1955 Fender Champion
September 12, 2016 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
Long before Leo Fender built the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, he built Hawaiian lap steels.
Fender's steel guitars featured single, double, triple and quad necks. Various scale lengths, 6 and 8 strings, and several pickup configurations.
This guitar is a low-end model made to compete against the popular budget brands of the day. It is covered in simulated mother-of-pearl, also known as pearloid or mother-of-toilet seat.
Today, rock and blues players plug this steel guitar into a cranked up tube amp. This produces high-gain, overdriven sounds & bone shattering feedback!
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2023 Festivals and Workshops
Kona Steel Guitar FestivalMarch 23-25, 2023 – Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Keauhou, Hawai‘i
Kaua‘i Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium * — POSTPONED
May 3-4, 2023 – Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort, Kapa‘a, Hawai‘i
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 4-6, 2023 – Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort, Kapa‘a, Hawai‘i
May 7, 2023 – Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i — RESCHEDULED
May 27, 2023 – Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 10, 2023 – Windward Mall, Kāne‘ohe
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
July 10-15, 2023 – Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 14, 2023 – Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 15, 2023 – Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kāhala Mall
August 19, 2023 – Kahala Mall, Honolulu
2023 Northern California Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium *
September 24, 2023 – Odd Fellows Lodge, Cupertino, CA
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 14, 2023 – The Shops at Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM HST
October 15, 2023 – Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, Kahului, Hawai‘i
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM HST
2023 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. Festival broadcasts may also stream from the respective festival's Facebook Page.
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
March 25, 2023 Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 12:00 Noon - 3 PM and 5 PM - 8 PM HST
Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday - Live from Molokai!
April 22, 2023 (tentative) – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HST
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 6, 2023 – Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 12:00 Noon - 3 PM and 5 PM - 8 PM HST
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i — RESCHEDULED
May 27, 2023 – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HST
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 10, 2023 – 11:30 PM - 4:00 PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 14, 2023 Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 4PM - 6:30PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 15, 2023 Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 11AM - 2PM and 4:30PM - 6:30PM HST
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 19, 2023 – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HST
Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday
September 9, 2023 – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HST
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 15, 2023 Ho‘olaule‘a concert – Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, – 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM HST
Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday
November 19, 2023 – 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HST
Other Events
HSGA Virtual Festival 4February 4, 2023
2023 AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival *
July 27-29, 2023 – Towne Square Community Center, Winchester, IN
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association (HSGA) 2023 Festival *
September 21-23, 2023 – Odd Fellows Lodge, Cupertino, CA
* Registration Fee Required
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Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium
Statewide Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i - Kapolei
Windward Mall - Kāne‘ohe
Kahala Mall - Wai‘alae-Kāhala
Livestream Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase