The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi Steelers;
I have been looking to buy a D8 non-pedal guitar. I have a chance to buy a Fender Stringmaster D8, with 22.5" scale.
I'm not sure if I should try to find one with the optional 24.5" or 26" scales, or just go with the 22.5"
Please help me out. What are the advantages/ dis-advantages of each?

Just get one and get started... the good thing about a Stringmaster is that you'll always be able to get your money back out of it if you decide to sell... which is hard... I haven't sold any of mine yet, I've got five Fenders, all 22.5".

That said, don't get burned... your guitar should be in decent shape, with legs and a case... and everything should work. For a good D8 I'd expect to pay between 1200 and 1600$, depending. Missing bridge covers? Knock of 50$ each. No case? Take away 300$. I haven't seen the year affect the price... newer guitars are generally in better shape... I have guitars from '56 to '69, they're all good, although my '58 T8 'Gloria' in 22.5" TV yellow is the best sounding one.

Ricky Davis wrote:WEll the 26" and 24 1/2" scales will most likely be made during the 50's

The 26" scale Stringmasters were the earliest in 53/54.

When the revised version of the Stringmaster (with the blend control on each neck and the black pickup covers) was introduced in '55 it was available in 22.5" and 24.5" scale. I believe they continued to make both scale lengths throughout the production run.

So the 22.5" ones are just as likely to be from the 50s as the 24.5" ones.

I have owned a few Stringmasters , 22.5 and 24.25 scales , from the 50's . The longer scale guitars are livelier and ring out more than the shorter scale guitars.
Jerry

The longer the scale length, the longer the sustain.
Erv