Fender Stringmaster
Encyclopedia
The Fender Stringmaster is a series of table steel guitar
s produced by Fender from 1953 to 1980.
Models were available with two, three and four necks, each neck with eight strings. The four neck version, known as the quad or Q-8, was discontinued in 1968.
, at 26". From 1954 the scale length was reduced, and two shorter lengths were available, 24.5" and 22.5", both with 31 frets.
, despite its three detachable legs; All models of Stringmaster and Deluxe were simply called steel guitar
s in Fender publications.
The name Fender Deluxe was also used for an unrelated series of Fender combo amplifiers
produced in the 1950s, see Fender Deluxe Reverb
.
Table steel guitar
The console steel guitar is a type of electric steel guitar intermediate between the lap steel guitar and the pedal steel guitar. Console steel guitars typically have multiple necks and/or more than six strings per neck, and are too large to be easily played in lap steel fashion.They are...
s produced by Fender from 1953 to 1980.
Models were available with two, three and four necks, each neck with eight strings. The four neck version, known as the quad or Q-8, was discontinued in 1968.
Electrics
Each neck had two single-coil pickups. These could be blended by a a small wheel attached to a pot that sat just behind the bridge. The bridge pick-up was always on, and the neck pickup could be feed in to taste using the blend pot. A neck selector switch controlled which neck's pickups were 'live'. On earlier 1950's models, the neck selector was controlled by push-buttons. A single tone and a single volume control served the entire instrument.Scale lengths
The original 1953 models had a long scale lengthScale length
*Length scale, - a significant concept in physics used to define the order of magnitude of a system*Scale height, - a specific parameter in physics denoting the distance over which a quantity decreases by a factor of e...
, at 26". From 1954 the scale length was reduced, and two shorter lengths were available, 24.5" and 22.5", both with 31 frets.
Fender Deluxe
A single neck version was also available, called the Fender Deluxe, in both six and eight string versions. The six string Deluxe is possibly more properly called a lap steel guitarLap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
, despite its three detachable legs; All models of Stringmaster and Deluxe were simply called steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
s in Fender publications.
The name Fender Deluxe was also used for an unrelated series of Fender combo amplifiers
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
produced in the 1950s, see Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender Deluxe Reverb
The Fender Deluxe Reverb is a guitar amplifier made originally by Fender Musical Instruments, and now by Fender. The Deluxe Reverb is a 22-watt tube amplifier , powered by a pair of 7408/6V6GT power tubes, one GZ34/5AR4 rectifier tube, four 7025/12AX7 preamp tubes, and two 6201/12AT7 tubes driving...
.
External links
- Extract from p32 of the 1972 Fender guitar and bass catalogue, describing the Stringmaster twin and triple neck models then available.