do find any you'll probably have to pay a few hundred dollars for them.

Bobbe Seymour used to sell new extension Legs for non-pedal steels. You'd have to buy the sockets to go with them because the thread is a different size. I'm not sure if Bobbe still carries the legs and sockets: www.steelguitar.net
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Chris LeDrew


From:
Canada
Post  Posted 1 Jun 2006 5:01 pm    
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Thanks, Doug.........I'll look into that. I have a few pedal steel legs. If I could get the sockets, I'd be fine. I don't plan to play it standing up, so I'm good for now.
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