Orphan Stringmaster neck

[Jeff Mead]

Following my quad restore project last year I ended up with a few bits left over (most of what would be needed for 1 neck) - namely a bridge plate (no pickups or wiring), a tuner pan, 1 strip of 4 tuners and a nut.

I was just about to list it for sale when I got the chance to buy a short scale orphan neck. I've got a 6 string lap steel that I use a lot and have always fancied a single 8 so I thought it would be fun to put one together.

This is most definitely going to be a player with pretty much no collectors value. In fact, the way things have been going, I'll probably be reducing the value of the parts by assembling them into a usable instrument!
It looks like a lovely piece of wood so rather than refinishing it in a solid colour, I reckon a few coats of Tru-Oil will do the trick and really bring out the grain.

If anyone knows what kind of wood it is, please let me know, My guess is walnut?




For the pickups - my friends at Monty's guitars here in London had done some measuring and testing on my pickups when they were sorting out the wiring on my quad and had built a couple of prototypes they were keen to test so that sorted one problem at least.

For the missing tuners, 4 regular guitar tuners with a hole drilled through the shaft to take the string will work fine, I reckon.





Yup. Close enough for jazz, I reckon.

So, time to do a bit of sanding, I guess.

[Larry Phleger]

Nice piece. The wood looks like swamp ash to me.

[Tom Pettingill]

Fun project Jeff! I love to see these old parts find a new lease on life.

If anyone knows what kind of wood it is, please let me know, My guess is walnut?

My best guess would also be ash. That big bold cathedral grain is pretty typical of the species. How much does it weigh?

There is no true species of Swamp Ash. Its a term that is used to describe the light weight examples of southern ash that was grown in wet or swampy areas. The extra moist conditions promote a faster growth rate and as a result, a less dense wood that is lighter and softer once dried. While there is no true spec for something to be called Swamp Ash, its generally considered to be less than 3 lbs a board foot when dried. 2.5 to 2.8 lbs a board ft being the more common from reputable dealers.

[Mark van Allen]

Sure looks like ash to me as well. Many thanks for the elucidation on Swamp Ash, Tom. I didn't know that!

[Peter den Hartogh]

Jeff, That is was I did, rebuild a single neck Stringmaster from a mixture of parts I had.
I only had to get a new control plate and the front "diamonds". I also found a bridge cover.
It is a lovely instrument that sounds right and inspires you to play.

[Erv Niehaus]

I bought some Stringmaster parts off of e-bay and the seller stated that he had a Stringmaster neck if I wanted it. I took the neck along with the parts and here is a picture of it mid way in construction. I routed a place in the bottom for a 3rd leg.

[Chris Templeton]

If anyone goes for this project and need legs,
I have four long (stand up) legs that came from GFI. I'm not sure of the thread size, but if your interested in them, give me a holler and we can work something out.
Comes with a leg bag.

[Erv Niehaus]

The old console guitars had a different thread size from pedal steels.

[Jeff Mead]

So, a few coats of Tru-Oil later I'm just about ready to take her in to have the pickups fitted.

One of the bits of hardware I couldn't find was the diamonds that go over the tie rod holes.

I reckon these ones cut out of pick guard material look pretty good though.




I decided not to bother with legs - I just covered the leg socket holes with circular wooden blanking plates and put some green felt on the bottom.

[Jeff Mead]

So, I finally got this one finished,

I got a set of pickups made by Monty's Guitars here in London. They sound great, although I haven't had a chance to AB them against the originals in my quad yet.

Although they looked great as they were, I had a set of pickup covers that were printed on a 3D printer (By Jim Myers, here on the forum).

So if anyone on this side of the pond is after replacement Stringmaster pickups, Matt at Monty's is the guy to go to. Also he's great for rewinding pickups instead of sending them over to America (he has rewound a few Fender trapezoid pickups so far and everyone has been delighted with them). With the pound v the dollar going the way it is, it migt even be worth it for forumites on the US to use his services - especially if Jason Lollar isn't doing rewinds any more.

[Tom Pettingill]

Good job Jeff!

[Jeff Mead]

Just to finish off the thread, here is the orphan neck in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8pBWpR_kb4

[Michael Greer]

Jeff

Great video...thanks for posting

I enjoyed your solo in the middle and the backup through out the song.

Those spare parts are serving you well.

[David M Brown]

I always like seeing instruments made playable again. Thanks!

[Stefan Robertson]

Jeff didn't realise you were here in London too.

Yes!!!

[Mark Roeder]

makes a great lap steel

[Joe Elk]

Jeff: Nicely restored and nice played!!!! The girls are pretty too!!

I thought I could finds some Diamonds on the net not vintage just the shape I never could.
Joe Elk Central Ohio

[Mark Roeder]

looks like the diamonds were fabricated out of pick guard material?

[Jeff Mead]

I thought I could finds some Diamonds on the net not vintage just the shape I never could.
Joe Elk Central Ohio

I searched for ages. At one time I even thought about those little name plaques you get on sports cups but once I saw the plastic ones, I really liked them and they echo the pickup covers. That's also why I went for a plastic jack socket to match.

I'm surprised Leo didn't go for plastic as he was always looking for a way to save a few cents here and there.