White High Steel Electric Guitar, made by Fender (1956)
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Item # 11870
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White Model High Steel Electric Guitar, made by Fender (1956), made in Fullerton, California, serial # HS10544, Blue/Blonde lacquer finish, alder body, metal fingerboard plate, original grey hard shell case.
Starting in 1956 Leo Fender paid tribute to his crackerjack production manager Forrest White by naming a steel guitar/amplifier set for him. White himself was taken by surprise by this gesture, which Leo had not bothered to mention before gearing up for production! The White amplifier has lately become a much sought after piece, but this accompanying high steel is a nice piece of Fender history and a fine instrument still.
This 6-string steel is something of a Fender obscurity having been in production only a few years through the mid/late '50s. T This is an early example with pots dated to the 20th week of 1956. The White high steel and amplifier set was intended for teaching studios, still a big market for Fender in the mid-'50s. Because the instruments were not sold through Fender dealers, they did not carry any company identification.
The White high steel is basically similar to a 1956 Fender Champ lap steel with added legs. The slightly asymmetrical carved alder body carries a stenciled metal fingerboard plate, metal "ashtray" tuner well with 6 plastic-button Kluson tuners and a chrome plate carrying the pickup, bridge, two ribbed Tele-style knobs and the jack. The pickup is the same white plastic-covered piece as other period Fenders and the bridge is a single steel bar adjustable at each end.
A rounded cream plastic cover snaps down over the entire bridge assembly. The "White, Fullerton California" logo is a decal on the body, which is finished in an off-white reminiscent of the paint on the '50s Duo-sonic and Music master guitars but with a more blueish hue. Three telescoping chrome legs screw to the bottom of the guitar; it can also be easily played as a lap steel. This in an historically interesting 1950s Fender as well as a very good sounding six-string steel, and a nice companion piece to the now-venerated White amplifier.
Overall length is 31 in. (78.7 cm.), 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) width, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22 1/4 in. (565 mm.).
This nearly 70 year old steel is in generally excellent condition with some mostly minor wear and tear overall. The finish shows small dings, dents and chips but no heavy worn spots; the plating is similar. It remains all original and intact except the plastic bridge cover which has been well but visibly glued back together after a traumatic accident. The buttons on the original tuners appear to have been neatly replaced. The original green/grey hardshell case is also solid with some general wear. We also have the matching amplifier available to complete the set! Excellent - Condition.
Starting in 1956 Leo Fender paid tribute to his crackerjack production manager Forrest White by naming a steel guitar/amplifier set for him. White himself was taken by surprise by this gesture, which Leo had not bothered to mention before gearing up for production! The White amplifier has lately become a much sought after piece, but this accompanying high steel is a nice piece of Fender history and a fine instrument still.
This 6-string steel is something of a Fender obscurity having been in production only a few years through the mid/late '50s. T This is an early example with pots dated to the 20th week of 1956. The White high steel and amplifier set was intended for teaching studios, still a big market for Fender in the mid-'50s. Because the instruments were not sold through Fender dealers, they did not carry any company identification.
The White high steel is basically similar to a 1956 Fender Champ lap steel with added legs. The slightly asymmetrical carved alder body carries a stenciled metal fingerboard plate, metal "ashtray" tuner well with 6 plastic-button Kluson tuners and a chrome plate carrying the pickup, bridge, two ribbed Tele-style knobs and the jack. The pickup is the same white plastic-covered piece as other period Fenders and the bridge is a single steel bar adjustable at each end.
A rounded cream plastic cover snaps down over the entire bridge assembly. The "White, Fullerton California" logo is a decal on the body, which is finished in an off-white reminiscent of the paint on the '50s Duo-sonic and Music master guitars but with a more blueish hue. Three telescoping chrome legs screw to the bottom of the guitar; it can also be easily played as a lap steel. This in an historically interesting 1950s Fender as well as a very good sounding six-string steel, and a nice companion piece to the now-venerated White amplifier.
Overall length is 31 in. (78.7 cm.), 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) width, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) deep. Scale length is 22 1/4 in. (565 mm.).
This nearly 70 year old steel is in generally excellent condition with some mostly minor wear and tear overall. The finish shows small dings, dents and chips but no heavy worn spots; the plating is similar. It remains all original and intact except the plastic bridge cover which has been well but visibly glued back together after a traumatic accident. The buttons on the original tuners appear to have been neatly replaced. The original green/grey hardshell case is also solid with some general wear. We also have the matching amplifier available to complete the set! Excellent - Condition.