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Post subject: 1962 Fender Stratocaster info
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 10:32 am
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I inherited a 1962 Fender Strat from my father who passed away 23 years ago. I was just curious if anyone knows how to get any more info on it. I know he told me there was some history behind it, but I have nobody to ask to give me any info. My father was a music lover, but did not play however the guitar was obviously used by a musician for some years. The middle pickup, pick guard, two pots, tremolo block and bridge saddles were all replaced at some point. If I remember correctly, he came into possession of it in the mid eighties. I had it looked at and appraised by a local music store, so I am interested in the history. My mother for some reason thinks it belonged to Jimi Hendrix, but I know that would be a long shot and even if so there would be unlikely a way to prove. I know it was played by somebody, I just don't know who. I live in Austin, TX which is a music city so it could have been some unknown. Just figured I would reach out if anyone has ways of tracking this info down.

1962 Fender Strat in Olympic White

Pics can be seen at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aJe9fLRj6vdwy1Va7


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Post subject: Re: 1962 Fender Stratocaster info
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:46 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Looking at the pic's (nice pic's by the way)...what makes you think the middle pickup is not the original? It looks original to me.
Being in Austin, TX. there is more of a reason to believe (if your Mother and I are both fantasizing) that it was once owned by Stevie Ray Vaughn (a right handed player from Austin) rather than Jimi Henderix (a left handed player playing a right handed guitar upside down, from Seattle, WA.)...but who knows.
Sweet guitar!

P.S.- You can see videos from the early 80's of SRV playing a guitar VERY similar to that one.


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Post subject: Re: 1962 Fender Stratocaster info
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 10:19 am
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The sticker on the middle pickup and its less aged white cloth wire do suggest it's been replaced. The "1R" hints it may be a Duncan SSL1 RW/RP, which would suggest it was replaced in the '80s. (The SSL1 was introduced in the mid '70s but RW/RP didn't become a stock option until the early '80s.)

The whole bridge has been replaced with a '70s 1-piece cast Zamak bridge. Very odd -- most people consider those to be tone suckers compared to the original design 2-piece steel bridges. (My guess would be that the trem arm broke off in the early '70s before aftermarket parts became widespread and before there were lots of good techs who were capable of fixing that, so it was replaced with a then current production Fender cast bridge.)

Sometime a few years after that, the cast Zamak saddles were replaced with brass ones. Looks to be Stars Guitars saddles -- those are slightly collectable and fairly valuable. (Too bad they didn't go with a full Stars Guitars bridge assembly.)

Fender sometimes painted a body, then repainted it a different color. So it's possible that's the original finish. But also possible it's a later refinish.
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From Antone's on, all of SRV's guitars are pretty well accounted for. I suppose that could have been one of his earlier Dallas guitars and he may have traded/sold it early in his Austin days. If my guesses about when the mods occurred is correct, it's possible Stevie Ray did them himself.

Jimi of course played righties turned upside down. Lots of stories about him giving Billy Gibbons guitars. Jimi bought lots of used Strats on tour and often gave them away. But if it's a Jimi guitar, the mods have to be post mortem.

The problem is that Texas had/has an incredible number of legendary players. And every other legendary player has spent a lot of time there hanging with local legends.

Plus, with Charlie Wirz, Jimmy Wallace, Ray Hennig, Texas was an early epicenter of the vintage guitar scene. Guitars from all over the world have ended up there.
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Doesn't ring any bells as the long lost main guitar of any major player. May well have been owned by someone famous at some point, but probably wouldn't add much value.


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Post subject: Re: 1962 Fender Stratocaster info
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:12 pm
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Thanks for replies

Yeah. I thought about SRV considering he had some property down the street from where I grew up, but looking at his previous guitars I saw online, none of them were the white 60s Strats. Right era, wrong color. The white one he had was an 83. I see that Jimi had quite a few white 60s Strats, but doubtful on the odds of this being one. I agree it was probably a lesser known to me artist. Just wish there was some way to find out. Guitar needs a story.


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Post subject: Re: 1962 Fender Stratocaster info
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:35 pm
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Great guitar. Cool thread.

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