do any of you guys have an old unfishable original steve blazer tapp bait? that they would part with. i have several of what i think are originals, but i'm trying to find what i know is original to compare and take apart.

There's nothing really special or hidden in the orginal Tapp.   Most of the copies on the market are exact.   If you have an orginal, then what you see is all there is to the bait.   It's very easy to copy and still get the same tight wiggle.   That's the basic action you are going to get from a flat sided bait with a straight lip.   You can very the style and width of lip to change the action a little.

It is a great design that has caught boat loads of fish over the years.