fender T-8

Ron Victoria · From: New Jersey, USA

I see there are two Fender T-8's for sale on Ebay. One is a Stringmaster the other has the trapezoidal pickup with 3 legs. I was just wondering if the Stringmaster is a more valuable model? Are the bodies on Fender multi-necks made from one piece of stock or is each neck a separate piece? Thanks, ron

Bill Findlay · From: Baytown, Texas, USA

The Stringmaster is typically the better guitar
I have owned both and I Now have a T-8 Stringmaster, that I wouldnt take for...
The Stingmaster is three separate units bolted together with a blender pickup I find it to have a more disirable tone then the Custom....

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Well, I guess it's a matter of preference! If it's set up for the best available sound, I'll put my Custom along side a S/M anytime. I like them both, but; I have a '49/'50 Custom. With the proper value Pots and Cap. the Custom has a very good sound. And one additional item that I have added recently is a Black (Phoenix) Red Rajah Tone-Bar. That has cinched the deal for me! Again, I've owned both models over the years, and I really would be happy with either one, but; I don't think I would switch now, even if I had the oppertunity!

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“Uh~” ƒƒ< “BJ” wknsg®
Franklin, D–10 9/8
Fender, T–8 “The Custom”
Peavey, Classic 50 - 212
Enhancer, E–LG
Red–Rajah, “Phoenix”
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

I don't think it is fair to say "The Stringmaster is a better guitar". I see them as just different.

It is like comparing a Stratocaster to a Telecaster, or a Jazz Bass to a Precision Bass.

Though some like the fancier Strat, with it's three pickups, tremelo and contoured body, many also prefer the Tele for it's simplicity, thicker neck and brighter tone.
And while some like the Stringmaster for it's two blending pickups, intonating bridge, and more detailed body design, many also prefer the "three-leggers" for their simplicity, bright sustain and higher action.

Try convincing James Burton or Redd Volkhardt that a Strat is better than a Tele. At the same time, try convincing Bob Koefer or Kayton Roberts that a Stringmaster is better that a Dual Pro or Custom.

Different pokes for different folks. A Stringmaster is more expensive than a Custom, but in 1954 the Strat retailed for $349.00 and a Tele for $199.00.

Also, with all this talk about the infinate tones of the Stringmaster, in reality most players I know talk about the "sweet spot" you can find with the blender. The bridge pickup on it's own isn't it, and it is surely NOT the sound of both pickups dead even( I personally hate that sound), but it is somewhere in between. I say, why search for the sweet spot when it's right there every time you plug in a Custom or Dual Pro.

Not better, Just different. The other benifit of owning a T-8 Custom over a T-8 Stringmaster is also the difference in spending $900.00 and spending $1600.00

! But with the pocketbook aside you should play them both and let your hands and ears decide.

Chris Scruggs

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Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Ron,
Fender T8's
Not much I can add, but I will try. I have one of each and love them both for what they are. The customs I have played are short scale (I don't know if they all are). My Stringmaster is 24 1/2 (medium scale). They were made in 22 1/2, 24 1/2, and 26 inch.
The customs are a solid chunk of beautiful wood. The stringmasters are individual necks bolted together.

Biggest difference is the pickup systems. But it all comes down to sound/tone. Both can give you great sound/tone. The tone knob and the settings on your amp will give you what you need. (These guitars love tube amps)

The early Customs were built with a rectangular pickup, and the later ones were built with a trapezoid shaped pickup that picks up more lows.

Happy hunting.

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Stringmaster T8, Benoit 8, National Tricone, MSA U12

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

I have a 26" scale triple Stringmaster and a Dual 8 Professional. The 26" Stringmaster is a different "animal" from the later models (22 & 1/2"; 24 & 1/2" scales). The 26" scale has, I believe, the edge on the Dual Pro. when it comes to tone.

Johnny Sibert, the man who has coaxed the best sound ever, from a Fender steel guitar (and even better than most other players, no matter which guitar they play), first played a Dual 8 Pro. and then bought a 26" Stringmaster. He stayed with the 26" Stringmaster; and that says enough for me.

Rick

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Love ya Ron....take care of my "baby".
www.genejones.com

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Sibert did have a great tone on his Stringmaster. But keep in mind he didn't get his Stringmaster until 1955 or 56(that's what he told me). So Loose Talk, Hey Joe, Are You Teasing Me, and all that other stuff was done on his Dual Pro and his Bigsby(which ended up with Sonny Burnette plus two pedals).

