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Author
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Topic: Fender making NEW lap steel!!
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Wes Hamshaw
Member From: Palmdale, California, USA
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posted 20 January 2005 07:47 PM
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At the opening day of the NAMM show in L.A. a brand new Fender lap steel is on display. It's a white body with 6 strings - fine looking instrument. I ask if an 8
string or even a pedal might be in the works and was
told as of now " this was it". As far as I could tell,
Carter Guitars was the only pedal steel represented
at the NAMM show. |
Chris Scruggs
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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posted 20 January 2005 08:12 PM
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Wow! This is great. I heard a rumor about this about 9 months ago, but didn't get my hopes up.And now for a long list of knit-picking questions: Is it a new model or a reissue? Did it have legs? One pickup? Two pickups? What's the scale? Is it a one off or will it be mass produced? Did you get a list price on it? Man, a D-8 would be heaven. CS |
Drew Howard
Member From: Mason, MI, U.S.A.
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posted 20 January 2005 08:23 PM
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Yes, this would be heaven to us non-pedal latecomers who need a Stringmaster!  First the Steel King amp, now this. Way to go Fender! Drew ------------------
Gazornktron T-16 w/ FranistatSUX2000 mod |
Wes Hamshaw
Member From: Palmdale, California, USA
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posted 20 January 2005 09:27 PM
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This new lap steel did not have legs. It's shape was not like a "violin" shape but had straight paralell front and back sides. Only one pick up. I failed to ask about the scale. One interesting thing about it's shape was up at the tuner end, it lookes like the very early lap steels - you know the ones early on when fender was associated with another name. I can't remember the logo name then - a very vintage look.
The finish was a very shinny white.
There is a bridge cover over the pick up and the guitar ends abruptly behind the pickup.
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Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 20 January 2005 09:52 PM
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I wouldn't praise Fender for having embarked on some noble resurrection.I guess we all finally wanted one bad enough. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 21 January 2005 05:19 AM
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K&F.I'm usually an optomistic guy with my glass "half full" of vodka It sounds to me that it may be a minimal attempt, especially if it is to be a popular price instrument aimed at the "kids", and not us "seasoned mongers"....... |
Ron Brennan
Member From: Edison, New Jersey, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 06:51 AM
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Howard,
Your right, my glass is "half full" with Dram.....My take issss: Someone at Fender had/has put an awful lot of time into this project. Not a whole lot of money.. They may be testing the waters with this little investment.....after all the "kids" grow up into us...."seasoned rascals"...Good thing about it is...there may be an allie(s) in the Corp. Yeah, Who is that Fender "masked man"...Hi Ho Silver diamonds... TX
rgds,
Ron ------------------
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's
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Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 21 January 2005 07:01 AM
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If any one could scrounge up a picture of the new Fender addtition please post it up.May still be too new. At least it's a start... ------------------
JCFSC member since 2005
D-8 Stringmaster
fender Dual Pro |
Ron Brennan
Member From: Edison, New Jersey, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 07:08 AM
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Gary, right on all counts........"Champagne Dreams and Stringmaster wishes"...  TX
rgds,
Ron
JCFSC member since 2005 ------------------
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's
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Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 07:10 AM
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I tell ya... I get no respect...I went out to Harmony Central to view their up to the minute NAMM coverage. They have press releases from all the major mfg's, including Fender. Have a look for yourself. Look what get's top billing over a new Fender Steel Guitar...
Fender's new line of footwear! Click on the Guitar/Bass section and go to Fender... no steel guitar!
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 21 January 2005 at 07:13 AM.] |
Ron Brennan
Member From: Edison, New Jersey, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 07:17 AM
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Geee,What is it? Could this be the new Fender Stealthmaster.  .....Corporate spies, where are you when we need you....  TX
rgds,
Ron
JCFSC member since 2005 ------------------
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's
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Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 07:24 AM
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quote:
Have a look for yourself. Look what get's top billing over a new Fender Steel Guitar...
Fender's new line of footwear!
Unfortunately, that's probably a statement about which one will generate more revenue ... Then again, I just looked at the picture of the shoes. Hopefully the lap steel has more visual appeal![This message was edited by Russ Young on 21 January 2005 at 07:34 AM.] |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 21 January 2005 10:16 AM
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Hmmmm.....Perhaps I sense a photo opportunity here  |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 10:20 AM
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Howard, You should approach Fender about producing a custom line of hats for them. Perhaps a Fez? Screw the baseball cap idea, everyone does that. ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Ron Brennan
Member From: Edison, New Jersey, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 10:35 AM
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE:Hmmmm, this look's like a mission for Jody-Master........Should he accpet this mission before our strings & CD's melt, maybe he can penetrate the corporate veil and get advance intelligence on this Prototype Stealthmaster....someone, puleeze send the signal to Jody....... aaugha, aaugha, aaugha.. TX
rgds,
Ron
JCFSC member since 2005 ------------------
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's
[This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 21 January 2005 at 10:48 AM.] |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 21 January 2005 11:20 AM
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Hey, look at what else grabs the spotlight away from the new Fender Steel.A little piece of plastic that beeps! Here's another new Fender product that beats the steel. This one's from the "NEW for 2005" page on the Fender website! Just in "case" you get lucky after your big gig! ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 21 January 2005 at 12:17 PM.] |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 21 January 2005 01:33 PM
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Lets hope for somethin' alittle more substantial than the RICKENBACKER LIMITED EDITION S100N  ------------------
Aiello's House of Gauss
My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
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Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 21 January 2005 07:01 PM
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You know, with all of this one company buying anther company stuff going on I bet this is a Gretsch steel with Fenders name on it.Fender does own them now we shall see..............
