Fender Champion Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1955)
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Item # 10442
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Fender Champion Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1955), made in Fullerton, California, yellow pearloid finish, hardwood body, original brown chipboard case.
This is a nicely original if fairly late example of Fender's "bread and butter" lap steel guitar from the first half of the 1950s. Although designed primarily as a student instrument, the Champion Steel was -- and remains -- a great-sounding guitar fully suited to professional use then or now. This one has serial number 7892 stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body. The all-important Blackguard Telecaster style pickup, pots and wiring are original; the visible date codes on the tone pot is the 11th week of 1955. Combined with the fairly high serial number, this indicates it was likely assembled in mid 1955, not long before this version was discontinued. The Champion model was revamped for 1956 with a less iconic pickup and different overall design, and these earlier iterations have long been considered superior both sonically and aesthetically.
The flashy plastic-covered symmetrical two-bout body has a chrome bridge and cover plate with dome-top knurled knobs. A metal fingerboard pinned to the body has black paint screening to outline fret positions. The headstock has metal facing with integral nut stamped with lighting bolt logo and "Fender Electric Instrument Co. Fullerton, California". Over the years many of these 1949-55 Champs have sacrificed their pickups to provide the engine for vintage Telecaster recreations, a trend that has only accelerated recently. This one has some light wear and tear but has so far fortunately avoided that fate. It remains a fine-sounding steel guitar with a bright, singing tone and a genuine piece of the 1950s Fender grail at a relatively reasonable price!
Overall length is 29 3/4 in. (75.6 cm.), 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a nice original Champion, showing some minor wear overall but no major issues. The metal handrest, fingerboard and headstock show some fairly light wear and corrosion, and the plastic body covering has just minor nicks and dings. Most of the flocking is gone from underneath the body, as is nearly always the case. The only alteration is the buttons on the original Kluson strip tuners have been neatly replaced; the originals have nearly always crumbled by now.
The all-important original pickup and electronic components are completely original, intact and unaltered as would be expected the steel sounds excellent with a powerful singing tone. Sadly the trend of stripping the vintage Telecaster-style pickups out of these original Champions has accelerated recently leaving fewer and fewer original examples. This Steel remains pretty much as it left Fullerton in 1955, including a worn but still functional original brown chipboard case which is something of a rarity in itself, and a period bar. Excellent - Condition.
This is a nicely original if fairly late example of Fender's "bread and butter" lap steel guitar from the first half of the 1950s. Although designed primarily as a student instrument, the Champion Steel was -- and remains -- a great-sounding guitar fully suited to professional use then or now. This one has serial number 7892 stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body. The all-important Blackguard Telecaster style pickup, pots and wiring are original; the visible date codes on the tone pot is the 11th week of 1955. Combined with the fairly high serial number, this indicates it was likely assembled in mid 1955, not long before this version was discontinued. The Champion model was revamped for 1956 with a less iconic pickup and different overall design, and these earlier iterations have long been considered superior both sonically and aesthetically.
The flashy plastic-covered symmetrical two-bout body has a chrome bridge and cover plate with dome-top knurled knobs. A metal fingerboard pinned to the body has black paint screening to outline fret positions. The headstock has metal facing with integral nut stamped with lighting bolt logo and "Fender Electric Instrument Co. Fullerton, California". Over the years many of these 1949-55 Champs have sacrificed their pickups to provide the engine for vintage Telecaster recreations, a trend that has only accelerated recently. This one has some light wear and tear but has so far fortunately avoided that fate. It remains a fine-sounding steel guitar with a bright, singing tone and a genuine piece of the 1950s Fender grail at a relatively reasonable price!
Overall length is 29 3/4 in. (75.6 cm.), 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.).
This is a nice original Champion, showing some minor wear overall but no major issues. The metal handrest, fingerboard and headstock show some fairly light wear and corrosion, and the plastic body covering has just minor nicks and dings. Most of the flocking is gone from underneath the body, as is nearly always the case. The only alteration is the buttons on the original Kluson strip tuners have been neatly replaced; the originals have nearly always crumbled by now.
The all-important original pickup and electronic components are completely original, intact and unaltered as would be expected the steel sounds excellent with a powerful singing tone. Sadly the trend of stripping the vintage Telecaster-style pickups out of these original Champions has accelerated recently leaving fewer and fewer original examples. This Steel remains pretty much as it left Fullerton in 1955, including a worn but still functional original brown chipboard case which is something of a rarity in itself, and a period bar. Excellent - Condition.