Fender Stringmaster question

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 8 Dec 2006 7:09 am

The question is...what is a fair price for a 1953 D-8, good finish, excellent pickups/knob functions, etc? I didn't search it with great detail, but the only numbers I saw were on the back neck pickup covers: 0225. Any help is appreciated!

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Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 8 Dec 2006 8:05 am

Fair price for who?
The buyer or the seller!

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 8 Dec 2006 8:46 am

For both! Ha. Actually I just want to know if (and if so how much) the one I am looking to buy is over-priced. I was just looking for an unbiased opinion of what one would fetch on average.

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 8 Dec 2006 9:35 am

Here is a '57 that sold recently for $1638: '57 Stringmaster D8

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Lynn Oliver

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 8 Dec 2006 10:00 am

Speaking of Stringmaster Duel 8 not Delux 8. A 1953 could be pre-Stringmaster as that was the transition year to Stringmasters from the single pickup models to duel right? If it is a single pick up model, those do not bring the kind of money a Stringmaster does. If it is a duel pickup Stringmaster, than in my opinion the prices are going up as I type. Check eBay, a few days ago a Stringmaster D8 (duel 8 not Deluxe

sold for $1800 plus $100 shipping. The real problem is not the price, but finding one that has not been thrashed and that you can play for many years without the hassle of rebuilding the electronics or mechanical parts. These are all still resonable considering their age and what the vintage Fender guitar market has become. 6 string steels, are worth less, at least at this time.[This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 08 December 2006 at 10:06 AM.]

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 8 Dec 2006 10:52 am

FWIW, I ended up working a deal on a pretty clean '72 D8 Stringmaster a few weeks ago for $1300. At the time I was hesitant, but after watching Stringmasters for a couple of weeks since, I'm glad I bought it.

They don't make them anymore....

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 8 Dec 2006 3:30 pm

If it's a '53 then more than likely it's a Duel Custom 8, because Stringmasters didn't start up till '54.
However like Gary said it could be a transition model, where it looks like a duel custom but has some stringmaster parts also. These are very rare, and to someone who knows or collects these kind of instruments it would be worth more.
Now with out pictures it's hard to tell what exactly what the guitar is.
If it is a Stringmaster and not a '53 then it could be a '54. Those seam to be going at around $500 to $600 per neck. The early ones don't have the pickup-blender and sell for just under the ones that do have the blender knob. Some of the clean mid-50's Stringmaster with the pickup blender-knobs are selling between $600 to $800 per neck.

If it is a '53 Custom, then those seam to be going from about $300 to $500 per neck. In fact a double neck just sold on eBay yesterday for $680

The first thing you need to do is find out if it is a '53 Duel Custom or a Stringmaster. Of course if you could get a picture of it and post it here then that would make it easier to give a price on it.

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 8 Dec 2006 5:47 pm

According to Gruhn's Guide and the Volk book, Stringmasters were introduced in 1953.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 8 Dec 2006 6:53 pm

http://home.insight.rr.com/steelgtr/stringmaster.html

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 9 Dec 2006 3:34 am

Finding a '53 Stringmaster is like getting a '63 Twin Reverb
Sure all the books say that's the year they came out. In reality those are the years that Leo made a few and gave them to friends to try out, and salesmen to take around and get orders on them.
Full production usually started up after the product made it's way to a few trade shows, a few stages, and music stores to get enough orders to make it a viable investment. Leo didn't waste or spend money on things until he knew he could make it all back.

With all that said it could be a '53, but there arent that many of 'em out there.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 9 Dec 2006 7:06 am

Much is made of Leo's pickups and guitar innovations. What he was also brilliant at was marketing! I grew up a few miles from his factory. There were so many promotions in California that I did not even know there were other makes of electric guitars! He covered everything from the drag strip, the surfers at the beach to the cowboys at the ranches. His ads using photos of all the walks of life playing these instruments were a brilliant idea that was copied by many later. You are right on about 'transitional' period instruments. There may have been very few built the first year they surfaced.

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » 9 Dec 2006 1:45 pm

I have a double neck Fender, purchased new around 1955.
Only number is 2971, by input jack.
Can anyone tell me what year it was made?

Dave

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 9 Dec 2006 2:11 pm

A photo may be your best bet. The exact model helps. From what I have gathered from the same question being asked is that the numbers on the steels do not seem to reflect the year they were built like on guitars and on the steels before 1955. The number you gave would place the age at very early 1950's using the published Fender serial number chart. Most folks say look under the tuning pan and often there is a hand written month and year. I found that to be true on my Deluxe 8. Also, others state by checking the numbers on the pots you can determine the year or at least close to it. And last, Stringmaster changed a few details of the guitar early on so that may help you determine the year.[This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 09 December 2006 at 02:36 PM.]

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 9 Dec 2006 5:11 pm

Has anyone collected serial numbers and dates for Stringmasters and Deluxes?

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 9 Dec 2006 5:24 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I have a double neck Fender, purchased new around 1955.
Can anyone tell me what year it was made?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>1955?

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 10 Dec 2006 4:08 pm

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. The one I'm looking at is a dual pickup Stringmaster, 1953 model. It is priced at $1850 but I have a buddy that can get it for $1650. It plays very well, but I am probably going to get my Sho Bud rebuilt by Leon and Albert in Tallahassee, FL, instead. If anyone is in Nashville, go check it out at Guitar Center. They also have a Fender 400 and a 1000.

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Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 10 Dec 2006 5:12 pm

If you are speaking of a duel neck, 1953, first year Stringmaster in good condiiton, that may not be overpriced any longer. I bet it would sell on eBay.