You really gotta love that Stringmaster on There She Goes. But that Dual Professional sounds mighty good on Loose Talk. Not better, just different.

Oh, and one more thing.I like a healthy debate, but please let's never get as bad as those pedal mashers who think black Emmons sound better

!

Chris Scruggs
The blonde Fender sound better

!

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

Chris,

You probably know the chronology of Johnny's Fender ownership better than I (and which guitar he used on what recording); but wasn't "Loose Talk" cut with the Stringmaster?

I know you are right about "Hey Joe" and "Are You Teasing Me". He recorded those with the Dual 8 Pro. But, I thought "Loose Talk" was cut with the Stringmaster.

And you are correct about "There She Goes"; ___best Fender steel sound I've ever heard.

Rick

Rick Dempster · From: Preston, Victoria, Australia

John;
What then, in your opinion, are the 'proper value Pots and Cap' for a Custom?
Rick Dempster

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Hey Gene,

Remember, you can have it back anytime. I am happy to babysit.

Ron

[This message was edited by Ron Randall on 18 August 2003 at 07:33 PM.]

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Rick,

I always assumed he played the Stringmaster on Loose Talk, but he said he remembers getting the Stringmaster around 1956, and Loose Talk was recorded in 1954.

However, it is strange to think that he bought a early model Stringmaster(long scale, chrome pickups, master blend controlfor all three necks) in 1956, when they had already been redisigned.

It could of been the Stringmaster on Loose Talk. Because that is just how he remembers it. Sometimes older guys get details wrong about stuff that happened 50 years ago . He probably doesn't remember if he wore brown or black shoes that day, either

.

Either way it's a Fender, and it's Johnny Sibert.

Oh Ron, the volume is 250k and the tone is 100k. I'm not sure about the cap.

Chris Scruggs

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Ron, one more thing. The Trapezoid guitars only came with a 22 1/2" scale.

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

Chris,

One detail that I remember about Johnny's Stringmaster: He had a leg socket in the center of the tuning end of his guitar, so he could use it with only three legs. As you know the Stringmasters were designed for four legs.

He also ordered it with two-neck Stringmaster leg sockets, so the legs would spread out more at the base. The double-neck Stringmaster legs were so close together at the top, it was necessary to design their leg sockets to give a wider stance at the base. I suppose that with only three legs, he wanted this wider stance on his triple neck.

BTW, I have three of the wider angle double-neck Stringmaster leg sockets on my Dual 8 Professional. It has very much improved the appearance and the stability of the guitar.

Rick

[This message was edited by Rick Collins on 19 August 2003 at 08:35 AM.]

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Rick; I thought no one would ever ask! At the present time, I'm using (2) 250K Audio-Pots and a .033cap. in my Custom. However, just for curiosity I may sometime test a 100K Audio-Pot for the Tone-Control. Right now, It's fine as is, however; the 100K Pot might be even a little smoother transition from Bass to Treble! As I said, it is quite satisfactory as is!

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“Uh~” ƒƒ< “BJ” wknsg®
Franklin, D–10 9/8
Fender, T–8 “The Custom”
Peavey, Classic 50 - 212
Enhancer, E–LG
Red–Rajah, “Phoenix”
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Rick,

One of the things Sibert liked about the Dual Pro was the three leg design. When he got his Stringmaster it bugged him how you would have it set up nice and even, but if you moved it over a foot it would be wobbly on one leg.

He had Shot Jackson put that middle leg in so it would always have all legs firmly on the ground. If you look in photos from below the guitar, you can see the original two holes on the tuning sides of the outside necks.

Now I personally prefer a 22 1/2" guitar, but Johnny Sibert is proof that you can slant on the lower frets on a 26" scale guitar PERFECTLY IN TUNE. How the hell did he do that?

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

Chris,

Yes, three legs will always stand in the same plane. There is always the possibility of having to adjust that fourth leg, when a four legged instrument is moved to another location. This seems to be a little more annoying when playing from a standing position; and Johnny Sibert played from a standing position.

Johnny made a lot of slants on the first two strings of his A6th tuning (E, C#). Although he played a longer scale than Jerry Byrd, I would bet that he looked to Jerry for some of his technique. But, I think just about all of us have stolen some of Jerry's ideas. What a disciplined innovator that man is.

Rick

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Ah, yes...

Jerry and Johnny. The two best tones ever to come out of Nashville. And so different from each other!

Jerry liked to turn the treble down, Johnny turned the treble up!

Jerry's playing sounded like the islands, Johnny's playing sounded like the hills!

Here's to both of them!

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