Double 8 lap steel

Bernie Hedges · Post by **Bernie Hedges** » 4 Nov 2013 2:52 pm

A friend of mine picked up a double 8 string lap steel with no identification on it. Does anyone happen to know what it is and what value it might have?
Thanks,
Bernie

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Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 4 Nov 2013 4:28 pm

It's a Fender Dual 8 Professional from between 1946 and 1948, with one neck having a "boxcar" pickup and the other neck having a "trapezoid" pickup. Based on the fret markers, I'd say the trapezoid pickup was added later.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 4 Nov 2013 6:03 pm

Yes, the pickup on the front neck is a later design. Must have been changed by an owner at some point.

Bernie Hedges · Post by **Bernie Hedges** » 5 Nov 2013 10:50 am

Thanks for the reply. Do you know where someone might get parts for this? Particularly tuners. Unfortunately this is the only photo I have. Any idea of the value? The person with the guitar has asked me if I can fix the tuners for him. I will try to get some more photos.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Nov 2013 1:08 pm

Ah, bad tuners...the biggest problem encountered with older Fender steels. Search the forum for many (many) previous discussions and possibly some hints. Those tuners appear to be the older "lollipop" style tuners.

Parts are pretty much impossible to find except for the "standard" parts that you'd find on any electric guitar of the same era.

What's wrong with the current tuners? They all appear to be present at least.

As far as value, it's really hard to say. Does it have the original case? Are there any legs? Are both pickups working well? In its current condition, based on a single blurry photo, anywhere from $400 on up.