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Guitar historians wanted, maybe?

Almost a year ago, I went to my friend's t-shirt/music shop and bought this lap steel for $40.

https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/240110323?profi...

https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/153409911?profi...

https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/153409764?profi...

As you can see, it's pretty rough. I decided that when it came time to replace the strings, I'd do some work on it first. Now the time has come, and I'm a little unsure, because it came with a story. After I'd paid for it, I was hanging out and talking, and the guy who sold it to me told me that somebody had told him that it looked like a Fender. That apparently Leo Fender built stuff like this to test pickups. Of course, I was skeptical. Still am. But now that the seed's been planted, I don't want to do anything until I know for sure. This baby needs some work, but I don't want to start tearing things apart and refinishing, only to find out it was worth something before I started messing with it. (Back in the '30s, my grandfather was given an old Edison phonograph. He took it apart so he could use the springs to make arrowheads. Many years later, he saw one on Antiques Roadshow worth $30,000.) So, if there are any experts out there, I'd appreciate it if you could give me a definite answer.

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Permalink Reply by Ice Bob on December 29, 2011 at 3:36pm

its a lap steel the headstock looks like an off name brand that dont look like a fender. the fender lap steel shape was like a arrow with most of the tip cut off. maybe other markings or the tuners if its a guitar R&D model you would have to have a factory worker from fender to back up the story. you can always research the parts for dating. looks like a beater rock on

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Permalink Reply by Voodoo Highway on December 29, 2011 at 4:09pm

It is cool, but it isn't a Fender.

I am pretty sure that Leo wouldn't test a "Gibson style" humbucker in a "Fender" guitar. :)

Tear it apart, refinish it and enjoy it! I bet it will be a lot of fun to play, even without a famous brand name attached to it.

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Permalink Reply by Voodoo Highway on December 29, 2011 at 4:13pm

Here are a few Fenders, for comparison:

http://www.mainstreetvintageco.com/catalog/item/6616839/6548888.htm

http://craigslistvintageguitarhunt.blogspot.com/2009/06/1954-fender...

http://www.northernlightsmusic.com/instrument_info.php?id=152

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on December 29, 2011 at 5:06pm

i think your "story " originated from here . read the top right colum when it loads . http://books.google.ca/books?id=B9fcHtVdRiwC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7...

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Rose on December 29, 2011 at 11:37pm

Cool. Thanks guys. It was sold as homemade, and that's why I bought it, but that little passing remark screwed up my plans for it. Thanks for clearing it up for me.