Hey Guys,
I've been looking at buying a 57 RI and have come across all kinds of variations that I quite frankly cannot understand. I have seen necks with/without skunk stripe, 8-hole, 11-hole pickguards, 1-ply, 3-ply pickguards, parchment and mint green. Is there a standard i should be looking for to ensure I get a genuine American 57 RI?

Thanks in advance,
Bob

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2007 Sunburst American Strat
2007 Custom Franken-Strat
2007 Hot_Rodded American Tele
2006 Custom FMT HH Telecaster
Fender Hot rod Deluxe
Fender FM212R Amp

buy it from a fender dealer first off. 8 hole scratchplate & skunkstriped necks are primary demands. Look also for V shaped necks and deep super comfortable contours on the body. If you get to look inside there should be minimum routing too.

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No no and no

Hi Bob: I don't believe we've seen you around for a long while - is that right? Welcome back.

Not sure what you've been looking at, but I think the specs for a '57 Strat are well established. Eight hole single ply white pickguard, V-shape neck with 7.5 inch radius and maple fingerboard, skunk stripe and trussrod adjustment at the heel, vintage type tuners, body in the limited range of authentic colors, and appropriate lowish output pickups. I've probably missed something: when in doubt, check the specs list on this website:

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0100102857

Sounds like you've perhaps been looking at some partsacasters - whether that's what they were billed as or not...

Good luck - C

I'm pretty sure that you are confused and lumping 57's and 62's together.

62 Reissues have no skunk stripe and a 3 ply, 11 hole, mint green pickguard.

Having owned both I feel that the '62 is a much better sounding and playing guitar but the Clapton vibe offered by the 57's is pretty cool. Play 'em both!

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Hey Ceri,
Yeah I've been gone for a while - thanks for the welcome back! I know I've seen 57 RI Strats without the skunk stripe on Ebay going for big bucks - that's what led to the initial confusion. Everything else sounds right, but there was something about the lack of a stripe that got me searching...

_________________
2007 Sunburst American Strat
2007 Custom Franken-Strat
2007 Hot_Rodded American Tele
2006 Custom FMT HH Telecaster
Fender Hot rod Deluxe
Fender FM212R Amp

cwpainter - I think you hit the nail right on the head!!!

Thanks,
Bob

_________________
2007 Sunburst American Strat
2007 Custom Franken-Strat
2007 Hot_Rodded American Tele
2006 Custom FMT HH Telecaster
Fender Hot rod Deluxe
Fender FM212R Amp