The Steel Guitar Forum

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Vintage Fender Champ lap steel guitar. Potentiometer date codes show 1956 from the Fender Serial Dater site so that's how I've dated it. Pickup reads 5.59k ohms. Astron capacitor, Switchcraft jack. Serial number under bridge plate reads -01952. The guitar is in pretty good cosmetic shape for its age...

Do you have any pics of the back? Does it have the original green felt? If not, it may be a refin. No felt on the back nor any sign it was there. The finish definitely has some years on it, but doesn’t exhibit the nitro “checking” that you’d normally see (if these were originally even finished in t...

There's no way to date it exactly, but both the pots are from '56 so that gives an earliest bracket. The pickup is essentially a Strat pickup with the poles shoved down under the cover. It was also used on the Mustang, Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic guitars. They sound different... it is a Musicmaster p...

Man, that thing sure is clean. Was that how it was when you bought it or did you clean it up....the guts look brand new. This is the condition I got it in. Before I bought it I was skeptical of it being a refin or chop job but for the price I was willing to take the chance. Been a lot of fun to lea...

Glenn Wilde wrote:1957, the decal probably flaked off. Looks all original, including case.

Thanks for the response! Did Fender stuff whatever Strat bridge pickup of the era in these or was it specifically made for the Champ?

Hey folks, First timer here with some questions for the pros. I recently decided to try and learn lap steel. I've got a good number of years with guitar and banjo so I figured this can't be too hard... right?! Anyway, I just picked up a Fender Champ lap steel and have some questions. First thing tha...