The 3 spring strats going around were not from 1953 they were part of the first 100 released early 1954 around March. I own the first strat ever made called Lonely Boy. As stated by Mr Fullerton on page 50 of the Stratocaster Chronicles only one was ever assembled with the first vibrato design and now I own it, ive named him Lonely Boy. Leo gave it to an employee as a gift after he retooled the factory again to redisgn the new bridge and tremelo system. It was then sold to an Australian musician who kept it for over 50 years, he recently passed away and I was fortunate to be able to buy it. The first strat ever made the one and only in existance as documented in the Stratocaster Chronicles page 50 and The Fender Stratocaster page 8 is now viewable at youtube on my page Vinnypop
search for username: vinnypop and its on my home page channel at the top. The guitar sounds fantastic like a 54 I am blessed and thank Jesus Christ who gave me this guitar. Leo reused the neck on a 54 strat and now the neck on Lonely Boy is a nice 62 neck. The bakelite pics ups are mint as is all the guitar front and back the knobs are not bakelite but from 1953 which were placed on this guitar I have never seen knobs like these on any Fender. Yes my fellow colleagues here IT IS REAL you are looking at the first strat ever made and ps: This was a production model the first and one and only not a prototype though Leo did say until the 54 release all were prototypes but Mr Fullerton stated it was a production model that was stopped immediately. I want to record my second album with it and have contacted Fender Museum but as yet they have not got back to me. The guitar was made with 11 screw guard unlike the 54 release 8 screw. The original guard was specifically made to fit the first failed vibrato system which authenticates Lonely Boy as the one and only documented guitar. Bill Carson and Freddie Taveres tested this guitar and told Leo about the problems with the vibrato and production was stopped and Leo spent a fortune retooling and the guitar was stalled for 1 year in release. On playing chords the tremelo works but it does not work when playing a lead note. I am honored to be the custodian and honored to be a part of this community here. Vince aka Vinny Pop

So you own the first strat ever made, posted to brag about it, and did not post any pix....

Let me check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vinnypop

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Sorry if I appear to be bragging I gave the link to youtube I dont have the programme to download here pics. My appologies I am excited and nervous to be now showing it to the world forgive my lack of humility guys and gals.

We're all jealous. Welcome to the Trenches. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Dude that is awesome! You are like now the most important guy here lol.


-The Screamin' J

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CURRENT RIG:
2008 Squier bullet stratocaster modified with Rumpelstiltskin pickups -> Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby -> Fender Vibro Champ XD

"Could you take the stain from this pair of pants, and put in on this pair of pants?"

Looks much different but this is a July 54
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/54strat.html

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

All I saw was an old strat with writing getting in the way. I'd like to see someone actually playing and demonstrating it. Also pics. from many different views. It would not be too hard to post a picture on your YouTube page. Thanks though!

Thanks guys and gals Im not the most important anything just the current custodian. The middle pic up works the lead and rythm dont. Any advice I do not want to have anything replaced they have to be repaired without replacing anything.

Godwilling soon I will post the youtube demo and reveal the sound I need to choose the instrumental piece I will perform I have a 15 watt fender which I will slave to my ac30 vox and then video tape it live hopefully this week.

The original Strat tremolo system is not well documented. There have been no photos -- not even any drawings have been published. So if you've got that first tremolo system there, this would be the first time most all of us have ever seen it.

The few pictures you uploaded to YouTube are nice, but we'd sure like to see more and better pictures. Just upload them to flickr or any of a number of photo hosting sites. Pictures of the back of the guitar and in various disassembled states would be welcome.

That tremolo/bridge looks quite convincing.

However, that three-ply 11 hole pickguard looks questionable.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I will do the youtube clip like all great discoveries I know there will be questions and I need to prepare for these I have chosen the first song to be played by Lonely Boy and will give glory to God it will be Amazing Grace I think thats a beautiful piece and hope I give it and the guitar justice.

There will be interest in verifying it. All of those authors would probably love a photo to put in their books, for one thing.

As for how it sounds, there will be interest to hear if sounds as bad as it the legend has it!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Yes I have never heard of a old Strat with a Jazzmater style trem.from that time.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

hello all and yes hello orville I tried to record the clip now and the sound failed on my pc maybe its better as the cam sound sucks. Looks like I have to record directly onto my multi track system but I will do it without layers. Well regarding the failed sound vibrato thats very mysterious indeed. The vibrato does not work as good as the current design but for chords its superb. As Leo told Carson and Fullerton and Taveres the pic ups are perfect and they are. I own a 1980 strat and this sounds differently this weighs 7 pounds the 1980 weighs 8 pounds. This guitar has that fifites sound very bell like and crystal clear but thats the mid picup as Icannot hear the other hopefully just 2 wires that need soldering. If authors want to contact me about pics they are free but Im not going to make anyone rich using my guitar it cost me a small fortune and I am in debt and if they want pics for books etc they can pay me some cash like they will probably get when they advertise or sell their books and sites.