The Steel Guitar Forum

I recently bought a distressed late 50's Fender Stringmaster D-8. I've spent about $600 restoring it over the last few months.
It didn't have the bridge covers and I just found one on eBay that I bought.
It appears to fit fine, but I don't see any way to attach it.
Does anyone know how the bridge covers are supposed to attach? It appears to be an empty plate with some small dimples on each side.
I'm wondering if maybe it's missing a part or a clip of some sort.
Any input would be helpful.

Ali,

On my '60's Deluxe model, the cover has holes, not just dimples. The bridge has sharp points on each end that fit into the holes.

The bridge cover is sized to just fit over the points, making a hinge.

Regards,

Bruce

Hi Bruce,
Yes, my bridge also has sharp points at each end. I'm starting to think the bridge cover I bought was for a different model, or from a later year.
Thanks for the input.

You may have to bend the sides just a bit in or out.
This is important if you get vibrations while playing.

I have only seen the one style mentioned above but there are probably different styles.

Good luck. Post some pictures if you get a chance.

As far as I know, there were only two types of bridge covers for Stringmasters.

The early ones, without the blend control, used bridge covers that screwed down to the body of the guitar.

The later models, with the blend control, pivoted on a pointed bridge.
They had a hole on each end to fit over the pointed end of the bridge rod.

Thanks for all the input on this.
I'm pretty sure now that the part I was sold wasn't for a stringmaster at all.
Here's a picture of the guitar and some pics of the bridge cover I bought:

It looks after-market to me. Does the little indentions on the sides go out or in?

That's NOT a Fender cover.

Yeah, I figured it wasn't the right part. The search continues...
The indentations point IN. The opposite direction to work with the bridge on a stringmaster.

On eBay it was auction# 310008513705
Described as "an original 1950's to 1960's Fender eight string steel bridge cover."

Thanks again for all the input.

I thought the picture showed them pointing in.
What were they even thinking?

Keep looking, one (or two) will show up.

We need a good metal guy on the forum to make these parts.

anyone???

I know just the guy ! I'll ask .

You can see good close-up pix of the covers of my '59 Stringmaster at
http://www.joeyace.com/sm_pups.htm

OK ! I ask !!! a set of dies are posable but
very expensive to have made , it was suggested
that it be done by someone with a CNC setup .

There is a Forum member that has this , any
one here remember who it is ? . maybe he
would be interested in this project .

Hick

This was discussed in a previous post about the covers. I recall someone saying they knew the man who's father was a machinist at Fender and would ask if the original molds might be around somewhere.

ron

Ali Lexa wrote:... I'm pretty sure now that the part I was sold wasn't for a stringmaster at all.
Here's a picture of the guitar and some pics of the bridge cover I bought:

Why did you buy that part based on the provided pictures?. It's extremely obvious it's a ripoff. I'd get my money back if I were you. Then again, the seller didn't try to hide anything.

Well, I tried to get this bridge cover that Ron told me about on Ebay. But it ended up going for $160!
Yikes...

Item# 250206051453

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... Y.m238.lVI

If somebody ever did get it together to make new bridge covers, they could probably make a fair profit(?)

A Stratocaster bridge cover (yes, they originally came with a bridge cover) can easily fit over a 6-string "Stringmaster" bridge (with the blend control). Some simple fashioning of the retaining dimples is all that's needed (hint: 2 washers).

http://www.music123.com/Fender-Replacem ... 1.Music123

Any half-decent machinist should be able to cut this in half, insert extra metal, and make it wide enough for a 8-string Stringmaster bridge. A quick re-chrome and it's near indistinguishable to all but the Fender obsessed.

Ali..do you really want one of these?? I think I can help. Exactly as ebay shows..Send me a private email.

Never mind I have one..I take them off of my quad you can have one of mine cheaper than ebay I'll charge you nothing..just buy my book when it's released..is that fair or what but there is one catch.....root for the Dodgers.. )or buy my HCOA cd from bOb and we got a deal..Hey Ron Victoria or Joey Ace can you help me out here??? Okay bOb has none in stock I'll send you one..private mail me your snail mail address.
No Strings attached.This is what a Fender salesman is all about.

Ali,

Jody assures me he's serious about the above offer.
His generosity is awesome. You need to contact him asap.

Joey

Jody You Rock!!
I'll email you.
I had already tried to buy the HCOA CD from b0b, he still has it listed as "out of stock". I heard the examples on your site, and hope to buy a copy of the CD when they're available. Just let me know how.
And if your talking about the "Last Fender Guitar" book I've been hearing about, I'm already looking forward to getting a copy! Any chance of getting a signed copy?!

BTW - I AM a Dodgers Fan already! Go Big Blue!