The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm quite surprised that this error has gone unnoticed..

1/A Real ToneMaster.



2/ The GoldTone Reproduction..

1 less fret on the repro?

Worse than that, imagine you're playing in G at the third fret (E variant tuning) ../

Fret dots at #2 fret instead of #1 fret

Exactly, in the world of regular guitar it's normal to have position markers at the first fret, but NOWHERE in the fretted instrument world have I seen markers at the SECOND.

Aren't the rest of the markers in the right place? I guess I don't see where that marker at fret number two would prevent anyone from learnin on it.

'Suppose not Andy, but it IS a glaring error, It would, of course, upset the visual aspect of the pockets at fret 1-3-5 and, (To Me at least) would seem to be a mistake not even an amateur builder would make.

It also makes a mockery of the "Repro" tag..

Goldtone on their web site say:-

Back in the 50's when Lap Steels were in their hey day, the Oahu Tonemaster® was the lap of choice among professionals. Our LS is a vintage replica of this famous instrument. Our pick up and hardware are identical to the originals. We have even sold these replacement parts to Tone Master owners.

Identical ? the position dots are not only in the wrong place in one instance, but their configuration is also not a replication.

Still I shouldn't expect accuracy from a company who's reply to my query about the markings was
"This is a copy of the Tone master made by oula...we just replicated the markings.

thanks for your input"

It's akin to making a ShoBud replica and getting the Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs in the wrong order on the wrong frets. I wonder just how long the Pedal community would let THAT stand unchallenged ?

Andy Sandoval wrote:I don't see where that marker at fret number two would prevent anyone from learnin on it.

I think that at $679.00* it's FAR removed from an instrument one would learn on.

I feel sure that the guitar has a good sound in the right hands and is professionally constructed.

I just feel the the whole ethos of it being a "Replica" is somewhat let down by the fret dots being so different from the original. Can you envisage an Emmons copy WITHOUT the "Atom" fret markers ?
The analogy is valid, whomsoever worked on the construction of any of these guitars should justifiably feel let down by the design dept.

*Especially considering that at that price one could get one of Harry's "Harbor Lights" guitars !

I see where your comin from Basil, and I agree that it isn't an exact copy, but for those that don't care about the second fret marker, you can get one here for a lot less than $679.

Personally I don't think the 2nd fret markers would have caused me any problems, but they sure pull down the general impression of the instrument,- it's just so plain wrong.

If I'd had one of those I would probably have handed it over to a luthier and told him to remove the markers and fill the holes with matching wood...

Isn't it almost equally weird that the original has markers at fret 22 instead of 21? That would screw me up a whole lot more than the marker at fret 2...

Do these repros have a string-through valco-type pickup?

I don't know why the original Oahu even bothered with the markers at fret one - it's not like even a 10 year old (which I was when I started lap steel lessons in the 60's) can't figure out that it is indeed the first fret - duh! How many guitars of any kind have dots on the first fret?

And the rest of the dot configuration is very different up the neck on the Gold Tone, but then who really cares - even a 100% accurate replica is still a replica, and becomes like a new car when you drive it off the lot - as soon as it exits the driveway at the dealership it's now a one year old used car.

My Tonemaster has dots on second fret.

Ah...the mystery deepens

And NO OAHU logo on the top of the headstock ?

Sorry, Basil...