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Post subject: Fender Showmaster questions...
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:17 pm
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Hey Fenderfiles,
I just picked up a used Fender Showmaster in Black. Not sure what the deal is on this guitar. It sounds great and plays excellently, but the features aren't jiving with what I see on the online websites.

The one I have is set neck made in Korea with no fret markings on the board, dual humbuckers (no name - Duncans I suppose based on the website) and it only has a 3 position switch instead of the 5 as mentioned on the sites.

Anyone have the lowdown on what I have?

Thanks

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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:03 pm
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Yea, I was duped!!
I figured out what was up. After looking at the strange Eq I had on my amp to get the sound I was looking for, I took a closer look at the pickups. The clown who put the guitar on consignment replaced the original Duncans with some cheap imitations. The bezel screws were all mismatched and I popped the back cover and saw the evidence of recent new soldering........
No wonder the guitar was so inexpensive!! Money I saved will go towards new Pups!

I took it to my local guitar tech and he'll be installing a set of PAF Pros (I have Duncans in my LP copy-try something different). I got this guitar to use with my processor when I get the urge to go to the dark side....... away from the funk and blues I usually play on the Strat and Tele.

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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:50 pm
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Sorry to hear about the pickup removal. That is a big problem with buying used gear. I am the proud owner of a 2005 Showmaster set neck HH QMT Special Edition model, and it does rip. The original pickup arrangement is VERY versatile, and offers many sound combinations. I would have your tech try to replicate it if he can find a schematic of it. Here is mine;Image
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Cool guitar with some nice quilt top wood!!


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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:04 am
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^ I have the same guitar. I love it! My favorite guitar hands down!


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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:04 am
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Wow!
Nice pics. The Quilted top looks sweet and I see the original Duncans in there :shock: . I paid $250 for my used Blackout model and then spent another $150 on the PAF pros and the guitar tech was nice enough to reset the action for the 10s I prefer. The end result is a guitar that looks amazing and plays and sounds even better for $400 :D . Really can't complain now since I can't stop playing it and the Tele has been on the wall hook for over a month.

I had an Ibanez SZ with a similar Quilted top that I traded for my current Strat. That Ibanez didn't sound or play as sweet as the Showmaster.

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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:08 am
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The quilted maple tops look way better in person! I'm surprised Fender actually stopped making the Showmaster! It's a very underrated guitar IMO!


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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:15 am
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Showmaster74 wrote:
The quilted maple tops look way better in person! I'm surprised Fender actually stopped making the Showmaster! It's a very underrated guitar IMO!


I think Fender/FMIC has the heavy metal/hard rock thing covered with their line of Jackson guitars, so the Showmaster was not a big seller, so they canned it. The Jacksons sell much better I guess.


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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:23 am
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Hey Paisley,
I didn't read the rest of the text as I was blinded by the beauty of that quilted top. I thought about restoring the Showmaster with the Reverse wound Duncan '59 and a Pearly Gates like the original configuration, but I have a Ibanez AR250 with the Duncan '59 / JB Duncan combo which is very similar.

On a whim I went with the PAF pros. Extremely good move for my playing style. I can get the strat and almost acoustic like tones for the cleaner stuff I play most of the time. The '59 on my Artist is a little too muddy for a lot of this especially on the bottom end. With the PAF's all the notes are crystal clear and well defined. The guitar just sounds awesome especially through my Custom 5E3 Deluxe ( which is on standby right now!) gotta go!!!

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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:41 am
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paisley strat wrote:
Showmaster74 wrote:
The quilted maple tops look way better in person! I'm surprised Fender actually stopped making the Showmaster! It's a very underrated guitar IMO!


I think Fender/FMIC has the heavy metal/hard rock thing covered with their line of Jackson guitars, so the Showmaster was not a big seller, so they canned it. The Jacksons sell much better I guess.


Agreed! I just with they still made them. I want another one but I guess I will have to get it off of ebay or craigslist.
I bet the custom shop would build one but for a big price tag.


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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:50 pm
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Having the pups screwed right to the body instead of mounted to the pickguard seems to give it a different tone that I like. Warmer or "woodyer".

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Post subject: Showmaster neck profile question
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:27 am
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[What kind of profile does the Showmaster have compared to the bolt on strats or gibsons?


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Post subject: Re: Fender Showmaster questions...
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:20 pm
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darkstr0ke wrote:
Hey Fenderfiles,
I just picked up a used Fender Showmaster in Black. Not sure what the deal is on this guitar. It sounds great and plays excellently, but the features aren't jiving with what I see on the online websites.

The one I have is set neck made in Korea with no fret markings on the board, dual humbuckers (no name - Duncans I suppose based on the website) and it only has a 3 position switch instead of the 5 as mentioned on the sites.

Anyone have the lowdown on what I have?

Thanks




I have an earlier model gold top showmaster myself. They are all korean made, they all have no fret markers, they are all set neck, and they all have unmarked duncun humbuckers that are split coil, which leads me to believe the wiring has been modified or repaired with the wrong selector switch because it should have a 5 way due to the split humbuckers. Hope this info helped.

~Brian~


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Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:27 pm
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Where can I find the stats to my guitar? I can't find the serial number for my showmaster on here. I want to know exactly what year I have.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Showmaster questions...
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:05 pm
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Just bought a Showmaster at a pawn shop, it has right P/U's in it, a three way switch and a mini toggle coil splitter, is this normal??


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