The Restoration of a Fender Stringmaster D8

[Andy Sandoval]

This is very cool to witness the resurrection of a great guitar every step of the way. Thanks for the awesome photos.

[Rick Alexander]

It really is cool - nice work Alan. Those early 26" Stringmasters have an amazing sound.
Leo thought they were the best sounding of the Stringmasters . .

[Bill Creller]

I can see the problem you had trying to get the necks apart. Better not trying too hard was a safe way to go. As long as the stripper didn't come out of the seam and mess up your paint, you are home free.
Looks like it came out fine. (another rescued Stringmaster )

[Alan Brookes]

...As long as the stripper didn't come out of the seam and mess up your paint, you are home free.

They're so tight together no stripper got in between, and I used a lot of alcohol to clean up.

(I used a lot of alcohol after I'd finished for the day, too, but it's a waste of Jack Daniels to use it to clean wood !)

[Fred Bova]

Alan, you wrote"
Fred, if you're going to slot your tuning pans to take new tuners then the pan that we have with one slot would work for you, as you would just have to put more slots in.

I think between us we can fill each other's requirements, so hold off selling the lollipop tuners for a while.

Would you please send me some images of what you have so that I can make sure we're on the same wavelength."

The Fender I am working on is a Dual Professional, same Lollipop Tuners but a differant style Tuning Pan.

I will get to take some pics sometime this week I hope, and as I said, I know besides the Tuner Sets I will have some spare parts, so let me know exactly what you need.

Fred

[Dave Mudgett]

Alan, I'm sure some will say it's a better investment and will sound better if it still has some of the original finish.

For the point of view of value, I do think it's best not to touch the original finish on a vintage guitar. But the finish on this guitar was not only not original, but was a really bad refin. It makes sense from any angle to properly refinish and restore this guitar, IMO.

Nice work, Alan. This looks like a great guitar. Luckily, the Stringmaster I just got doesn't need to be refinished - although I imagine a few of you might possibly disagree.

[basilh]

You don't realise how apt that is. I once wrote a song "Dad Can I Have a Guitar Just Like Willie's" and I recorded it last February with Basil backing me. Just for fun, of course; it will never be released !

The reason it won't see the light of day is not the vocal with the 'Risque' lyrics but that the backing was played as though the guitars were VERY distressed.
Maybe it was the rather copious quantities of Cider consumed that influenced the strong adjectives, they in turn produced guffaws and belly laughs from Pat and myself resulting in rapid variations of attitude (Vis a Vis vertical horizontal etc) latitude (How far we'd let it go) and platitude. (in its 2nd definition = Lack of originality; triteness.)

Oh how horizontal, permissive and trite we were with an original and significant composition !!

[Darrell Urbien]

Wow, what a cool thread! I wonder how many steel fans saw that thing in LIM and wondered if anyone would bother to rescue it...

[basilh]

You just have to look at our family to see that we're a veritable home for "Waifs and Strays"
It was a sin to leave it as it was, the victim of such abuse deserved to be placed in the tender hands of one of the West Coast's most expert luthiers !!

[Alan Brookes]

It was a sin to leave it as it was, the victim of such abuse deserved to be placed in the tender hands of one of the West Coast's most expert luthiers !!

I would have thought that with all the people reading this thread someone would recognise the instrument. I would love to know its history, and we promise not to castigate the perpetrator of the blue paint job if he turns up; after all, it may have been done a long, long time ago when Stringmasters were not so highly prized.

You're too kind, Basil. I'm one of the organizers of the Northern California Association of Luthiers. We meet bimonthly and I'm always overwhelmed by the work of the other luthiers out here. They range from amateur to professional, and it's a good mix: the professionals are too busy building for customers to experiment, so they gain from the work of the amateurs, who are not so contrained, while the amateurs gain from the expertise of the professionals. I'm one of those amateurs who has been building all of his adult life, but I never had the courage to give up my day job, (I had a mortgage to pay), and my constantly-investigative mind drives me to never build the same instrument twice. It's not on the subject of Fenders, but I thought I would drop in a few photos of instruments I've built...

Three Hummels (Fretted Zithers)


A 5-String Rebec


A 14-string Solid Electric. I like to play 7-strings because of the low B, which is useful in boogie, but I also like to play 12-strings. This instrument combines both. I've given the E and B strings two extra frets, so you can play in D without retuning the bass strings, and when you play in E you put a small capo on the 2nd fret of the 6th and 7th courses.


A 14-string Acoustic Guitar, similar to the electric, but with neck-through body construction.


