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Topic: The unknown steel |
Virgil Franklin
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2024 6:50 pm |
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I purchased this instrument knowing it was "unique"...
Does anyone have any idea what manufacturer might have birth this beast?
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Virgil Franklin
Organizer: Southern Indiana Steel Guitar Show www.southernindianasteelguitar.com
2023 Justice Pro-lite 4 x 4,2020 Justice Pro-Lite 4 x 4 , S10 1977 Dekley 3x3, Stringmaster Mk1 Clone, Gibson Console Grande 520, Boss Katana 100 Mk2 with Basslite 2012 speaker |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2024 7:39 pm
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| It looks like a Japanese copy of a long scale (26") Fender Stringmaster. Never seen one like it. What's the scale length? Is the pot US or Japanese? Are those lollipop tuners like the Fenders? Interesting that the control plates wrap around the body like the old trapezoid pickup guitars. That's a strange one for sure! How's it sound? |
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Virgil Franklin
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2024 4:26 am
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Thanks for tapping in! This is fast becoming a research project.
What's the scale length? 26"
Is the pot US or Japanese? It's a Mexican replacement...
Are those lollipop tuners like the Fenders? yes and they are getting changed out for Klusons.. some had been replaced already and dry solder joint abound.
Interesting that the control plates wrap around the body like the old trapezoid pickup guitars. Yes, I really like the design in that each plate is separate; pickup mount, bridge, tailpiece.
That's a strange one for sure! Indeed! that, to me, is very appealing.
How's it sound? The pickups appear to be Fender with some strange covers and magnetic pole extensions.
Before I gutted it to clean and rewire/ rebuild it sounded very nice...
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Virgil Franklin
Organizer: Southern Indiana Steel Guitar Show www.southernindianasteelguitar.com
2023 Justice Pro-lite 4 x 4,2020 Justice Pro-Lite 4 x 4 , S10 1977 Dekley 3x3, Stringmaster Mk1 Clone, Gibson Console Grande 520, Boss Katana 100 Mk2 with Basslite 2012 speaker |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 23 Jan 2024 8:49 am
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If I had to guess, maybe a former MkI Stringmaster, or parts thereof, rebuilt with a mix of original and homebrewed hardware? Maybe a homebrewed body too? But the tuning pan, the fingerboard, and if you are right, maybe those are Fender pickups (do you think the covers, which are hard to see in the pic, are just cut to expose the polepieces?)...
I bet its a completely custom one of a kind. When you get it back together, hope it plays and sounds great!
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Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2024 9:33 am
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Yeah, initially I thought the pickups looked a bit like Guyatones but after looking at pictures of a bunch those, they're not exactly like that. All the hardware on the bridge end of the body seems to be inspired by a Mk1 Stringmaster but none of it is the same, except maybe the modified? pickups. The body itself is squared at the heel, unlike the rounded ends of a Stringmaster.
Here are some pictures of a Mk1 to compare:
https://reverb.com/p/fender-stringmaster-2-neck-console-steel-guitar |
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Virgil Franklin
From:
Indiana, USA
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