| Author |
Topic: Finally upgraded Stringmaster D8 |
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 29 Aug 2022 6:15 pm |
|
Howdy folks!
Been a while since I been here but eventually picked up the steel playing again and found this baby in a local shop,
See if you access this Google library of photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/n6cqjfkcqbqQ6vJk9
The man told me it's a 1961 model. I can't find a date code on it but would anyone know any details to look for to help me know the actual date? There appears to be a serial number 3485 under the tail piece lid,,,not sure?
I will probably set it up for E6 (G# on the first string) and C6. Can anyone recommend string gauges for the scale length? By the way,, what is the scale length on this one?
Thanks y'all!
Scott |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 29 Aug 2022 6:20 pm
|
|
By the way,,sorry to post again, but forgot to mention the legs are so rusted I don't think they'll be functional. Any chance I could get a set of replacement legs for this?
Thanks! |
|
|
|
Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
|
Posted 29 Aug 2022 6:32 pm
|
|
The date code on the 1 MEG linear CTS pot (137 6026) indicates 26th week of 1960, so that is consistent with 1960/61. That is not definitive for the guitar build date, and there is always the possibility the pot has been replaced. But I'll bet that puts it in that ballpark.
I usually find actual dates on Fender console steels under one or more of the tuner pans. I don't know how much one can rely on serial numbers on Fender steels to establish a build date. It has certainly not been studied anywhere near as much as for vintage Fender guitars.
I usually use a string tension calculator like this one - https://tension.stringjoy.com/ - to figure out string gauges to give reasonably uniform tension across the strings. I'm usually going for something in the vicinity of 25-30 pounds per string, depending on how much tension I want. There's also John Ely's guide here if you prefer a table lookup approach - https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php. These should get you in the ballpark, but be aware that there are variances depending on the string maker and string materials and construction. |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 30 Aug 2022 3:25 am
|
|
| excellent resources Dave, thank you! |
|
|
|
Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
|
Posted 30 Aug 2022 5:47 am
|
|
| Based on the fretmarkers, your guitar is a 22.5" scale. Remove the tuner pans like Dave says. Month and year and often the builder's name or initials are usually found penciled in there. Nice one! |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 30 Aug 2022 6:56 am
|
|
Thanks Bill!
Will post pics if I find something,
Scott |
|
|
|
Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
|
Posted 30 Aug 2022 7:49 am
|
|
| Scott Rogers wrote: |
| By the way,,sorry to post again, but forgot to mention the legs are so rusted I don't think they'll be functional. Any chance I could get a set of replacement legs for this? |
Here is a site that sells legs. They offer different thread sizes. If you tell them you have a Stringmaster I'm sure they can tell which thread size you need:
http://steelguitarparts.net/guitar/steel_guitar_legs_catalog.htm |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 30 Aug 2022 12:11 pm
|
|
| Thanks Tim! |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 30 Aug 2022 7:38 pm
|
|
Hi all, confirmed it is a '61 model. Appears to be marked 5/61?
 |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
|
|
|
Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
|
Posted 5 Sep 2022 4:27 pm
|
|
hot wire and ground wire tranposed?
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
|
|
|
Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
|
Posted 5 Sep 2022 4:54 pm
|
|
Also I see two wires coming form the cavity to the rear plate switch Would expect one from the front pickups, one back to volume and tone and an earth.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
|
|
|
Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2022 6:22 pm
|
|
| see that black insulated wire coming up from the cavity? That's Fender's piss-poor ground connection for that pickup plate that makes contact by pinching the stripped wire between the body and the plate. You might try just moving that wire to a new position so it's not buried quite so deep in the wood. Better yet, extend it and solder it to the back of one of the potentiometers on that plate. |
|
|
|
Jeff Highland
From:
New South Wales, Australia
|
Posted 5 Sep 2022 7:13 pm
|
|
| Bill Sinclair wrote: |
| see that black insulated wire coming up from the cavity? That's Fender's piss-poor ground connection for that pickup plate that makes contact by pinching the stripped wire between the body and the plate. You might try just moving that wire to a new position so it's not buried quite so deep in the wood. Better yet, extend it and solder it to the back of one of the potentiometers on that plate. |
I didn't see that one Bill, it's certainly not going to make contact without the plate screwed down, But I agree, better extended to a pot back.
_________________
Duesenberg Fairytale
1949 Supro Supreme
1950 National New Yorker
2008 Highland Baritone Weissenborn
2020 Highland New Yorker.
2020 Highland Mohan Veena
2021 Highland Weissencone |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 5 Sep 2022 7:16 pm
|
|
Think I figured it out,,, grounding problem. Noise went away when I touched the two metal plates together. I put in a new grounding wire between the pot of neck 2 and one of the other pots on neck 1, noise gone!
Thanks for the help! |
|
|
|
