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Post subject: Round string tree?
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:43 pm
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Currently on ebay, there is '57 CS with a round string tree. Yeah, it looks cool, but besides a '54, I don't remember ever seeing a round string tree on any other CS Strat. Both my '56 strats don't have one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Custom-Shop- ... 2a1005da60

There are some other inconsistencies: black case, no certificate, but I'm more curious about the string tree.

Bob


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:35 pm
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I actually spied that guitar just yesterday! No go for me though because its in the US.

The case is the big question mark I reckon. It should be the tweed one that comes with 50's era custom shop guitars and the only exceptions i know of are limited editions. That is perhaps a 70's era case??

I know a store in the UK that has had a lefty CS '56 relic for literally 3 years and that has a round string tree. So maybe Fender were sticking them on their 50's guitars around 07/08. I think they pop up from time to time on the 50s strats coming out of the custom shop but they are quite rare as i havent seen too many.

It doesnt actually say there isnt a certificate? but it doesnt appear in the photos.

I'd enquire about the certificate and the case but the guitar itself looks legitimate.


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:48 am
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round spring trees were on 54 and 55 strats... if you notice the 58 FCS is doing this year, it has one also... FCS can make semi-vintage correct or close (never truely correct on the rosewood strats since FCS does not offer brazilian as an option) but it isn't their norm. As standard fender calls it, they "hot rod" most of their guitars with "modern appointments" for "playability".

other issues w/ FCS and historical accuracy of reissues involve paint color choices... fender did not have a standard color sheet until 1960. They would do any color a customer wanted at a 5% markup. However, they tended to follow car colors and the dupont color palette. for example, dakota red did not exist until 58... and yet I find '56 time machines in dakota red all the time. Ocean Turquoise did not show up until late '65. I guess you could consider it a re-fin.. but its not historically correct if that is what someone is looking for.

this site has more detail... http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:32 am
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Thats what the custom shop is all about though. You love '57 strats but you like round string trees? no problem!

For me vintage look and vibe combined with modern playability is a winning formula.

And its clear from the most popular custom orders stores are stocking these days that alot of people dig that too. You get the best of both worlds! Fender made very desirable guitars in the 50's and 60's, and they draw on that big time, but they also draw on 50+ years of innovation to create some of the finest instruments in their history today 8)


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 6:26 am
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JimClapton wrote:
Thats what the custom shop is all about though. You love '57 strats but you like round string trees? no problem!

For me vintage look and vibe combined with modern playability is a winning formula.

And its clear from the most popular custom orders stores are stocking these days that alot of people dig that too. You get the best of both worlds! Fender made very desirable guitars in the 50's and 60's, and they draw on that big time, but they also draw on 50+ years of innovation to create some of the finest instruments in their history today 8)


I agree that it is great that you can custom build a guitar to your spec's. That is awesome and a huge strength for FCS. My only issue is that they should identify it in product marketing that it is not vintage correct, for example the AVRI series also has a hot-rod series that has the 9.5 radius and 6105 frets. that tells the customer what they are getting. I realize the AVRIs are not as accurate as FCS, but it is a step in the right direction.

Not everyone will spend the time I have, or more learning about vintage fender and they may buy a reissue guitar thinking it is vintage correct then find out later the color they bought didnt exist at that time. :shock:

I like and have both types of FCS guitars and enjoy them both. But when I buy, I'm now informed on what I am buying. not everyone will be. And you are right. Fender does what the market demands. They wouldn't be putting 6105 frets on a 9.5 radius if they weren't selling. Its a great combination.


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:17 am
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With so many different variables these days it would be nice if custom shop instruments came with spec cards, say, that tell you fret size and neck radius and identified the pickups in the guitar and the wiring configuration etc.

As im sure specs are pretty important to most serious guitarists and the only way to know them (without having to contact Fender) is to query it with the store/seller during purchase.

I queried the specs of both my CS guitars before buying them and have them written down. Its just nice to know!


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:22 pm
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yes, that would be nice.


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:54 pm
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[quote="JimClapton"]I actually spied that guitar just yesterday! No go for me though because its in the US.

The case is the big question mark I reckon. It should be the tweed one that comes with 50's era custom shop guitars and the only exceptions i know of are limited editions. That is perhaps a 70's era case??

He was fast with a response.. No certificate, he isn't sure about the string tree and the case is "probably" an original. Any 50's FCS I've seen are tweed, early to mid-sixties brown, late sixtes and 70's, black.

Bob


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:53 am
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Well, having just looked back at the pictures i noticed some interesting things...

1) The pickup cavity clearly says '57 NOS' but the neck pocket seems to say 'RELIC'. I can definately make out 'LIC'. Though i think this could be a simple case of the body being designated for a relic job only to being used for an NOS instead. Im sure it happens. And if you believe they designate the nicest woods to relics that wouldnt be a bad thing for this guitar to have. Its looks like an ash body as well.

2) The '07 dates on the neck and body are obviously fine. Seems the neck is a 22 Feb 07 and the body a 4 Jan 07 but they quite often dont match.

3) As i said before, I dont have any concerns over the string tree. Id love to know where someone would aquire a 'gold' round string tree if the original was a butterfly!

4) Though we agree the case is definately late 60's/70's era there seems to be a gold '07' on one corner of the case? Which stumps me even more as i was going to suggest it was a simple case of the original owner switching cases with another Fender guitar to keep the more desirable tweed one.


Ironically the certificate could clear a lot of this stuff up. Perhaps its a one off special order '57 and the owner requested a black tolex case instead of a tweed one. Certs get lost quite frequently and i believe new ones can be requested.


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:57 am
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The last couple of NOS strats I've owned have had RELIC stamped into the body.

Les


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:39 pm
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Hi I have a 56 custom shop in vintage blonde with gold hardware. It has the round string tree and I suspect that most with gold hardware have the round tree. It may be a bow to the original "Mary Kaye" strat. ME would know for sure. Most bodies are marked relic whether they are nos closet or relic. Wonder about the case like you do since it should be tweed. Get the serial and query it with fender. I suspect it is legit just judging by the pics:D


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Post subject: Re: Round string tree?
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:09 pm
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I find this guitar to be suspect. Not Custom Shop Paperwork? the case looks wrong.

My gutt says, "fake." Ask Mike Eldred.

Paris


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