Fender FS-52 Lapsteel

The Fender FS 52 is a nice little lap steel guitar that has a single pick up and a standard 1/4 inch input.  There isn't anything to fancy about the characteristics of this instrument, but it has enough going on to have a really nice tone and good action.


UTILIZATION

In terms of playability, the Fender FS 52 is pretty great.  I usually use a Stevens bar while playing this instrument and the combination of the good action and the bar make this thing pretty easy to play.  The fret markers are pretty big and clear which is a big plus as I find that that always comes in handy while playing the lap steel just so I know where I am on the neck at all times.  The weight of the guitar is pretty light and the shape is definitely pretty cool looking.  If you like the way this sounds, getting a good sound is definitely easy as all you need to do is plug and play.


SOUNDS

I usually use the Fender FS 52 for recording in my home studio while using a '76 Fender Twin Reverb and I find that I generally get awesome results with this configuration.  I would recommend mic’ing the amp in a traditional way as you would for a standard electric guitar as I usually just use a Shure SM57 or something similar to it.  While there isn't too much control over your sound, lucky that the inherent tone is really good sounding.  The only problem that I get is sometimes I get a lot of noise, but this is somewhat to be expected with an older instrument like this one.


OVERALL OPINION

Overall, the Fender FS 52 is a very solid sounding lap steel guitar.  While it isn't the best one that I have heard, it has a pretty full tone and when I use it with compression it tends to sound pretty great.  These are no longer made but you can usually find a few of them up a Ebay for a reasonable price.  If you are a fan of vintage lap steel guitars like I am, the Fender FS 52 is definitely worth looking at as it has a good sound and great look and feel.

The Fender FS-52 Lap Steel is a modern made lap steel guitar, one of the only models currently offered by Fender. For a Fender product, this was overall somewhat of a disappointment for me. I was expecting something similar to the vintage Fender lap steels, and this is just not the case here. The steel has a single coil pick up, with volume and tone controls for it.

UTILIZATION

Playing the Fender FS-52 Lap Steel isn't really the problem with this instrument as it plays just fine. While I'm not the most experienced lap steel player, I have been playing for a few years and know enough to know the difference between a good and bad steel. I find that the FS-52 is easy enough to play and to control your tone. The weight is a little heavy for a lap steel, but isn't too bad at all.

SOUNDS

The sound of the Fender FS-52 Lap Steel is where I find it to be disappointing. I've used the steel with a 1976 Fender Twin Reverb amplifier and both a Ibanez Tube Screamer and a Boss CS-3 compressor. I always use a compressor with a lap steel, as it really helps to sustain your sound. However, I found that the FS-52 doesn't cut through as well as I would have lacked. It lacks a certain fullness and strength that I look for a in lap steel guitar. While it will certainly get the job done in a lot of situations, for the price, this just doesn't sound as good as it should...

OVERALL OPINION

I wouldn't be as down on the Fender FS-52 Lap Steel as I am if it wasn't for the price. This is a decent lap steel, but with a price like this, I was expecting a much more refined and better sounding instrument. I feel like you can get a lap steel just as good for a few hundred dollars less without the Fender name on it. It is always surprising when you see an instrument from Fender that isn't up to par, but for me this is the case with the FS-52 Lap Steel.

Made in China
I found the correct finish, not bad, but nothing more, which is logical at this price.
bought second hand from Oldies Guitar in Paris (380 €) but it is who is very, very patient on the net around € 490.
sold with a rigid flycase velours, finishing as the correct (ties handle moving a little misplaced handle for that matter)
I was a little afraid of falling in front of the Fender good scam that sells on behalf of a botched product quickly and quite expensive ... no, it's not theft, a bit expensive but it's still honest.
the microphone, that of a strato mexico apparently, well it sounds not so bad (with qq effects) if it's true ... essez sec but when we chose to good effect (Tonelab SE, plugged into a Marshall ) Well, it sounds great, I was very pleasantly surprised ... in fact it is a micro sober and fairly neutral so without much personality, but readily accepts the coup or the effects it is emulation ... better somewhere behind a lamp anyway.
handle: fretless, actually a pretty basic chrome plate with dead freight for investments ...
anyway, because of its function, this skyscraper is basic, the interest being that it is well designed and adapted to the lap steel because essez heavy for its size and homogeneous along its length, very stable resting on the knees. ..
the knobs: Tone is very marked, almost shrill in the treble, and very dull to severe, and the button is a bit close to the right hand that could touch by playing a shot to take ...

UTILIZATION

Again, it is very well in terms of ergonomics for the lap steel
for sound, and many things are added with an effects pedal or a good amp, or you change the micro ...
I keep this one for now ...
so it's not a killer, but it is very respectable

SOUNDS

Thank you for listening to live tracks recorded on qq
http://www.myspace.com/gorgeoussound
you will get a sound idea, which thus comes from the guitar plugged into a Tonelab SE (with a lamp) with qq vintage effects and amp all on a Marshall Valvestate 80W on its clean channel (with transisors so). ..
to blunder on some blues sounds very compressed, the knob to the serious makes its hyper deaf can not hear in the mix .. he must work his thing before, and store its settings ...
After that, there really is something to have fun

OVERALL OPINION

I have since early January
Note that there are supply disruptions in France right now because it is blocked in customs because of new regulations on lead solder ... I found it by accident into an opportunity '.
I think she sounds great according to some config, but can be very mean with others ... I remain very happy because I found the settings that went well with my stuff ... I will not change the microphone immediately.
I have not tried that I cross the Gretch is a bit cheaper, but less pretty for my taste.
value for money: so you pay just € 490 for the brand in new, but given the limited choice in this type of product (occas of old 60's can cost up to € 1300 or 1500 for either its not explosive) it's still good.
occas of below € 400, there is very valid.
I am very happy with, I find it more beautiful, and sound, good work can be really good ...

Chinese Manufacturing

UTILIZATION

RAS

SOUNDS

My God it's dry!! Really great as its dry, I prfre the GRETSCH SynchroMate currently available. In fact I did not but I saw a jou dmo FENDER booth at the show to music in 2007, and the Gretsch sounded better, I think the microphone's original Fender quality is average, and also it is against the bridge ... Given that copra is frne its adds a little scheresse. In my opinion the change of micro needed.

OVERALL OPINION

I do not like the sound of lap steel too dry I think now with a change of micro and good rglages ...