The Steel Guitar Forum

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!

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!