A 10-string (5-course) Hummel.


A Hybrid Hummel/Banjo.


A 12-String (6-Cours) Teardrop Cittern


A 14-String (7-Course) Bell Cittern. Notice the fanned frets.


Two more Hummels. The near one has a dome resonator.



An 8-String (4-Course) Mediaeval Guitar with ribbed body. (The head in the first picture is part of an art project by my daughter Katie, who is an artist and recently graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.)

I hope I haven't diverted the thread. Resurrection of the Fender will continue...

[basilh]

Alan, you're become an exile !! "Bimonthly"
where dya get that un' our kid ?

Is it every couple of months, or every eight weeks ..

It's that "transatlantic Syndrome" again .....

[Alan Brookes]

Alan, you're become an exile !! "Bimonthly"
where dya get that un' our kid ?

Is it every couple of months, or every eight weeks ..

It's that "transatlantic Syndrome" again .....

You got me in the middle there, Basil. I typed the first part on my upstairs computer then realised that all my photos are on my downstairs computer, so I left the thread and then came back and added the photos...

[Alan Brookes]

...it won't see the light of day is not the vocal with the 'Risque' lyrics but that the backing was played as though the guitars were VERY distressed.
Maybe it was the rather copious quantities of Cider consumed that influenced the strong adjectives, they in turn produced guffaws and belly laughs from Pat and myself...

Yes, it won't go down in the archives of musical history, but it was a lot of fun, and to me that's what music is all about.

[HowardR]

I'm always overwhelmed by the work of the other luthiers out here. They range from amateur to professional, and it's a good mix: the professionals are too busy building for customers to experiment, so they gain from the work of the amateurs, who are not so contrained, while the amateurs gain from the expertise of the professionals. I'm one of those amateurs who has been building all of his adult life, but I never had the courage to give up my day job, (I had a mortgage to pay), and my constantly-investigative mind drives me to never build the same instrument twice. It's not on the subject of Fenders, but I thought I would drop in a few photos of instruments I've built...

Very interesting and wonderfully unique instruments.......I will start another thread with regard to unusual and one of a kind resonators that I have had built in the past several years......

[Alan Brookes]

This is the soundhole rosette I make for most of my mediaeval instruments. I promise not to put one on the Stringmaster...

[Alan Brookes]

.......I will start another thread with regard to unusual and one of a kind resonators that I have had built in the past several years......

Yes, you should. I spent most of this weekend working on a resonator lap steel I'm building.

[Tom Pettingill]

Some very nice work Alan, thanks for posting

[Fred Kinbom]

Thanks for posting Alan! Very interesting instruments and restoration project!

Fred

[Alan Brookes]

Howard, get in touch with me at afbrookes@aol.com, or send me an email via the Forum. I'm interested in hearing about your project. I too am building a resonator lap steel and I would like to share information.

[HowardR]

Alan.....I'm happy to email you,....but you quoted yourself......

and a man who quotes himself,....will never get into an argument.......

[Alan Brookes]

Alan.....I'm happy to email you,....but you quoted yourself......
and a man who quotes himself,....will never get into an argument.......

I don't know how that happened.... must be gremlins !


I edited and fixed the posting. That'll confuse someone !

[basilh]

We might mention that we could use a Mk2 Fender tuning pan, if any of the guys have one for sale.

I can do PayPal jump through hoops or whatever it takes (Within reason)

As this is going to be a "Functional, Players" instrument, the later 'Replaceable' tuners are part of the plan.
Basil

[Sam Floyd]

Hi Alen

I have always wondered how the necks on these Fenders are held together. When I picked up my dad's quadmaster to take back to my home, I noticed it was loose between the 2nd and 3rd neck. When I turned it over to place it in the case, I noticed someone (probably me dad) placed an "L" bracket underneath it between the two necks. Now that I know this information, I will attempt to tighten up these bolts.

You have done a marvelous job on this instrument. You are to be commended for your dedication for the fine work you have done.

V/r,

Sam

[Alan Brookes]

Thanks Sam. Work on this project will continue next weekend. I've taken a break for a little while whilst I'm working on another lap steel and kicking up a lot of sawdust, which is the last thing you need around when spraying extra coats of paint...

It's good to see that other Forum members are discovering more about how Stringmasters are put together, as I am, which makes the article worthwhile.

[Sam Floyd]

Alen

Great information. I cranked each slotted screw down about 3/4 turn each. Nice and tight now. Keep up the good work and the information flowing.

V/r,
Sam