1950s fender champion lap steel guitar case

1950s fender champion lap steel guitar case serial number#
1950s fender champion lap steel guitar case code#

Most of the flocking is gone from underneath the body, as is nearly always the case. There is one small worn-through spot at the higher end of the fingerboard. The metal handrest, fingerboard and headstock show some light wear, while the plastic body covering shows a few minor nicks and dings. This is an especially nice original Champion, showing some very minor wear overall but no notable issues. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. (19 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. It remains a truly fine-sounding steel guitar with a bright, singing tone and a genuine early 1950s Fender instrument at a relatively reasonable price!Overall length is 29 3/4 in. Over the years many of these 1949-55 Champs have sacrificed their pickups to provide the engine for vintage Telecaster recreations - this one has fortunately avoided that fate and remains pretty much as it left Fullerton. The headstock has metal facing with integral nut stamped with lighting bolt logo and 'Fender Electric Instrument Co. A metal fingerboard pinned to the body has black paint screening to outline fret positions. The flashy plastic-covered symmetrical two-bout body has a chrome bridge and cover plate with dome-top knurled knobs.

The Champion model was revamped for 1956 with a less iconic pickup and different overall design, and these earlier versions have since been widely considered superior both sonically and aesthetically. It took more than a year for this component to get wired into a guitar by Gloria, who soldered this rig together on Augleaving her masking tape signature in the cavity.

1950s fender champion lap steel guitar case code#

The original pots and wiring are completely untouched the date code visible on the volume pot is the 21st week of 1952.

1950s fender champion lap steel guitar case serial number#

This one has the serial number 6448 stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body.

Although designed as a student instrument, the Champion Steel was - and remains - a great-sounding guitar fully suited to professional use then or now.

This is a really superb example of Fender's 'bread and butter' lap steel guitar from the first half of the 1950s, one of the still-growing company's most important cash-generating products. Fender Champion Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1953), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 6448, yellow pearloid finish, hardwood body, original tweed hard shell case.