O.k Instead of carrying this on in another thread i wanted it seen by all.
ALL coments about the validity of this instrument are welcome. Dont worry about bashing it, you could save me some money.

Heres the pic's
















A beautifull instrument no doubt.

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Looks legit so far niki, from the 8 hole pickguard.....got a close picture on the pots that way you can tell too if the pots have been changed or its from the '57...., the body itself to identify the nail markings etc....

Where did you dig this from niki?Yours?I thought you have already have a 57 Hot Rod......

Belph, thanks for the input.
I found some advert on the internet selling what i thought was a reissue. The guitar does look lovely and will require a trip to check it in person. If it is what it says it is the hotrod will be greatly overshadowed.

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Hi Niki: you have an idea of the severe limitations of my knowledge in this area, so I don't need to give caveats about that. So I'll just raise some questions, rather than offer useless opinions.

So far as the pics show the timber all looks right and proper. There's a little glint of light on the near end of the top of the fingerboard that makes it look as if the neck has been resealed over the top of all that wear. An optical illusion or is that right? If it has been refretted then relacquering would fine and normal - something to ask about.

What is worrying me is all the wear on the neck compared to the gleaming white of the plastic parts. Very small in the photo, but the knobs look too good to be true. The originals might have perished and so replacements would be fine - but again, you need to know. And maybe the photos are deceptive.

Is that wear around the string holes on the backplate? That would be convincing - and you'd be looking for some buckle rash there too. Is that buckle damage on the body lacquer beneath the plate?

The case candy is particularly attractive - I can't date those string sets but it is surprising they never got used on a guitar whose neck has been played that much... A question to ask in a friendly tone.

Is that an original receipt? Wow - I'd want to look into the information it contains, and see if anything about it can be connected with the current owner. Does it demonstrate that the guitar was bought by his father/grandrather, for instance?

Can't see the decal clearly enough to run Orvilleowner's tests on it. But you'd want to have those points clear in your mind when you go to view.

Now. I guess what is really bothering me: here is a fellow who knows how to open up a guitar and take photos of the date on the neck heel - and yet who is offering a '57 sunburst Strat and period amp for £1500/$2200. I suppose there really are ignoramuses who find their grandad's guitar in a wardrobe and sell it off without knowing any better. Are those the kindsa people who know how to photograph the period details on the instrument?

I'd give Vintage and Rare Guitars (Bath or London) a call and ask them if they know of a Strat and amp of this description that's been stolen recently. Or consult Andy's, online. They can direct you towards the police lists of those sorts of things, I think. If it is stolen you can't sell it for proper money and you lose it if it comes to official attention - as well as risking prosecution yourself for receiving stolen goods. Oo-er...

Lastly, if the guy turns out to be Russian and wants to deal only in wads of cash - walk away!

As Mr Bill would say: my thoughts.

Good luck! - C

Niki, you may have already looked here but.....
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/57strat.html may help good luck!!!

Its a spanish seller i received a email giving details of western union money transfer, despite my request to fly out to spain to inspect and pay cash. So yeah i am a little worried. Its quite obvious that the pickguard and pickup covers couldnt be original in that condition. Ceri your comments on the neck relacquer are well worth further investigation. Also there has been no shipping cost given. hmmm. From the emails it seems like the sellers wife/partner/sister is selling the guitar for them.

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Does that nut look too fat? The lacquer issue you mentioned Ceri looks like a bleach stain. If it is a lighting issue why does it carry onto the worn area. Also why is there wear at that point of the fretboard.

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Uh-oh... Sounds like a nice little twist on the Nigerian scam.

Is the guitar itself in Spain? I thought you mentioned Greater London on the other thread?

I'd definitely give one of the rare guitar dealers a ring. They know how to trawl small ads; they may well have seen it themselves. If they know it and say "don't touch it" you'll have been saved plenty of trouble.

I'm trying to think of the muscley friends I can rustle up...

Cheers - C

Well, I wondered about that. But I thought that one was probably above my pay grade...

Cheers - C

Good points of worry. They don't want you to inspect it just send money per their instructions?

Does this mean that you gonna sell it away?LOL!! /me queues up in line a hotrod auction


I would rather do that then using western union and transfer the money.....if its an original 57 then its worth the every penny spent on the trip and buying it.

And Ceri you really do have an eye for the details.....

If it is a bleaching affect, then that is a sign of fakery. Might be they used a chemical agent to knock some of the sheen off. But if so, then it was quite tastefully done.

One curious thing when did the factory workers stop putting their names on the guitars. I have seen names on necks and bodies signed by workers at Fender. Just curious.

Haha! But just wait till Orvilleowner arrives on this thread. Then we'll see a real eye for detail at work!

Just love these kindsa threads, don't we?

Cheers - C

orville really knows his stuff! If I ever find something like this, I might have to fly him up here!