Hello there, is there anyone who could help me solve this mystary.
My Dad has just past away and he was an entertainer for the last 40 years. He has left an 1961 Fender strat, but dad had changed the color only.
What i really need to know is, why isnt there a date stamped on the bottom of the neck. The guitar number is 55644. We know he obtained it 1967 and has had it ever since.
Please can anyone solve this
sharon

Hello and welcome to the forum! Can you post some pictures (of all components) of your guitar? There are some very knowledgeable people here that would be glad to help you.

Apparently some guitars didnt have a date stamp. It was on a antiques roadshow episode. Apparently one of the employees was writing obscene words on the guitar. I'm not sure when they went back to date stamping every instrument.
It could have been sanded off at the refinish, unlikely though, and would serve no good purpose. There are other ways to get it verified, pickup details, pot codes.

Please if possible can you post some pictures. There are some really knowledgable folk around here that will point out any discrepancies or points of validation.

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No no and no

They did noy use stamps in 61' they were penciled on until 62 ink stamps started.

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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

thanks, i will try and work out how to put the pictures up

cant work how to upload the pictures

Sharon, you need to upload your pics to a picture hosting site and copy and paste here. Try www.photobucket.com or one of the many others. Hope that helps!

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz19 ... ure201.jpg

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz19 ... ure210.jpg


http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz19 ... ure200.jpg


http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz19 ... ure197.jpg

Hello again
I have had to put links for the photos, because they might be a bit big to post on here.
Have talked to my mum and the original color was sun-burst we think, we think it is still underneath. Mum says aprt from him changing the color, nothing else has been changed.
Will be grateful for any information.
sharon

thank you

thank you so much, im just not that good with computers, had to wait for a friend to help me get to grips lol

Not to sure about that headstock decal. Here is what a 61 should look like. Maybe one of our vintage gurus can shed some light.
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/61strat.html

Scroll down that page.

Too bad he changed the color.

What happened to the Fender Logos on the head stock? A 61 should say "With Synchronized Tremolo" and also have a patent number. And also say Original Contour Body on the round part at the top of the neck.

Headstock decal is crazy fake.

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its been played every night for the last 43 years, so it must of worn off.

It's not even close to being right.

Here's what a 61 headstock should look like.

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