Fender Champion Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1955)
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Fender Champion Model Lap Steel Electric Guitar (1955), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 8664, yellow pearloid finish, hardwood body, black gig bag case.
This 1954-5 Champion is a fairly late 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. The flashy plastic-covered symmetrical two-bout body has a chrome bridge and cover plate with dome-top knurled knobs. The serial number 8664 is stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body; this likely dates this one to later 1954 or the model's final year 1955. The Telecaster-style original pickup and leads are intact; the pots and wiring look to have been fitted in the 1990s; many Champions have been stripped of these components to restore (or to counterfeit) period Telecasters.
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". In 1956 the Champion was re-designed with a new Musicmaster style pickup and lost much of its early character.
Over the years many of these 1949-55 Champs have also sacrificed their pickups to provide the engine for vintage Telecaster recreations. This one is still in place, making for 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 player's Champion, showing minor typical wear overall and some parts replacement. The metal handrest and headstock facing show some small corrosion spots, while the stenciled metal fingerboard is comparatively clean. The celluloid-covered body has only light wear, with one chip flaked the upper front corner of the headstock edge. Practically all the flo9cking is gone from the underside, as is almost unavoidable.
The guitar is fitted with newer repro Kluson strip tuners; the original buttons often crumbled so this is fairly common. The original pickup and leads are intact and it does not appear rewound or otherwise altered, so the heart of the instrument remains intact. The pots, cap and cavity wiring likely to date from the 1990s as one pot has a 1993 date code, the domed knobs are a slightly mismatched set; these are correct looking but not original. While not a prime collector's piece this wonderful sounding steel remains a cool playable piece of Fender history. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This 1954-5 Champion is a fairly late 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. The flashy plastic-covered symmetrical two-bout body has a chrome bridge and cover plate with dome-top knurled knobs. The serial number 8664 is stamped on the bridgeplate where the strings anchor through the body; this likely dates this one to later 1954 or the model's final year 1955. The Telecaster-style original pickup and leads are intact; the pots and wiring look to have been fitted in the 1990s; many Champions have been stripped of these components to restore (or to counterfeit) period Telecasters.
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". In 1956 the Champion was re-designed with a new Musicmaster style pickup and lost much of its early character.
Over the years many of these 1949-55 Champs have also sacrificed their pickups to provide the engine for vintage Telecaster recreations. This one is still in place, making for 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 player's Champion, showing minor typical wear overall and some parts replacement. The metal handrest and headstock facing show some small corrosion spots, while the stenciled metal fingerboard is comparatively clean. The celluloid-covered body has only light wear, with one chip flaked the upper front corner of the headstock edge. Practically all the flo9cking is gone from the underside, as is almost unavoidable.
The guitar is fitted with newer repro Kluson strip tuners; the original buttons often crumbled so this is fairly common. The original pickup and leads are intact and it does not appear rewound or otherwise altered, so the heart of the instrument remains intact. The pots, cap and cavity wiring likely to date from the 1990s as one pot has a 1993 date code, the domed knobs are a slightly mismatched set; these are correct looking but not original. While not a prime collector's piece this wonderful sounding steel remains a cool playable piece of Fender history. Overall Very Good + Condition.