Nice '50s Dual 8 Stringmaster Just Up on Ebay

Doug Freeman · Post by **Doug Freeman** » 8 Jun 2011 11:26 am

This has to be a pretty great deal, right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0469374384

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 8 Jun 2011 11:32 am

Yes, nice, it prolly won't last long.

Ralph Czitrom · Post by **Ralph Czitrom** » 8 Jun 2011 12:43 pm

It didn't last long...

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 8 Jun 2011 1:56 pm

Yep, somebody saw it...

So, serial #1074 should put that 1954-1955? To be sure, I'll (er, I mean whoever bought it will) pop the tuner pans off to be sure. Darn thing looks almost new.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 8 Jun 2011 4:01 pm

I think someone already dealt with the tuners, those aren't lollipops.

Hugh Holstein · Post by **Hugh Holstein** » 8 Jun 2011 4:53 pm

They never were lollipops on Stringmasters.

I saw that one earlier today as well, It went fast.
Looked to be a real closet classic.

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 8 Jun 2011 5:35 pm

I'll let you know when it arrives. Looks like a gem.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 8 Jun 2011 7:26 pm

Jim Newberry wrote:I'll let you know when it arrives. Looks like a gem.

Nice score Jim! .. it does look like a gem for sure.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 8 Jun 2011 7:49 pm

Oooo, congrats, Jim. BTW, is that a Swart amp deep in your avatar?

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 8 Jun 2011 8:07 pm

No, that's a '52 Oahu (Valco) amp I restored. It's a canary-colored beauty.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 9 Jun 2011 7:36 am

That particular model Stringmaster didn't come with lollypop tuners, however, the earlier models did.

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 9 Jun 2011 9:43 am

I've had experience with the lollypops on my trap-pickup D-6. They don't taste very good. Sorta like solder, if you know what I mean.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 9 Jun 2011 10:28 am

Hard to beat the tone of an old Valco built amp

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 9 Jun 2011 11:46 am

thats correct Erv, as in the case of this "53"

..
BTW,Jim..congrats on a fine looking Stringmaster!!!

Hugh Holstein · Post by **Hugh Holstein** » 9 Jun 2011 4:31 pm

Sorry Larry, I stand corrected.
I forgot about those earlier 26" scale monsters, nice.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 10 Jun 2011 10:55 am

My guess is that it was around a 1955 guitar, because I have one just like it, with the push buttons. I also have a '53 longscale quad with the lollypops.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Jun 2011 11:03 am

Do you have one like this?
PS: It's now completed.

Doug Freeman · Post by **Doug Freeman** » 10 Jun 2011 11:21 am

As I recall the pots on the eBay guitar are dated 1955. What scale neck is that one, btw?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Jun 2011 11:27 am

That single neck is a 26" scale.

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 10 Jun 2011 12:02 pm

Doug Freeman wrote:As I recall the pots on the eBay guitar are dated 1955. What scale neck is that one, btw?

Doug, I read the last three digits of two of those pots as 547, so I guess that's late-ish 1955. Hopefully, the tuner cavities still have the pencil dates. I love the mystery. By the fingerboard dot-method, I see it's a short scale, not like Erv's long monsters!

Did they shield pickup cavities back then? I've never had a Stringmaster before...

(This is the seller's picture)

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Jun 2011 12:19 pm

The longer the scale, the longer the sustain.

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 10 Jun 2011 1:05 pm

You're a reg'lr funny man there, Erv!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Jun 2011 1:22 pm

Jim,
I was talking about a guitar!!!

Alan Michael · Post by **Alan Michael** » 11 Jun 2011 8:14 am

I would also like to hear some feedback on whether or not the pickup cavities on Fenders were shielded. I recently picked up a '56 Stringmaster with foil shielding much like yours, Jim. I also have a '57 Studio Deluxe with no shielding in the cavity. My guess is that this was done by a previous owner. I guess it couldn't hurt and probably doesn't compromise the value of the guitar. My Sringmaster was in pretty good shape but I think you scored the Holy Grail.

Hugh Holstein · Post by **Hugh Holstein** » 11 Jun 2011 8:25 am

The aluminum foil shielding is original, glued down with a real dark shellac.

Noteworthy is the yellow wire connecting the switch, and I would like to know what is the black material that is between the switch and bridge plate (mine is missing that).

BTW Erv, I will have one just like that when mine is done, it will be a 24.5" scale that I will make from an orphaned 1955 stringmaster neck.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Nice '50s Dual 8 Stringmaster Just Up on Ebay

Nice '50s Dual 8 Stringmaster Just Up on Ebay

VINTAGE 1950's FENDER STRINGMASTER DUAL 8 STR LAP STEEL