| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic NGD - Fender Deluxe 8 Trap Pickup
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  NGD - Fender Deluxe 8 Trap Pickup
Tony Oresteen


From:
Georgia, USA
Post  Posted 29 Dec 2023 2:23 pm    
Reply with quote

Just got a Fender Deluxe 8 with a trapezoid pickup in Walnut.




It came with the tweed case. I am guessing that it is late 40's/early 50's,

Questions:

1. The number 902 is stamped in the bottom of the bass side of the tuner pan between strings 5 & 6. No other numbers are anywhere on it. Is this the serial number?

2. It does not have any legs (sockets were never installed & the case does not have room for any legs). I've seen some Deluxe 8 traps that do have legs. Were Deluxe 8 trap guitars ever shipped shipped from Fender with legs? Or were legs added later by the customers? Does not having legs help date it?

3. When were the Deluxe 8 trap guitars introduced? I would expect them to have been discontinued in 1954 when the short & medium scale Stringmasters were introduced but need confirmation on that.

Thanks!
_________________
Tony
Newnan, GA

Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster Quad black
PedalMaster D8
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 29 Dec 2023 3:54 pm    
Reply with quote

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll have fun with that guitar.

1. That's probably the serial number, but Fender didn't keep track of serial numbers for steel guitars like they did for regular guitars. Basil Henriques has a thread in here attempting to establish a timeline bases on serial numbers and other features.

2. The Deluxe 8 with trapezoid pickup didn't come with legs. Those were introduced around 1957 along with the Stringmaster style pickups.

3. This particular model was produced between 1950 and 1957. At that time the Stringmaster style guitar was introduced with dual pickups, legs and other features.

This information is from my reading of Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 29 Dec 2023 4:42 pm    
Reply with quote

Nice guitar, definitely my favorite Fender model.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Chris Clem

 

From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 29 Dec 2023 6:21 pm    
Reply with quote

That case is from the mid 50s......like 55 or 56.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tony Oresteen


From:
Georgia, USA
Post  Posted 29 Dec 2023 7:57 pm    
Reply with quote

Chris Clem wrote:
That case is from the mid 50s......like 55 or 56.


Thanks! How do you tell?
_________________
Tony
Newnan, GA

Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster Quad black
PedalMaster D8
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 30 Dec 2023 9:12 am    
Reply with quote

Beautiful Fender! From this one photo, it looks like it spent decades under the bed in someone's home and rarely got out of the case.
_________________
Mark
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron