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Author Topic:  Date this Fender Lap Steel
Ricky Littleton


From:
Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2000 11:32 am    
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I have an older Fender lap steel, 6 strings, cream color with serial number 9011. Can anyone maybe give me an idea of the mfg year. I'm guessing late 50's. Any help would be appreciated.

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Alesis Microverb
Dan-Echo, E-Bow

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Mark Davis

 

From:
Bakersfield, Ca
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2000 4:41 pm    
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Its hard to date these by just the serial number.

If it has a case you can narrow down the date to within a few years.

If its a tweed case with leather ends its probably from the early 50's to late 50's. If its a brown tolex case with leather ends chances are its in the 60's somewhere and if its a black case with a chrome Fender logo its probably late 60's early 70's.

Which one of these steels does it look most like?





[This message was edited by Mark Davis on 14 December 2000 at 04:43 PM.]

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Larry Petree

 

From:
Bakersfield. Ca. USA
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2000 9:14 pm    
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On most Fender Steels, the date it was built is under the key head. The date is written in a type of pencil or crayon on the wood before it is finished. Hope this is true on a single neck. It wont take long to find out. Just loosen the strings and lift it up.
Hope this helps you. Larry
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Mark Davis

 

From:
Bakersfield, Ca
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2000 11:08 pm    
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Hi Larry good to see another Bakersfield buddy on the list. I remember you from way back in the 70's I moved to Bakersfield in 1974 you used to play at the Blackboard and I was friends with ED Hill who was a piano player. Good to see ya again even if it is on the net!

One of these days I'm gonna have to have you show me actually how to play the steel. LOL I've been playing since 1970 but mostly play it like a slide guitar since guitar is my background.

On all my double neck Fender steels I also found the dates under the front neck.

Here is a pic of my 57 D-6 date.



And also on the single necks the date is sometimes written inside the control cavity on a piece of masking tape. Usually with a womans name on it who did the assembly Nora Gloria Mary same gals that made all those cool Tele's and Strat's.

The other way to date it is by the codes on the pots but those can be changed easily so thats not always totally reliable.


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Ricky Littleton


From:
Steely-Eyed Missile Man from Cocoa Beach, Florida USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2000 6:27 am    
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Mark:

The lower guitar is the exact model I have.

Thanks,
Rick

------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Alesis Microverb
Dan-Echo, E-Bow

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Mark Davis

 

From:
Bakersfield, Ca
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2000 3:02 pm    
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Ok if its like the bottom one those were made from 1955-1972 so if it has a case whats the case look like? Tweed with leather ends? Brown Tolex with leather ends? Black with chrome fender emblem?

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