Rescuing a Stringmaster Quad

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 20 Aug 2014 8:57 am

John,

Infortunately, the dimension that is a problem is the width of the control cavity (see the red line), not the depth so bending the connector tab won't help

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 20 Aug 2014 9:49 am

Tom Pettingill wrote:
From John's DelCity link, these look like they might be close to what you are looking for in a toggle.

Hi Tom,

That looks like exactly what I need. Perfect.
Thanks,

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 20 Aug 2014 10:10 am

In my opinion, toggle switches are a lot more reliable than push button, even if the instrument originally had push buttons.
(But then, I'm also a guy who put machine tuners and frets on a viola.

)

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 20 Aug 2014 12:25 pm

Their part # 73030

http://www.delcity.net/images/linedrawings/73030.pdf

Is the lowest price -- length is 17.5mm -- .689"

You also get an on-off badge if you want to use it.

Carling Parts are superb quality.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 27 Aug 2014 2:38 am

Still waiting for the necks to be sprayed so not much I can do at the moment but the fretboards arrived today

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 30 Aug 2014 12:10 am

So I finally got down to sorting out the pickup selecter switches.

After much measuring, calculating and diagram drawing, I had been veering between going for the full size switches I found (with the help of Tom and John) and the mini toggles. I knew that the full size switches would be a tight fit and wasn't sure if they were going to be a bit too tight.

Up to this morning, I had finally decided to go for the "safer" option - the mini toggles but disguised to look like full size toggles by putting Les Paul style toggle switch covers on them.

At the last minute, I decided to go for the full size toggles that I really wanted - apart from anything else the action of the switch was so much nicer and solid.

I had a plan B if it all went horribly wrong - I was going to make a great big hole in the plate and use a plastic control panel over it to mount the switches.

Well, I crossed my fingers and got out the big drill and was very pleased with the result.

I was thinking about the best way to cover up or disguise the extra holes but having seen the way it turned out, I might not bother.

When I put the pickups back on, I took the opportunity to replace the tubes that act as springs for the pickups as the original ones had completely perished and had no springiness left in them at all.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 30 Aug 2014 9:04 am

Looks great Jeff!

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 16 Sep 2014 12:15 pm

Got an update today from my friend who is refinishing it for me.

here's a pic showing neck 4 with the sealer/undercoat on it and neck 3 with the extra leg socket holes filled in.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 16 Sep 2014 2:52 pm

When you've finished the restoration are you going to play it?

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 16 Sep 2014 3:45 pm

Alan Brookes wrote:When you've finished the restoration are you going to play it?

Most definitely. I'm hoping it's going to be ready for the first rehearsal of the new Western Swing band I have been asked to join.

As I have said previously, I'd never play a double or triple neck Stringmaster in preference to a Dual Pro or Custom Triple but for a quad I'm happy to return to the Stringmaster.

I'll still be selling my Stringmaster triple, either after restoring it or as a fixed upper project for someone.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 19 Sep 2014 2:19 am

Well, here she is all sprayed up...

I figured that, since it had to be refinished anyway, there was no reason to go for the standard blonde so, after a lot of thought I decided that, for me, there was only one choice...

And one more taken a bit later after the paint had darkened a little bit...

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 19 Sep 2014 10:50 am

Jeff Mead wrote:...I figured that, since it had to be refinished anyway, there was no reason to go for the standard blonde...

Good for you. There are already plenty of white Stringmasters around. Yours will be unique. When I refinished Basil's D8 Stringmaster I used Almond colour, and I was so happy with it that I used the same colour to refinish my Guyatone D8.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 20 Sep 2014 11:31 pm

Of course, I couldn't resist laying out the hardware to get an even better idea of how she'll look...

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 21 Sep 2014 5:54 am

Very nice!!

Benton Allen · Post by **Benton Allen** » 21 Sep 2014 6:19 am

Very nice Jeff, and it matches your fire extinguisher perfectly!!:D
Cheers!
Benton

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Sep 2014 9:13 am

I'm envious.

I hope you're doing arm-stretching exercises for when it's finished. You'll need them to reach the front neck.

By the way, it would look better with the Fender plate fixed closer to the centre of the instruments; on the 3rd neck, for instance.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 Sep 2014 9:25 am

That is the original location for the logo plate, on the outer neck.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Sep 2014 9:29 am

I know, but he's not restoring it to the original configuration, otherwise it would be the monotonous off-white. I shall be interested to see how the black Fender transfer looks on the front against a red background. You can get the Fender transfers in white, too. I used one of those when I restored a Fender Coronado Archtop Electric, which has a black peghead.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 21 Sep 2014 10:08 am

Posted in error!

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 21 Sep 2014 10:11 am

I've actually got a gold spaghetti logo which I reckoned would look OK but I am also considering putting my name on there with vinyl letters.

I did this on my old Dual Pro which came to me without a Fender logo and I'm happy with it. The vinyl is so thin that, even close up, it looks more like a paint stencil.

I the picture it looks white - probably because of the camera flash but it's actually a cream colour.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 21 Sep 2014 10:15 am

Duplicate post!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Sep 2014 10:18 am

Go for it, Jeff. Let people know who you are.

After all, a steel guitar is to be played as a working instrument, not a museum exhibit. Stringmasters are not in any danger of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future. There will always be one in original condition for the museum.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 21 Sep 2014 10:22 am

Me? I'd put the Fender logo where it belongs, and my name off to one side.
Love the guitar Jeff! Great job! Be cool if you could match the Fender font!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Sep 2014 12:00 pm

I once covered a Fender cable model in black vinyl: the sort they make for amplifiers, etc.

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 22 Sep 2014 1:48 pm

I had a Fender quad in 1969 and someone had painted it pink ! The case had been painted red...wish I still had that steel !! Yours looks great red ! I like that a lot,,,nice work, I admire your skills.