Stringmaster Dimensions

[Carl Mesrobian]

Could someone lead me to info on the overall dimensions of the Stringmasters , D8 and T8? Thanks..

[Brad Bechtel]

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1659135
http://steelguitarbuilder.com/forum/vie ... ?f=2&t=334

[Carl Mesrobian]

Brad - you're the best

[John Tipka]

Carl,

Here are some dimensions for you:

Dimensions of a Fender Stringmaster

24.5" scale length

Neck 1 = 1.5" thick
Neck 2 = 1.875" thick
Neck 3 = 2.25" thick
Neck 4 = 2.625" thick

Neck Length = 34.25"
Neck Width at Bridge End = 4.6875"
Neck Width at Tuner End = 4.3125"

Widths Assembled-Bridge End - 4 Necks = 18.625"
3 Necks = 14.000"
2 Necks = 8.6875"
1 Neck = 4.6875"
Tuner End - 4 Necks = 17.3125"
3 Necks = 13.000"
2 Necks = 8.6875"
1 Neck = 4.3125"
Rabbets-Front Neck .375"deep x 1" wide
Second,Third & Fourth Necks .875"deep x 1" wide

Rear rabbet on each neck matches front rabbet on
the neck attached to its rear. Rear rabbet on outsidemost neck - .375" deep x 1.00" wide

Bridge is located at 4" from bridge end of each neck
Pickups are located at 5" and 6.5" from bridge end of each neck
Nut is located scale length distance from bridge.

Volume and Tone controls or switches are located 1.5" from bridge end of necks

Comparative measurements - 22.5" Stringmaster D-8
Length = 32.125"
Total Width = Bridge End = 9.3125"
Tuner End = 8.6875"

26" Stringmaster Total Length 36.25"
Pickups are located at 0.875" and 2.8125" to left of bridge...

All dimensions remain a constant for all guitars except for the total length which is based on scale length.
Total length increases by 2.00 inches for each increase in scale length e.g., 32,34, or 36 inches total length
for 22.5, 24.5 and 26 inch scale lengths, respectively.

Cavities and channels bored or routered 1-125" deep for pickups, blend, tone and volume controls.

A channel is needed to accommodate ball end of strings and wires between pickups and controls and input jack.

A 1.125" diameter hole is needed in front edge of front (inside)neck for input jack.

Templates are a must for boring and routing operations.

Take a look at my website at:http://www.juststeelguitar.com/double

Click on the thumbnails for an example of just one of several clones I have built.

I used Ohio white ash 12" wide and 3" thick from Old Order Amish sawmill for my double neck guitars.
I wound the pickups to the Fender specifications.
Tuning head is made from 1" x 1/2" aluminum bar stock with Grovers.
Nuts and bridges are made from case-hardened 1/2" diameter bar stock. Fretboards made from Lucite and
1/16" auto striping and black lacquer.
Legs and sockets are from Bobbe Seymour.
New vintage Allen-Bradley potentiometers for volume and tone controls and CTS pickup balance control.

Finish is seven coats of nitrocellulose lacquer.

John Tipka

[Carl Mesrobian]

John, what are you doing for cases - I contacted Cedar Creek, which also handles TKL - they are custom order, but I don't have a T8 or D8 to know how much space to store the legs. Do you have case dimensions? Thanks

[John Tipka]

Carl,

These are some of the dimensions for D-8 Stringmaster cases that I have made:

24-12" scale length -Stringmaster Double 8

Outside dimensions: 13-3/4" wide x 37-1/2 long x 2-3/4" high

Inside dimensions:

Length - 36-1/2" subtract 2" for the short scale ---

(26" scale length Stringmasters have different dimensions)

Width of area for guitar - 9-1/2"

Ledges are used to support guitar with its bottom up for easy installation of legs into their sockets:
Each ledge is 7/8" wide x 18" long centered on each side of guitar storage area - height of ledge can
be from 1-3/4" to 1-1/4" depending upon direction of storage in the case, i.e. tuners right or tuners
left. Rabbets on front and rear necks mate with the ledges in the case

Leg Pocket for four telescoping legs in a denim pouch made 2-3/4" wide x length of case

Additional information:

Divider for leg pocket 9 mm (3/8") 7 ply Baltic birch 2-1/2 " high x 37" long set in 1/4" deep dado in short sides (ends) of case. Pocket is on latch side side of case. Weight of guitar body carried on hinge side of case.

Case height (inside): 2-3/4"
Lid edges 1-1/4" high with 30 degree dust-free closure angle on bottom edge to match mating angle on top edge of bottom half.

I made my case sides with finger-joined 12mm (1/2) thick 9 ply phenolic water boiled proof (WBF)
glue Baltic birch plywood from Russia.

The top and bottom are made from 3 mm (1/8") thick 3 ply phenolic water boiled proof (WBF) glue
Baltic birch plywood.

All sides of case have 1/4" wide x 3mm deep rabbet to fit the 3mm thick case top and bottom panels.

My cases were fitted with four 90 degree stop hinges, four drawbolt oblong latches, a leather case handle,and eight trunk corners with two corner angles on latch side of lid and two corner angles on top edge of latch side of bottom half of case.

Cases were covered with pebble-grained Tolex applied with 3M Super 77 Adhesive

I don't make them anymore as I have used up all Baltic birch plywood and am getting to old to go to
Baltimore to buy the pricey plywood in quantity off the dock that I used in building wooden
experimental aircraft.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

Regards,
John
www.juststeelguitar.com