Fender Champion Lap Steel template or partss

[boogie02130]

Hi everyone,

I have an early 50's Fender/Champion lap steel that was cannibalized many years ago that I'm trying to fix up and I'm looking for some help trying to source either replacement parts, templates or possibly patent drawings. I'm in need of the control panel assembly which is also the bridge cover and also a bridge. If anyone can help with drawings or sources of parts that would be great. I have a friend who works in a metal shop who told me he could make me anything there if I can show him a drawing etc. I'm not as concerned with it being vintage original parts as functional.

Thanks in advance,

DRx Hepcat

[Cat MacKinnon]

wow, it's been a LONG time since i logged in here!

anyway, your best bet would be to ask someone over at the Steel Guitar Forums (http://bb.steelguitarforum.com.) those guys know everything about everything about steels. just toss a post up in the "Steel Without Pedals" section, and i'm sure you'll get all the answers you need.

the reason i answered is because i'm actually starting a lap steel build, and i'm basing it off the Fender Champion. to me it's kinda like the Tele of lap-steels: simple design, but it sounds and looks good! in fact, the first Tele (well, i suppose Esquire) pickups were the same ones Leo used in the Champion, and for a long time a lot of people would gut those pups out of old Champions and install them in their Tele's. the Champion is the whole basis for GE Smith's signature model Tele!

[piece of ash]

Post a picture... I have a 58 champ. I think there was a style change in the 50's.

If yours looks like mine, I can make any drawing you need (engineer with CAD software).

[Cat MacKinnon]

i completely forgot that the Steel Guitar Forum requires a one-time $5 registration fee to post, sorry about that! it is free to browse though. also, i found the following website with quite a few close-ups of some Champions, which may be of some help: http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/cours...l_guitars.html. just scroll down a little and you'll see a bunch of Champion photos listed. most of them are nice and large closeup shots.

the control plate itself looks to just be stamped steel that was chrome-plated. anyone with basic metal working tools should be able to recreate one pretty easily. i had a suggestion though: often chrome-plating places are expensive and want to plate in large batches. since you said you're not particular on keeping it vintage-correct, you may be better off just having it made out of a sheet of stainless steel, and then polishing it yourself with a buffer pad and various buffing compounds. it would be quite a bit cheaper that way, and i can't imagine it would take more than half an hour or so to polish it yourself.

[Cat MacKinnon]

oh, BTW... i had a quick request for you Champion lap steel owners. is there any way someone could take a couple measurements for me (preferably with calipers if you've got 'em!;) if someone could post the following measurements, i'd REALLY appreciate it!

Body thickness.
Width of body at widest point.
Width of neck at the nut.

thanks guys!

[boogie02130]

Thanks to all for your replies,

I hope my lap is a match for yours Piece Of Ash?! If possible could you also include a CAD drawing of the bridge as well as mine has been plundered? Here's a photo:


Many thanks,
Drx. Hepcat

[jmiles]

I was on ebay yesterday, trying to figure out how much to ask for my Fender DeLuxe 8 string. I saw a 6 string Fender bridgeplate. Didn't pay attention to it, but it might be just what you need, depending on the era of your guitar Do an ebay search for "Fender lapsteel."

[piece of ash]

Sorry boogie... my Champ must be one model newer than yours. Mine is assymetric.

I would keep my eyes on Ebay or forums for some pictures. Between that and carefully studying the fading/sunburn on yours; I think you could home in a shape.

But I also see weird little parts pop from time to time on Ebay.

[piece of ash]

Look through these photos...

http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...er+steel+champ

Note that yours appears to be 3 pieces... near, far, and ashtray. I bet the ashtray is worth its weight in gold.

[boogie02130]

Thanks for checking. The search continues.

Best, Drx Hepcat

Originally Posted by piece of ash

Look through these photos...

http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...er+steel+champ

Note that yours appears to be 3 pieces... near, far, and ashtray. I bet the ashtray is worth its weight in gold.

[Mightyaxeman]

Now is a great time to find fender lapsteel parts on ebay. Im guessing its due to the economy but theres been a flood of parts and complete steels lately.

[PapaLion]

Is this the fish?

[boogie02130]

Yes that looks like mine with a different color MOTS covering. That's the one!

Thanks, Drx Hepcat

Originally Posted by PapaLion

Is this the fish?

[piece of ash]

Wow... I could have sworn from those pics on yahoo that plate was 3 in pieces.

I have a laser cutter and press brake. If you can find a loaner... I can duplicate it.

[PapaLion]

Looks like your bridge is intact, just the cover is gone. You are correct it is all one piece. It holds the control knobs, covers the pu and provides support for your right hand if needed.

Mine is in deep storage, I can get it, take off the plate and take some pics, make a drawing or two etc... and send it along.?

Bret

[boogie02130]

Hi Bret,

That would be great if you could do that? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks so much,
Drx Hepcat

Originally Posted by PapaLion

Looks like your bridge is intact, just the cover is gone. You are correct it is all one piece. It holds the control knobs, covers the pu and provides support for your right hand if needed.

Mine is in deep storage, I can get it, take off the plate and take some pics, make a drawing or two etc... and send it along.?

Bret

[PapaLion]

will do, over the weekend, I'll post some pics, sizes etc for everyone. And if you pm me an addr I'll send you whatever template I can figure out to work from.

B

[PapaLion]

Here's pictures and some notes on sizing. If you want an outline traced I can do that.. send me an addr to send that to.

Thickness approx 1/32" with chroming on top and a dull silver underneath.
The "long leg" I'm calling it has the holes for the controls> Long leg length 4 5/16"
Short leg length > 2 7/8"
Cover width > 2"
Cover length from the 90 degree bends at the base > 3 1/4"
Cover height > 5/8" and flat on top not curved.
I make the radius for the cover bends at 1/2" to 5/8" radius.

Holes
Pots 3/8"
location on the legs>
Top hole evenly spaced left to right in the middle 3/4" center, from the top of the long leg it is spaced back 7/8"
Bottom pot hole is 9/16" from the 90 degree cover ben and 9/16" forward of the rear of the long leg.
Screw holes are 1/8" and countersank to allow near 3/16" width for the screw head.

pics>

[PapaLion]

More pics

see if that does it?

[piece of ash]

can you take a photo with the tape laying halfway across two holes, like the hole on the bass side and the same hole on the treble side. Or just measure the center to center distance?

I can trace this in autacad from the photos...