Fender Champion Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1952), made in Fullerton, California, yellow pearloid finish, hardwood body, original brown chipboard case.
This is a superb example of Fender's "bread and butter" lap steel guitar from the first half of the 1950s. Although designed 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 the serial number 3635 stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body. The pots and wiring are original; the ink-stamped date codes on the pots are neatly soldered over but the combination of the serial number and slot-head screws used for assembly date this one to later 1951 or '52. The Champion model was revamped for 1956 with a less iconic pickup and different overall design, and these earlier versions 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 -- this one has had some work done but fortunately avoided that fate. It remains a fine-sounding steel guitar with a bright, singing tone and a genuine early 1950s Fender instrument 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 very minor wear overall but no major issues. The metal handrest, fingerboard and headstock show some light wear and corrosion spots, and the plastic body covering shows some 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 original pickup and electronic components are complete and the steel sounds excellent. Sadly the trend of stripping the vintage Telecaster-style pickups out of these original Champions has accelerated recently leaving fewer and fewer intact and unaltered original examples. This Steel remains pretty much as it left Fullerton around 1952, including the still functional original brown chipboard case which is something of a rarity in itself. Excellent Condition.
