Is this a ‘D’?

[Charlodius]

This ad was on FB Marketplace. The seller says that this is a 1948 Duel Professional. Stamped on the input jack plate, there seems to be a D that looks like THE ‘D’. Price was crazy good for this, if it was legit.

 

[dankilling]

What is a ‘D’ ? My father still has his 50’s dual 8, so these are something I’m trying to learn more about.

 

[Antoon]

Does look like it. But I presume that that was punched by a strong metal punch in a metal workshop. Also note the broadcaster knobs.

 

[lewis]

The same “D” had been stamped in the neck pocket of some early ‘50s Teles.

 

[dankilling]

My dad’s late 50’s dual 8

 

[telemaster03]

I saw that Dual Professional on Reverb or somewhere. It's an early one and in pretty good shape but way overpriced...you can find similar examples for around $1,500 give or take. I have no idea what the 'D' means or if it has any significance. There was a later, Walnut colored one at the Dallas Guitar show in immaculate condition with case and legs priced at $1,500, probably could have offered $1,000 late in the show and walked away with it.

The second picture is a Fender Stringmaster...those have blendable single coil pickups and are longer scale than the Dual Pro.

 

[Painter644]

“Also note the broadcaster knobs.” Or, is it the other way around?

 

[Masmus]

Now we know a little more on the origin of the famous D stamp.

 

[Stimson]

Perhaps the D indicates a double neck . The Stringmasters came in three scale lengths. The one pictured is a short scale , 22.5 " . The Dual Pro's were all 22.5" scale .

 

[Charlodius]

Perhaps the D indicates a double neck . The Stringmasters came in three scale lengths. The one pictured is a short scale , 22.5 " . The Dual Pro's were all 22.5" scale .

No, because the D stamp appears in the pocket or on the neck heel of many blackguards.

 

[aadvark]

It's a bizarre mystery. What the hell can it mean? Its seems crazy to me that in this day of internet sleuths and geekery that we are unable to establish a solid answer to what is kind of a simple question. Doesn't anyone from the old days have a clue???!!! I have a "D"....

 

[Masmus]

It's very possible that this is close to the origin of the infamous D stamp. It looks like it. We can calculate the size from the picture next to the 1/4" jack. Why couldn't it have originated with a double lap steel in 1948? Then fell out of use until one day someone at the factory picks it up and uses it for some unknown reason on later bodies and necks. It's not definitive but that D looks very familiar.