The Steel Guitar Forum

This past March at the TSGA, I got to know Dan Campbell from Caladesi Guitars. A friendship was quickly struck up, and we've remained in touch since. I played some of the guitars he built, which I was very impressed by. I had been thinking for a while about a new lap steel before, but hadn't decided what I wanted..

Now, I have always wanted a Stringmaster guitar, but never got one for whatever reason. When I was in Dallas, one of the guitars Dan had built was a Stringmaster. I played it for almost the entire weekend, and couldn't hardly drag myself away from it. A short time laster, I asked Dan if he would build me a custom Stringmaster-style D8 guitar. I already knew exactly the color I wanted, etc. It was really nice to have the option to have many upgrades on the guitar.

One touch that is really nice is the pickguard in between the two necks - thankfully, I don't have to scratch up my guitar with my picks and bar!

The guitar sounds incredible - I've never heard sustain on any guitar like this one. The guitar really barks, and is "very alive" and responds amazing.

Huge thanks to Dan!! This is really something I've wanted all my life - thanks for the amazing work! It turned out perfect! Enjoy the pics

A few specs:
Color: Surf Green
Fretboard: Roasted Flame maple with Abalone dots on top edge. Wood Inlay on all sides
Pickups: Lollar Stringmaster Pickups
Pickguard: Ivory pearl design
Bridge / Nut: Brass

BTW - Here is Dan's guitar from Dallas:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com//viewto ... highlight=

Thanks Jeremy--it was a real pleasure working with you on this design. The primary diversion from the original is the brass nut and bridge. The nut is inserted .5 inches into the wood and the bridge is larger than the original. It is .375 inches in diameter and solid brass. I believe these innovations are the primary reason for the increase in sustain. Dan

The pickups in Dallas were Seymour Duncan's antiquity series, but these are Lollar stringmaster pickups.

Beautiful! Love the surf green (my fave Fender color).

What's the mini controls right behind both bridges?

Thanks Jim -- the mini controls are the "blend" knobs. It is wired just like the original so the bridge pickup is always on and this knob dials in the neck pickup.

Dan Campbell wrote:Thanks Jim -- the mini controls are the "blend" knobs. It is wired just like the original so the bridge pickup is always on and this knob dials in the neck pickup.

Lovely guitar. What does the third chrome knob do?

Beautiful instrument

Jeff Mead wrote:

Dan Campbell wrote:Thanks Jim -- the mini controls are the "blend" knobs. It is wired just like the original so the bridge pickup is always on and this knob dials in the neck pickup.

Lovely guitar. What does the third chrome knob do?

The 3rd chrome knob is the volume control for the outer neck.