The Steel Guitar Forum

I have come into a 50's Fender Custom triple 8 string guitar with the three legs, brown not blonde. Any way. There is a white push button on the thing and I don't know what it is supose to do. anybody know? the other togles control the selection of each pickup in three positions and the other toggle is all pickups on at once, but that button, hmmmm? Also if I sold this, what would it be worth it's in scratched condition, all parts are there and the case is falling apart and barely held together with tape ..see pictures.


thanks
pics: http://www.specialtymile.com/circuit88/images/triplebutton.jpg
http://www.specialtymile.com/circuit88/images/tripple.jpg
http://www.specialtymile.com/circuit88/images/triplecase.jpg

That's the doorbell!

Seriously though, it's probably a splatter button. Hit a chord then hit the button, the signal should get cut off. It was popular at one point to put these on, and rapidly hit them.

Spanky....
I don't think that white button is from the factory. But back in the 50's a lot of guys would put a doorbell button on their guitar and wire it into the tone circuit. When they did the Speedy West "Bar Crash", they held the button down (Bass) and then released it for the sound. These were momentary switches, meaning that they "made" when depressed, and returned when not depressed. Try holding the button down and see if there is a bass tone, then release and see if there is a more treble tone. That is my 2cents...
Billy Easton
Casa Grande, Arizona

Spankey, I have a Double 8 Stringmaster dates to approx 1961, could be a year or so earlier or later. It is in good shape a couple of minor nicks in the wood work and Blonde finish. case in good shape except one broken latch. If interested in a trade (no money exchanged) email me and send me your phone nbr,

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kd...and the beat goes on...

the button is stock. the age is early fifties and I will try the button out for a tone thing. It does'nt cut off the output so maybe it is a tone thing.

The button was "when the gutar was new" to turn off all puickups at one time "like for a brake" I have 1950 TRIPPLE CUSTOM it has worked that way for along time.

That's a new one on me. I have an early (blonde) triple neck and there ain't no 'doorbell' button on this critter. Are you sure it came from the factory that way ? I suspect it was added by a previous owner.

ADDED MESSAGE: I just saw that double neck on eBay and it appears to me the 'doorbell' is indeed factory installed. But this 'custom' model differs to mine. The wood body at both top and bottom is indented between the necks whereas mine is best described as being a straight chunk of wood.
Yet, mine was advertised as a 'custom' model.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 22 April 2000 at 06:42 PM.]</p></FONT>

same with me ...never saw one before and no catalogue did ever mention this option.but who knows!!!!!

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Fender Dual Professional
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional

I opern the cover up and the white pushbutton looks like it's soldered to a cap. One of the pots has a number on it 340107, I think the pot is a 1951.
I put the steel up for sale on ebay to raise some cash.

In reply to the button question.
I found this on ebay today. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310261662
is a picture of a double neck just like mine with the same white button in the same position. This kinda confirms that these models were made with a push button on them, remember this model is called the "custom" and in all actually I thought they were all triple necks to have the Custon model designation. Mine is a triple neck and the brown is a deeper color.