Fender lap steel

[Donny Johnston]

I have a Fender lap steel serial no: 9396
It has the original 3 legs & tweed case, lets just say it's well travelled.
The logo on the front says Fullerton California.
I think it's a Studio Master but I'm probably wrong, can anyone help me identify it correctly?
PS: Sounds Great

[JeffM]

Easier if you post a picture rather than try to describe the shape and style of all the bits which you would need to do to get an answer.

You've not even told us how many strings it has.

[Donny Johnston]

I'm sorry Jeff, you're dead right, silly . It has 6 strings. So far I have not been able to upload a picture to this site. I'll have to speak to someone who can.
I thought the serial number would help.

[JeffM]

Unfortunately with Fender steels, the serial number is not very helpful. They started each model with a new bunch of serial numbers so, theoretically, you could have 2 different models of Fender steel (and a Tele or Strat) with the same number.

Once you've identified the model, comparing the serial to other examples of the same model can give you a ballpark date or confirm your suspicions if you have worked out a date by other means but that's about it. People have extensively documented serial numbers of the more popular models so sometimes you can get close-ish.

Sometimes the date is penciled in under where the tuner assembly is (only up to about the mid '60s though, I think). If the electronics are original you can work out date codes on the volume and tone pots but this only gives you a "no earlier than" date - Fender would often use components made years earlier.

The tweed case would suggest 50's.