Most of a stringmaster at a music store in Austin

Pat Dalberg · Post by **Pat Dalberg** » 27 May 2007 1:14 pm

So my wife and I drove in to Austin yesterday to do some shopping. She got to look for clothes and I got to check out the music stores on Lamar. I got to Heart of Texas and the only steel guitar they had was an 8-string stringmaster. Well most of it anyway. I asked where the pedal board and rods were so I could try her out, nope they didn't have those.

I took a look underneath at the cable mechanism - it all seemed to be there, but I am certainly no expert in the workings of stringmasters. The finish looked like she had been down some hard roads (some dings and chips).

It mostly just struck me as a shame for her to be sitting there with the parts missing, more of a prop than an historical instrument.

Maybe someone here has an interest in rehabilitating one of these old girls? That project would be WAY over my head, but I'm thinking this would be the place where someone who wanted to do this would be hanging out.

Other than that, y'all just keep on pickin' and twangin' and slidin' and chimein'.

Pat

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 May 2007 3:24 pm

Pat, it sounds like a Fender 400, S-8 pedal steel guitar, not a Stringmaster. Stringmasters did not have pedals.

On the other hand... maybe it Is a Stringmaster that someone cobbled and added pedals.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 May 2007 4:03 pm

Yep, sounds like a 400. Many of the cable Fenders lost their little pedalboard cases (and all the contained parts) if they were stolen, or if the owner died.

The non-cognoscenti usually thought one case was all there was.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 28 May 2007 6:06 am

Pat, it's definitely NOT a stock Stringmaster if it has a cable mechanism, nor if it had 4 legs, but inset from the corners of the guitar. Was it a single-neck? If so, like others I think it was a 400; if it was a double-neck it was a 1000.

If it's a long-scale model with flat pickup(s), the pedal rack, pedals and rods are very easily obtained - I have spares of the pedal rack and pedals myself. Depending on what they want for it, and exactly what it is, it might be a good buy.

Is there any way to get more details?

Pat Dalberg · Post by **Pat Dalberg** » 28 May 2007 7:12 am

see, I said I was no expert in the workings of stringmasters!

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 28 May 2007 10:32 am

I've seen it too, and it's been there a pretty long time. HOT will usually get motivated to move something that's been there a while, so I'd bet somebody could make a deal on it.. It's definitely in need of some TLC..

I can get by there and take some pics if somebody is really interested.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 28 May 2007 11:16 am

The 400 and 800' DIDN'T have separate cases for the pedals !!
Only the 1000 and 2000.

So there !!
Baz

The Steel Guitar Forum

Most of a stringmaster at a music store in Austin

Most of a stringmaster at a music store in Austin

I stand corrected, shes a 400