Fender Champion Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1951), made in Fullerton, California, yellow pearloid finish, hardwood body, metal fingerboard, original brown soft shell case.
An exceptionally fine early example of Fender's "bread and butter" lap steel guitar from the first half of the 1950's. Although designed as a student instrument, the Champion Steel is a great-sounding guitar fully suited to professional use then or now, with a Broadcaster style flat pole pickup fully equivalent in sound to the legendary 1950's Teles. The flashy plastic-covered symmetrical two-bout body has a chrome bridge and cover plates with dome-top knurled knobs. The serial number "1994" is stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body. The metal fingerboard plate pinned to the body has black paint screening to outline fret positions.
The headstock has metal facing with integral nut and Kluson strip tuners with white plastic buttons. The peghead is stamped with lighting bolt logo and "Fender Electric Instrument Co. Fullerton, California". All screws are slot-head, typical of the first few years of Fender production, and the visible pot date is 8th week of 1951. Such nice examples of the Champion are increasingly harder to find; many have been sacrificed over the years to provide electric components for Telecaster recreations. This is a great steel guitar for playing or collecting.
Overall length is 30 in. (76.2 cm.), 7 1/2 in. (19 cm.) width, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/4 in. (565 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.). All original with almost no wear; includes the original chipboard case.. Near Mint Condition.
