A stamp in time that still sticks today.

Fender introduced the Stringmaster line in 1953, and they became a popular hit throughout the timeline of early country and music featuring faster picking than ever before. One neck wasn’t enough to change between tunings for songs so eventually additional decks were added to the string master including the T8 and the very incredible Q8 4-neck console lap steel.

This model is an early run from 1956 we believe, serial reading 00564. Everything on this lapsteel functions perfectly as it should with mostly original electronics. Upon research, it seems the very early models had push/pull pots to separate the necks, but at one point the original long term owner must have had a two way toggle installed, still of the vintage era. It simply flips the position of the necks to bottom or top, but does not allow for bridging the two together simultaneously.

It’s hard to pinpoint the original hardware because the screw holes in the plate do not resemble others with the three way switch from the same era. It’s an easy installation though if you wanted too upgrade, but it’s working perfectly as intended. Lower neck is tuned for E7th maj. and the upper neck is C6th. Each console has a thumbwheel tone knob hidden underneath the bridge plate that isolates the bridge pickup or combines the two into a growly and sensitive humbucker.

This is a beautiful instrument that withstood the test of time and is ready to be played 70 years later and for 70 years more. The original legs are missing but tables are just fine these days. The case is original and all the locking latches and hinges work great. This is a fantastic instrument to own, collect, learn, and play. Make it yours today.