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JCFSC member since 2005
D-8 Stringmaster
Fender Dual Pro
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Rick Collins
Member From: Claremont , CA USA
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posted 21 January 2005 08:09 PM
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New Fender steel guitars?I'd pay a little more for better tuning machines on the new ones. |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 22 January 2005 08:07 AM
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Still no respect...Instead of promoting and advertising their new steel guitar, Fender is choosing to spend their marketing dollars on this: Don't forget to wipe...
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 22 January 2005 at 08:09 AM.]
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 22 January 2005 08:27 AM
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You know what they say Gerald......"the job's not complete until the paperwork is done"...... |
Sam Marshall
Member From: Chandler, AZ USA
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posted 22 January 2005 12:05 PM
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This lap steel's shape is based on an early original Champion, one of the guitars that started the whole Fender thing. G.E. Smith brought it in. Some of the guitar folks studied & measured it. see http://www.fender.com/60cyclehum/10062003/GESmith.html The guitar is made in Asia. The pickup is from a Strat. Like most Fenders, I imagine this could be replaced with whatever suits your fancy that fits in a Strat socket. I have only seen this guitar a couple of times during its development. It has quite a unique fretboard plate that I do not believe is the same as seen on the GE Smith guitar. I believe the fretboard is referred to as the "tick-tock" version by the vintage collectors. Regards,
Sam |
Larry Robbins
Member From: Fort Edward, New York, USA
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posted 22 January 2005 12:10 PM
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anybody got a price yet? |
Todd Weger
Member From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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posted 24 January 2005 07:02 AM
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So, is the lapsteel in the GE Smith pic HIS lap, or the new one? According to the text, it's his. Any pics yet of the new one? ------------------
Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)
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Sam Marshall
Member From: Chandler, AZ USA
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posted 24 January 2005 07:22 AM
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I will try to get a photo & spec ASAP of Fender's new lap steel and post it. It will probably be a couple of days. Ron, the marketing VP overseeing this product, is taking today off after working the NAMM show through Sunday.Regards,
Sam |
Ron Brennan
Member From: Edison, New Jersey, USA
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posted 24 January 2005 11:14 AM
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Thank you Sam,Marketing drives everything....glad to see Fender is serious enough to have a VP shepherd the project. Love to know the scope of their intentions....I surmise it's too early to tell?? TX
rgds,
Ron ------------------
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's
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Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 25 January 2005 11:03 AM
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Just spoke with my buddy at Elderly Instruments . He just got back from the NAMM show where he saw the Fender steel. He confirmed pretty much what Sam Marshall said a few posts above. But he said that it was not a Stratocaster pickup. It was a Fender Mustang pickup. You pickup gurus... any difference in these two models? My buddy was not to impressed with the steel all in all. We'll have to wait and see. ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 25 January 2005 at 09:57 PM.] |
Mark Durante
Member From: Illinois
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posted 25 January 2005 08:19 PM
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I know Gretsch has a reissue type lap steel out now too. |
Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 25 January 2005 09:40 PM
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I played the new Gretsch 3 weeks ago and thought it was crap. |
Todd Weger
Member From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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posted 28 January 2005 06:14 AM
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So, any pics of this new Fender lapsteel yet? I gotta wonder why Fender would have this at NAMM, and then do seemingly everything they possibly can to keep the thing from being mentioned on their website. Leads me to suspect people played it at their booth, said it was crap, and told them not to talk about or advertise it until they improved it. Very odd... ------------------
Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)
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Ron Brennan
Member From: Edison, New Jersey, USA
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posted 29 January 2005 07:26 AM
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Hi Sam,The Fender Steelers are anxious & stirring up.....I'm thinking Todd's post didn't fall too far from the tree....Would/could you shake the Fender Tree and see if a couple of good apples come down........otherwise, His Worship (sounds like that), The Honourable Knight of Tweed, Sir Jody Carver and his massive hoards of Tweeders, Rascals & Wanana-be's may ascend on the Fender Tree and chop, chop away. Just like Sir Jody chopped the cherry tree many earth turns ago. Then blamed it on some white hair guy from Virginia!!....That wasn't a pretty event...Alas, I wax too long...any help with Fender intel. would be greatly appreciated.. TX Ron
Sir No Title ------------------
JCFSC member since 2005
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's [This message was edited by Ron Brennan on 29 January 2005 at 07:28 AM.]
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