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Topic: Left handed Fender Stringmaster Dual 8 |
Mark Addeo
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 5:46 am |
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Sometime ago I converted an orphan ebay Stringmaster single neck to a rustic lefty steel with great success. I decided I wanted a Dual 8 lefty. I do hold all things "vintage Fender" in the highest regard and so I had to wait for a suitably abused Dual 8 for my lefty conversion. This had to be guilt free.
That day came on Reverb last April when I found this steel. I will say that I have seen Dual 8s in much better condition than the one I bought and for slightly more money but I did not want to convert any instrument in original condition.
Behold the proverbial "Unicorn" and my new best friend!
My left handed 1960 Fender Stringmaster Dual 8. All original except for the finish (DIY Re-ranch nitro) and orientation of course.
The close neck is C6 (A,C,E,G,A,C,E,G). The front neck is Don Helms' E6 (A,C#,E,G#,B,C#,E,G#).
Way down below are a few pics from the original ad and what I started with. I have since acquired an original case too.
Here are some pics from the ad before I purchase it. Both the bogus Fender logo and custom name were under the finish.
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 8:42 am
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| Nice job, Mark! That guitar was the perfect choice for your guilt-free conversion/restoration. I have to admit feeling a little disoriented by that second picture though. Now I know how leftys must feel! |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 11:04 am
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Great job!
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 11:31 am
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My brain is doing some spatial gymnastics trying to sort how that would work...because of the differing thicknesses of the necks, did you have to split the two necks apart, and then flip them so their formerly inside faces were now on the outside? And then, I guess, fill the hole on the (formerly inside) edge of the thicker/further neck and create a new hole connecting the two necks? I've never seen a properly deconstructed stringmaster so I'm not sure how they fit together exactly. Guess you'd have to reseat the leg sockets too so the legs didn't now all point inwards...
Regardless beautiful conversion, well done! I normally like natural finishes but prefer your blonde finish over its prior state...did you get the "between neck" Fender nameplate back on, on the top? |
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Mark Addeo
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 12:18 pm
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Thanks folks for the comments!
Nic, your brain's spatial gymnastics are spot on! I removed the rods and flipped the two necks. Good news is that the inside wood was nice and clean though a bit rougher with less factory sanding etc. You are correct that each neck is stepped to be thinner on one side and thicker on the other. Each neck matches the thickness of the next thicker neck's thinner side 
This picture shows that the lefty "inside" cavity is not flush. I still haven't put the Fender name plate on because it hangs slightly over any edge I choose. I'm still pondering that.
I did have to fill one small wire hole (previously in between and now the new front). I also had to drill a new jack cup hole on the new rear. The old jack cup hole is now in the middle of the two necks as a wire pass thru.
The leg sockets spun 180 degrees and screwed right in.
I swapped the tone and vol without having to unsolder but I did have to swap the pickup wires on the selector switch. They were reversed in the new orientation.
Two other notes. The original large front diamonds are too big for the new front. They overlap top and bottom by a hair. I used small diamonds on front AND back. They scale better with the smaller "no-caster" repro decal I used.
A stringmaster decal would have been too big for the new front panel even if i could find one.
So this lefty looks a little leaner in the front than the standard Dual 8 but a little thicker in the back. |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 2:10 pm
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That really is a nice job. I think your decal looks great, especially, as you said, with the smaller diamonds on the front (good job on tracking down spare diamonds - that's the one bit I couldn't find when building my orphan S8 ).
Regarding the badge, I'd be tempted to put it back in its original position (though rotated, of course) which if my mental gymnastics are correct would put it beyond the 2nd fretboard, near the new front logo. That said, it looks fine without the badge too. |
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Ron Simpson
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 2:43 pm
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That is a beautiful job. It reminds me of the time I changed a single neck three pedal guitar to a left handed guitar for my father.
Ron |
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Craig Stock
From:
Westfield, NJ USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2017 3:53 pm
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Mark,
Nice job on the Fender, and btw were you in a group called Flint Michigan years ago?
Happy Holidays!
_________________
Regards, Craig
I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.
Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days |
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Mark Addeo
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2017 4:35 am
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Hi Craig, no I wasn’t. Were they a NJ band?
Last edited by Mark Addeo on 22 Dec 2017 5:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Craig Stock
From:
Westfield, NJ USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2017 4:53 am
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Yes, they had a guy who lived by me that played a fender like yours. Saw them once at the Crossroads in Garwood.
_________________
Regards, Craig
I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.
Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days |
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