The Steel Guitar Forum

Jeff mentioned that if you set the fender string master just right, you get that nice scooped out sound. What is a scooped out sound all about?

Joey, that is one very creative Fender "ad" you made. Being a Steve Howe fan, of course, I really like that. It is true that his Stringmaster is a real survivor. I've heard it is a mid-50's model, so it's 20 years old in the "before" phase! I'm tempted to start a new company called "Neo-Fender Steel Guitars" and we'll use your collage there.

E-mail me the full size photo if you have it. I just might change the view of my desktop!

Thanks Paul! The photo you see is the full size. It was limited by the original size the pictures I "borrowed" off the web.

This is a great thread with insights that really shine.Will you share your thoughts about your Fender guitar with us?

I like mine. Like Andy said, the pickups were wound to produce a sweet thin tone that cuts though the midrange mud on most bandstands. It's a sound that I really like.

The picture below was taken at the MASS STEEL BASH 2002 where I played my quad stringmaster and my Emmons D-10 (also shown in the photo). The room was acutually full of people but I blacked them out to focus attention on all that chrome!

I bought the Emmons new in 1978 and it's been my main ax for 25 years. Switching between the two instruments in the same song is an adventure in tonality!

The 4-neck stringmaster has a richer tone and more sustain than any of the other Fender non-pedal steels I have owned. Probably because of the massive amount of wood.

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories</font>

Doug
You and that Fender make a great pair.

I'll bet you make that quad growl.

Nice photo, great guitar,great steel player.

Good Luck and keep that Fender on top.
Thats where it belongs.

Often Copied Never Equalled..

Thanks for those kind words Jody. I've taken the quad out on a few gigs in the past year, and it always draws a lot of attention from the crowd and from the band members. It's a lot of fun to play. When I take the D-10 along I need an hour to set up. 52 strings to tune... yikes!

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories</font>

Doug
You are most welcome. So far as the time to tune up,I suggest what I have made a policy of.I get paid by the weight of the gear I carry,,example,I get $5.00 per pound for the amp and guitar. I get $10.00 per every ten minutes to tune my guitars.many times I charge 0.75 cents per string.

I recieve mileage and fuel costs,tolls etc etc.Weigh your gear and clock your time re the tuning,check your odometer and then you are all set.

Of course I play the gig for nothing.

What do they expect for these prices???

Noel Boggs?? take care my friend.

The prices quoted are subject to change without notice. Prices are based on "seasonal condition" and customer demand.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 17 February 2003 at 09:29 AM.]</p></FONT>

I want to acknowledge Gerald Ross who I overlooked in this thread.

It was Gerald who led me to the path of finding my long lost Fender triple neck Custom guitar which was in Elderly Music's inventory.

This guitar was my first ever Fender that I received from Leo Fender and Donald D Randall. I recievd this guitar back in 1951 and lost track of it until Gerald posted something which led me to the trail of my guitar.

Gerald I have never publicly posted your efforts in helping get a piece of my
memories back in my possession and the people at Elderly Music,Dawn and Frog and everyone that was so kind to me..

I have a special place in my memories and will add this story regarding Gerald Ross to my book.

Thank you my friend. It looks a great as it did back then. And it sounds as plays every bit as good as it did back in 1951.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 17 February 2003 at 02:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

My pleasure Jody.

May your strings never rust, your harmonics always ring true and your vibrato remain steady.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 18 February 2003 at 06:28 AM.]</p></FONT>

Thank you

In response to Gerald's earlier inquiry about Fender Champs... I have one that I use for teaching, but I'm not sure I'd play it out on a gig. I believe that the Champ was a student model... Jody please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, to my ear they sound a bit thin... like something's missing in the low end. Maybe that's because I'm used to the 2 pickup per neck stringmaster, but I could never get a satisfying tone from the Champ. They probably cut really well for screaming blues/rock with the proper effects. And they sure are beautiful looking instruments! Just my opinion

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories</font>

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 18 February 2003 at 11:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

Doug
Just as you posted,it was a student model and was popular years ago with all and any
music schools etc for a fair retail price.

The cost of ownership was easy on the buyer and it made for a fine beginners instrument.

I have known a few steel players who take it on a job now and then,,but only for the light weight and portabilty as they do one or two tunes such as "Sleep Walk" and then back to straight guitar.

You are correct regarding the tone.
Yes they are beautiful and regardless of being inexpensive,they are good looking,I never saw a Fender looking "not beautiful"

Your quad is a beauty,,looks like Walnut and one of the limited production early models such as Boggs used.

Take care of that Fender and it will take care of you .

Jody, Thanks for the info... I've learned a lot from you in the past couple of years!

I think the quad is about a '57. It has the pushbutton neck selectors, which are kind of a pain to use IMHO. I never took off the tuner pans to check the date. With my luck I'd have to take off all 4 before finding the one with the date under it! The serial number under one of the bridge covers is 4838, if that means anything. The case is black tolex w/logo on it, and orange lining. That dates the case between '62 and '65. There's a chance that the case could be a replacement that was made at a later date. The case is huge... about 3' x 2'. I stored it away to keep it in nice condition, and I had John Tipka build me a new case to haul the guitar around.

I feel very comfortable playing Fender steel guitars for some reason, more so than any other non-pedal steels, and I've owned a bunch of different ones. Fender, Gibson, and Rickenbacher all had great workmanship, but there's something about the feel (and sound) of a Fender steel guitar. Much like a cozy old pair of slippers.

