Wanted: "Stringmaster" Deluxe-6 or Deluxe-8

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 18 May 2007 11:02 am

I know they aren't technically called Stringmasters, but I see Deluxes on the web that have one pickup, so I'm trying to be specific. I want the single-neck version that has the same setup(two pickups with blender) as the Stringmaster.

Legs aren't important. Neither is color.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 18 May 2007 11:17 am

I have one Deluxe 8 that is as close to mint as they come...$1200 firm. Legs, case and all chrome like the day it was built.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 18 May 2007 11:24 am

Gary, I've emailed you through the forum.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 18 May 2007 11:31 am

Threads like this scare me and lead me to believe that the single-neck version may not get me the Stringmaster sound.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... ght=deluxe

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 18 May 2007 11:48 am

That sort of makes me wonder if having multiple necks tie-bolted together makes a difference in tone etc, like more mass,etc (?)

Regards BILL

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 18 May 2007 11:51 am

Exactly. I would like more players to comment on this, if possible.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 18 May 2007 1:00 pm

All I can contribute is this.........

After playing all my Rickenbackers for almost a year now, I got out my Deluxe 8, tuned it, and plugged it in.

Wham! The sound is ALL Fender without a doubt. Nothing else quite like it. I suppose players can pick any year or body style apart. I do not see many photos of Byrd playing a Stringmaster? He was damn great on a non pedal steel too.

A blind test, a REAL blind test may help.

I have to also say, each time a subject of a pickup, a brand of guitar, pedal effects, amps, and so on is discussed, the variations of opinions are seemly never ending. Without using some sort of science like a computer generated read out, I think a lot of what we all say is apart of our personal tastes, our hearing abilities, our experience, our talent, mixed with public opinion, and a number of other aspects of life as a musician.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 18 May 2007 1:21 pm

Think you are right Gary. Also,some guitars like certain amps. I have an Excel D8 that hates all my amps except one, Maybe it's the single coil pickups it has. On the other hand, this amp sounds good with everything I have. I just built it,using a variation of an old Valco design.
Anyway some guitars sound best with certain amps.
A comparison of guitars on the same amp may not be really fair to the guitar.

Regards BILL

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 19 May 2007 6:49 am

Here's a single neck Stringmaster I'm working on that was never produced by Leo Fender. It actually is 1/2 of a D-8. I bought the parts off of e-bay and the the fellow just casually mentioned that he had the body if I wanted it. I routed out the body for the 3rd leg and refinished it. Tt is quite the instrument. It has the long, 26" scale with the lollypop tuners. The date under the tuners is 1954. I have it all done except to connect the wiring.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 19 May 2007 8:25 am

I've got a '57 Deluxe-8 that sounds every bit as good as my long scale triples. Because it's a short scale I put heavier strings on it which may help fatten it up a bit.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 19 May 2007 8:43 am

Cartwright, that is a great idea and does make a big difference. You can really dig into the bass too.

James Mayer · Post by **James Mayer** » 19 May 2007 8:47 am

What is the advantage of the longer scale?

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 19 May 2007 9:29 am

Usually, the consensus is 'sustain'.

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 19 May 2007 9:36 am

Longer scale length shifts the overtones & harmonics and potentially increases sustain. I'd be lying if I tried to explain how it works. Longer scale makes it easier to play accurately in the higher register but makes slants more difficult in the lower register compaired to short scale spacing.
Chimes and harmonics ring better on longer scale guitars too.
There is no best, just different.

Russ Swanson · Post by **Russ Swanson** » 3 Mar 2024 11:28 am

Excellent explanation.

John Dahms wrote:Longer scale length shifts the overtones & harmonics and potentially increases sustain. I'd be lying if I tried to explain how it works. Longer scale makes it easier to play accurately in the higher register but makes slants more difficult in the lower register compaired to short scale spacing.
Chimes and harmonics ring better on longer scale guitars too.
There is no best, just different.