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Topic: Blue Stringmaster? |
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 10:53 am |
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I was in a shop in San Fran and saw a D-8 Stringmaster with a blue finish. It had black switches behind one of the bridges and silver pickup covers. It had the Fender, Fullerton Cali plate on it.
$600, fairly poor cosmetic condition.
Comments? |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 11:08 am
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That would be the earliest model, no pickup blend pot. If the electronics are ok (that is, all the pickups work----crackling pots, funky switches etc. can easily be addressed) and if all the tuners work ok--this definitely needs to be checked because the gears inside tended to strip out and the replacement of these early model SM tuners is not a simple drop-in fix (except for dropping in a whole new tuning pan--expensive if you can find one), I'd say you've got a good deal if you can afford it. Check the scale. This earliest model Stringmaster is the only one that was available in the 26" scale. This is what I've got and it sounds outstanding.
The cosmetics--hey, either dig the funk or you can refinish it.
This instrument, in good shape, is selling for twice that figure in the open market and is just going up & up. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 11:23 am
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Jon is right on all counts.
My only comment is - BUY IT! |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 11:46 am
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Well, I can't buy it. I just lost a ton of gear in the theft that I've posted about. I can't check the tuners from afar and I didn't notice 4 extra inches of scale length. It didn't have strings on one neck and the other neck had strings that were very heavily corroded.
Not much I can do but call them up and have them send it to me without trying it out first.
So, I guess you guys are saying I should jump on it, regardless? |
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Ron Victoria
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 11:47 am
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| I wonder if that's the one I bought a few years ago from Lark in CA and returned it? |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 12:10 pm
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Well there you go. Here it is:
LARK
So what can you say about this guitar, Ron?
And BTW, yes, that is a 26" SM. |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 12:35 pm
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| Yep, that's the one. Ron, why did you return it? |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 12:36 pm
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Obviously that's the same guitar then.
So why did you return it Ron?
If it had no issues other than the tacky refin, it's worth more than the asking price.
I can tell you those early 26" Stringmasters have the most sustain, chimiest harmonics and strongest tonality of all the Stringmasters.
So would I be correct in assuming it had something wrong with it?
James, I'm very sorry to hear of this misfortune.
I hope some real good things happen for you soon to help counterbalance it. |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 12:37 pm
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| I see the lower neck is missing a tuning peg. |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 12:42 pm
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I can't figure what I'm seeing on the bridge on the back neck--what's that copper colored piece?
I'm starting to believe that unless you're into messing with a project, this guitar is not for you.
And I, too, have followed your SF story and Rick's wish for good things says it well. |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 12:47 pm
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| Quote: |
| I see the lower neck is missing a tuning peg. |
Oh yeah, I didn't catch that.
That's not good, a deal breaker in fact.
Tuners are the biggest problem with Stringmasters, whether it's lollipops like these or the later 4-in-line tuners.
Speak to us Ron! |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 2:32 pm
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Myself, I would buy it in a New York Minute  Just the kind of guitar I like to re-do, like back to Blonde (or whatever it was)
The bridge on the inside neck looks like a piece of discolored brass round stock that some "craftsman" has installed. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 3:35 pm
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Did somebody say ..... Blue Stringmaster?
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Ron Victoria
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 3:53 pm
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| I paid around $300 and they gave me a full refund and even paid shipping both ways. The bridge plates were cut among other problems. It was a real mess. I can't believe it's still around. I think I bought it 2 years ago. |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 3:56 pm
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| Bill--not everyone has your knowledge & skills to do justice to this one. But I don't for a second doubt that this would be a sweet guitar after you did your thing with it. |
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TonyL
From:
Seattle. WA
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 4:29 pm
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That one has been there for at least 5 years; I last saw it when I lived down in SF. 
TL |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado/ Lives in Arizona
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Posted 10 Jul 2007 4:43 pm
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That's a real fixer-upper. I would pass also.
Now, Andy's is another story... |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2007 3:51 pm
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| Don't know if it was mentioned, but if you look at the picture that shows the legs, one of them is larger (fatter) than the other three. Looks like a cast-iron pipe! |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 11 Jul 2007 7:37 pm
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| It's a crying shame to have that thing sitting in a music store in that unusable condition. Somebody needs to talk them down as much as possible and take it and give it a professional restoration. The restoration it needs is not for a beginner. If some parts can't be found, they might need to be machined from scratch. And it doesn't need to be painted over again - it needs to be completely stripped and given a refinish as close to stock as possible. Even if it ended up with some not strictly stock parts from a more recent model that wouldn't appeal to collectors, there are lots of players who would love it and pay good money for it, if it can be just be made close to stock but done well. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 12 Jul 2007 5:24 am
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David, it will be restored, and used on gigs and live performances (As it was intended to be) and not gathering dust in some collectors shack !!
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 12 Jul 2007 9:06 am
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| Well, I'm glad I ignored my impulse to drop a chunk of change on this one. Something about it told me that it was too good to be true. The block of wood is probably marvelous, though. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 12 Jul 2007 10:08 am
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Glad to hear that, Basilh.  |
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Andy Zynda
From:
Wisconsin
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Posted 12 Jul 2007 12:14 pm Swing and a miss........
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Basil, you nabbed her??
Dang, I was too slow. 
She's been sold, for sure!
Still stringmasterless........
-andy z- |
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James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
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Posted 12 Jul 2007 12:17 pm
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| Do I, at least, get credit for scouting? |
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