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories</font>

Edited for double post<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 20 February 2003 at 08:35 AM.]</p></FONT>

Doug
That dates app 1955. I agree about the "pushbutton" neck selectors and there is
an article regarding my comments to Leo with regard to that method of selecting necks.The article is in 1988 "Guitar Player" magazine written by Richard Smith and the story is in the "Rare Bird" column.

Are the pickup covers black or chrome??
Is it 26" inches in string length?
The case is more than likely a recover job.

The early stringmsters were tweed cased and then Fender went to the coco or brown tolex and later to the black case. So I dont know why the case is black unless it had been re-covered?

I cannot determine the origin of the case as the quads were discontinued before the black cases were introduced.

You have a 55 to 56 guitar there Doug.It look like an original walnut from the photo
but as far as I remember,walnut guitars both
Custom and Dual Pro's were discontinued back in 54.

Im afraid to post this for fear of being torn apart by those who have taken issue with my comments in the past. I am NOT making this information available only as my memory serves me as to my knowledge of subjects such as this. I make no claim for this information to be accurate,it is based on my expierience and my own opinions.
but I have a strong feeling that your guitar was one of Noel Bogg's guitars. He had a few of them and if I can stick myself out on a limb,I would bet a dollar to a donut
it may have been Noel's. If it is indeed walnut? the year and description are in place
as Leo did extend himself to Noel and had some walnut left over to make Noel a guitar
long after walnut was not being used at Fender,but for Noel everything was done to accomodate Fenders prime player and endorser.

There is a way I can find out,but at this time the only person I can ask is Don Randall
Leo's partner and Don at present is having a family health crisis.

If you need to know (I would I'll do some checking,,,did you see the person who was asking $100.000 for what he claimed was Noel's guitar?? stay tuned I'll check it out..I have to know whether or not it is walnut? if its ash it may be another story.

Its value may change to $50.000.00 I'll mail you something later today.
Its a sad day when someone who tries to offer information based on expierience is taken to task by some of those who make a
federal case out of something that is one person's opinion. I am careful as to what I post as I dont want to invite e mail taking issue with what I remember.

I do this for the enjoyment (if thats what it is)and not for personal gain. I have nothing to gain by posting information that I believe is the truth.

I'm sorry to have to take this stance but I have been taken to task too often,and I have become a believer that its better to listen and say less,but there are times such as this,I wanted to post this information for the benefit of those may find this of some interest if any.

Jody I wished there was a "spell check" option available on the Forum.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 20 February 2003 at 08:40 AM.]</p></FONT>

Jody, the scale length is 24 1/2", and the dark finish is original. The legs are splayed, not striaght like the very early Fender steels. Maybe the pushbutton switches were old stock that Leo wanted to use up?

I got the guitar from a guy in southern CA and he had it for about 25 years. I believe it spent most of it's life in sunny CA. Now it lives in snowy New England Thanks again Jody, you're the greatest!

Doug
Noel too became dis-enchanted with the 26" scale even though it had a great tone.

His primary reason for his going to the 24/1/2 scale was because of excessive string breakage on what he reffered to as "the little" string which was the 0.10 and 0.11 guage he used.

Noel gave me a chart of all his tunings and
I do know for a fact that he went to the 24/1/2 stringmaster. Noel helped Leo design the pushbutton project and Noel himself would always keep all 4 necks open.That is why sometimes his tone sounded a bit thin to many,but to my ears,he was the greatest and a wonderful man as well.

Put this and the fact together that your guitar came from Southern California and all the issues I wrote,it may give you a hunch as to who owned this guitar.

Let the skeptical people take issue,I beleive you have what I think you have.

Dont ever sell it.Its the last of Fender history. I knew it was walnut when I saw the
wear area on the players side of the guitar.

That was caused by the original player rubbing his Cowboy belt buckle against the guitar,,,did you ever see the belt buckle that Noel wore?? well I did and it was BIG.

Let your imagination take you there. #4838 indicates it was a "promo" guitar and NOT sold to a music dealer,,get an alarm system. You may need it.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 20 February 2003 at 10:47 AM.]</p></FONT>

WOW... you've made my day Jody! In fact, you've made my whole month. This is really interesting stuff. Thanks for the inside dope on this guitar. This guitar is a keeper and it will be with me for many years to come.

A far as string breakage... I haven't had a problem yet. My thinnest string is a .010 tuned to high A. I guess if I had a problem I could install a "Lucky 7"

I forgot to mention: black pickup covers

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<font size=-1>My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories</font>


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 20 February 2003 at 11:40 PM.]</p></FONT>

Doug
All stringmaster guitars in the field that were sold to the dealers had the option of returning the chrome pickup covers and replace them with the black ones. These were to replace the chrome covers, Does that answer your question?

There was "no charge" for this. some dealers
did, some didnt. Many players preffered the
chrome over the black. The person who owned yours was kept up to the "latest & greatest
by CLF.

On my antique HCOA LP I was was asked to take the photo with a 1000,which I didnt use on the LP,I used a triple neck "Custom" but the same man
asked me to take the photo with the 1000 so
I did. CLF. All the evidence is in place.

Jody

Who at FENDER invented the trapezoid pickup?What did Leo think of the trapezoid pickup?

Andy
Leo designed the pickup who else do you think could have done that??

And YES he did like them..in fact he LOVED
them. Leo did it all.The others followed.

Donald D.Randall was the marketing and sales
genius and Leo and Don made all the decisions.

Don is still with us Thank God.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 22 February 2003 at 08:36 AM.]</p></FONT>

Jody

Thanks for the info.You are the Fender King around here.We are always waiting to read your post.When will your book be out?

Andy

Andy I have been called many things before but never the KING...the ink is still wet & my book is taking much longer than I thought.

Thanks my friend

Jody "The Queen"

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