I purchased an old Stratocaster from a guy a few years ago for a song. And I am interested in selling it, but I have had trouble verifying its age. One reason for this is because the person I bought it from had stupidly made modifications to it, like installing modern pickups, replacing the inline tuners with post tuners and the string saddles were replaced as well. But, after comparing to other period guitars, the neck plate with the serial # 31975, the bridge plate and trem, the strap buttons and butterfly string tree for example are to my untrained eye authentic. But the most distinctive feature is the neck, the cellulose has a beautiful dark golden color with the spider webbing of tiny cracks only brought on by time, and I am pretty sure it has a rosewood "Slab" fingerboard. It has clay position dots both on the board and on the side. The original paint color appears to have been gold, but he had also painted it a sad black....it has begun to wear though and the original paint and primer has begun to show through. I have some photos to show it, If someone could take a look and let me know what they think I would be very grateful. I have an extensive collection of guitars...not as a collector but to play, and this one plays and sounds unlike any I have ever put my hands on despite its haggard appearance.

Nikki dunno if you caught my last post but I get it it's a fake....thanks... and I don't feel like I got had, stung, or burned it is a great guitar and I have enjoyed it for years. No big deal really I was just wanting to find out for sure and you guys just confirmed what I was already afraid of lol. Thanks for all the info.

Hi guys: just checking in - what a lot's happened on this thread since my previous post!

Still. More nice work by the Scooby gang.