I have a number of questions on my Champ steel guitar:
1. When did Fender transition from a waterslide logo to a Fender nailed on badge? Mine has the nailed badge.
2. I am having trouble reading the date codes on the CTS pots: They are stamped on the back: "019064 AUD 2123 CTS". Nothing on the sides. "010964" is the product code for a 250K Audio pot. What does the "2123" stand for? The wiring looks original and unmolested.
3. The serial # is 6776 (a palindrome!). Any idea as to the year? The finish is lacquer and it has some checking.
The case is a black case typical of the 60's & 70's with a chrome Fender logo.
4. When was the Champ steel guitar discontinued?
Thanks!
Fender Champ Steel Guitar
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
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Tony Oresteen
- Posts: 529
- Joined: 8 May 2017 7:54 pm
- Location: Georgia, USA
Fender Champ Steel Guitar
Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139 '71 Sho-Bud 6140
'82 Sho-Bud 6160 '73 Sho-Bud 6138
'71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black '70??? Fender Champ Lap Steel
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139 '71 Sho-Bud 6140
'82 Sho-Bud 6160 '73 Sho-Bud 6138
'71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black '70??? Fender Champ Lap Steel
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Joe A. Roberts
- Posts: 194
- Joined: 24 Mar 2021 6:23 pm
- Location: Seoul, South Korea
To partly answer your last question:
I remember reading an old post, perhaps by Jody Carver, saying that a fire marshal came to inspect the Fender factory.
He was shocked when he saw some workers melting the pearloid onto the champ steels by holding them above a burning barrel... They were supposedly discontinued right then and there!
I remember reading an old post, perhaps by Jody Carver, saying that a fire marshal came to inspect the Fender factory.
He was shocked when he saw some workers melting the pearloid onto the champ steels by holding them above a burning barrel... They were supposedly discontinued right then and there!