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Post new topic Stringmaster comes home to roost!
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Author Topic:  Stringmaster comes home to roost!
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jan 2003 2:55 pm    
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I got my T-8 Stringmaster back!!! I bought a new T-8 Stringmaster in 1955. In 1966, I ordered a Sho~Bud D-10 from Shot Jackson and had the craxy notion that I had to sell the Stringmaster. I sold it and the gentleman that bought it recently passed away. I contacted his widow but, at the time, she wasn't in the notion to sell it. However, last Saturday she called and said if I was still interested, it was for sale. Needless to say I went to her house and bought my baby back! It isn't in as nice a shape as when I sold it but then neither am I. It needs some restoration but is generally in pretty good shape. I am one happy guy to have it back under the roof again!
Erv

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 27 January 2003 at 07:31 AM.]

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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 26 Jan 2003 3:02 pm    
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amazing how that wheel comes around....good for you....
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 7:31 am    
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Yes, I'm really excited! I started to tear it down last nite. I took some pictures ahead of time though. I'm planning on refinishing it. It has some dings and cigarette burns on it that I want to get rid of. I pulled up some posts on Stringmasters yesterday and will do some more searching today. I want to be sure and get the right color when I do it. When I pulled off the tuners the date written on it is 4/55. It has the 26" scale. I have a D-8 that is a 24" scale and a singe neck that is a 22" scale. I never even knew that until I got the ruler out!
Erv
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Rick Collins

 

From:
Claremont , CA USA
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 7:57 am    
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Hey, Erv,___you are one lucky dude. I want that 26" Stringmaster. What would it take to get it? E-mail me at DAKRC@msn.com

Which finish does it have and are there any parts broken or missing?

Rick
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George Rout


From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 8:48 am    
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Similar story from me. In 1953, from a pawn shop in Halifax for $35, I bought my first electric lap, a Ricky SW with matching (case)Gaylord amp. In 1962, I sold it for $35 to a chap I worked with in Montreal. A few years later, the company we worked for closed up. In 1982, I bumped into the chap on the street IN TORONTO. When I asked him whatever happened to the guitar, he said, "Oh that's right. I did buy that from you, I just dug it out of the attic, we're having a garage sale this weekend". He didn't have those words out of his mouth when I said, "It's sold, whatever you want for it". He was glad to GIVE it back to me apologizing that the amplifier had long since disappeared. Happiness is getting one's rickety Rickenbacker back 20 years later!!!!!!
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Jeff Strouse


From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 9:37 am    
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Jody Carver has a great story about being reunited with his Fender quad.

If you have some time, Jody, please post.

As I love to hear your stories, I wouldn't mind hearing it again!
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Alan Michael

 

From:
Winston-Salem North Carolina U.S.A.
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 11:04 am    
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Erv, you're not the only one with a '55 T-8 stringmaster. I just aquired mine a few months ago and it is a jewel. It has a few small nicks in the original butterscotch finish and even a couple very small cigarette burns but I think I'm going to just live with those small imperfections for the time being. The chrome is bright and shiney and everything seems to be completely original. I would be wise to keep this guitar forever. The only thing that would persuade me to let it go would be to get a shorter scale so that it would be closer to the scale length of my Carter D-10 (24") and my pre-war Rickenbacher (approximately 22-3/4"). If you get a chance email some pictures of yours to me. If you like I can do the same. Glad to hear that you got your baby back. I got a Fender logo decal from Bobbe Seymore in case you're looking for one after the refinishing job.
Good luck with your project and happy picking.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 11:40 am    
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Thanks guys!
Yes, I'll need a decal for the front and also I need a couple of pickups (chrome covered) for the back neck and a different case. The guy that I originally sold it to was in a wreck in his van coming back from a gig. He rolled the van and my precious stringmaster took a blow to the neck. It damaged the case and put a couple of bad creases in the pickups. And, I'm sorry to inform you, NO, the guitar will not be for sale! I had kind of given up hope of ever getting it back and I guess my grandchildren will be deciding what to do with it after I meet my Lord in the sky. I took some "before" pictures and hopefully will be taking some "after" pictures.
Erv
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 1:47 pm    
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Erv,....I'll take wild guess here...one of those necks will be A6, right?

Hey, what's wrong with that?
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2003 2:23 pm    
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You are right!
If it's good enough for Herb Remington, It's good enough for me! Another will be C6th and I have a tuning I call C#m7 that will go the 3rd neck.
Erv
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Andy Alford

 

Post  Posted 28 Jan 2003 7:42 am    
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You need to contact Bobbe at Steel Guitar Nashville for a Fender Decal.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 28 Jan 2003 8:07 am    
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Andy, thanks. I've got one ordered and also 4 new rubber tips for her little feet. I made me a sketch of the wiring last nite and desoldered the electrical parts of my baby.
I didn't have any allen wrenches with me but the two bolts come out tonight. I found a place in Texas that sells lacquer in the spray cans and they have butterscotch blond!
That together with some tinted clear coat should get the old girl looking good again.
I still need a couple of pickups and a case.
I hope somebody can help me out in that department. By the way, the serial number stamped on the plate with the volume and tone control is: 0370.
Erv
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 28 Jan 2003 8:56 am    
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Ain't love grand?
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 28 Jan 2003 12:14 pm    
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I'm going to have to buy a bigger bed. There isn't room enough for me, my wife and the Stringmaster all at one time.
Uff-Da!
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CrowBear Schmitt


From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
Post  Posted 28 Jan 2003 1:04 pm    
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you forgot the Kat Erv !
glad to hear about you gettin' that axe back
did he say "Peep on Kickin'??
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