I watched this auction from a while back and was just in awe of this 62 Stratocaster and it's history. One question that I have been wondering.... What is a "slab board" ?

here is the link, hope it works....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT


hotrod

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1983 Gibson Explorer 1 (main axe)
2004 Fender American Standard Stratocaster (Butterscotch on ash 1 piece maple neck and fretboard) (my baby)
2008 BC Rich Assassin neck thru(fun toy)
Peavey 5150 212 combo (early model) FREAKIN CRUNCH MONSTER!

Look at the the butt end shot of the neck, and notice how the bottom of the rosewood is cut straight across. This is a "slab" fingerboard, which was applied to the maple neck as a square, flat slab with only the face contoured to the desired radius.

A "lam" board has a slightly thinner piece of rosewood, cut in a curve to match the fingerboard radius. I assume that Leo started doing the laminated board to waste less rosewood.

Some people say they can hear some kind of difference between the two, or maybe it's just that the slab is more rare, but it's just another one of the thousands of distinctions that collectors like to pay attention to.

Very interesting reading and pictures! Thanks for posting!

Re:slab board, courtesy of nikininja..

"The fourth post on this link clearly shows the difference.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=475905 "

A "slab fingerboard" is one where the neck of a guitar is sawed flat at the area where the fingerboard, a flat 'slab' is glued to it and then the whole neck and fingerboard are shaped as one. This is opposed to a "curved fingerboard" which is already shaped and then laminated onto an already shaped neck. Slab boards are thicker than curved boards. Due to the thinness of curved boards, curved boards exhibit more of the tonal properties of the neck wood.

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You dig?

Well since Martian cleared that up for you how intrigued were you buy the guitar.lol If you were in that position would you buy it for 15 grand. This is just my take. I love guitars everything about them since I was a kid. But as far as the whole vintage scene even if I could buy that without batting a lash it does nothing for me. I would rather take that money and have 3 or 4 killer axes made in the custom shop. The other thing that amazes me as a few months back someone posted a 62 on ebay while it was still listed and someone bought it for over 100 grand be it was in much better shape. But I dont know how someone could buy that for that amount without playing or hearing it first. Just because it is pre CBS does not mean it is going to sound like a choir of angels. Thanks for posting as I love these threads.

I'll take this one step further: I'd rather selectively inspect production models which happen to be outstanding specimens and buy as many of them as I could with that money.

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You dig?

Martian then where would you sleep. lol How have you been pal. I had checked a few post that I thought you would deffinetly of been on and have not seen you or just missed you. Hope all is good with you Wizard of the Wires. lol

LOL.

I'm doing just fine and go in spurts as my time allows. I appreciate you asking!

There usually are a few posts which I consider adding my, "two cents" to but don't as they get answered along the same lines that I would have or, and as many do, the thread went off on a tangent where the core subject's 'moment' had passed. In general, I tend not to bother with the, "reruns" either unless maybe there's a new slant to them and even at this, my above reasoning still applies. Besides, I get a kick out of simply reading many of the responses for various and assorted reasons.

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You dig?

.....nor does he suffer from PAS...".pick aquisition syndrome." Has his ego in check. He's another one we have to rally into a possible gathering of eagles. But I digress.....

Back to matter of 15K for this well beat up hard tail....as well as the thought that everyone should have a copy of A.R. Duchossoir's book on the Stratocaster, as well as a copy of The Stratocaster Chronicles. Would save a lot of ink.

Wonder if it sold

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"Another day in paradise!"

Yes, it sold for the 15k. It was a no reserve, no BIN auction. It was an interesting watch. I just love the stories that some of the old pieces could tell.


hotrod

_________________
1983 Gibson Explorer 1 (main axe)
2004 Fender American Standard Stratocaster (Butterscotch on ash 1 piece maple neck and fretboard) (my baby)
2008 BC Rich Assassin neck thru(fun toy)
Peavey 5150 212 combo (early model) FREAKIN CRUNCH MONSTER!

I just love the stories that some of the old pieces could tell.hotrod[/quote]

I've seen older pieces than that one hanging out on the corners of 9th Ave in lower Manhattan for less than 15K. Their stories would beat that guitar's anytime.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Thank you so much!!!

Truth be told, I have a grand total of two picks (really), they are those Dunlop orange ones and the only time I replace a pick is when it literally cracks or splits from old age.

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You dig?

What fascinates me about this story is the guitar's previous owner. Little Charlie Baty, co-founder of Little Charlie and the Nightcats, has always been one of my favorites. A northern California staple, I've been following Little Charlie since the early '80s and consider him one of my earliest influences in the jump blues genre. Whether in a bar, auditorium, or festival, always a high energy, DMAO show. Charlie has slowed down a bit, having retired from regular touring with the band, now called Rick Estrin and the Nightcats (Rick being the fellow co-founder and longtime frontman of the band).

Little Charlie Baty with Rick Estrin getting the assist

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

I've seen older pieces than that one hanging out on the corners of 9th Ave in lower Manhattan for less than 15K. Their stories would beat that guitar's anytime. [/quote]

why does it matter what the guitar ended up selling for? I don't get it, I posted this about the guitar, not the auction. It is an original 1962, made 8 years after the Stratocaster came out, and is now a 47 year old guitar. But seems to me like some want to start a pissing match about monetary value and what the collector who bought something is willing to pay etc. I posted this thread here to share something that I thought was very interesting in one particular guitar. As with this one I love all kinds of pieces of history. I could care less if it sold for $15, $15,000 or $15,000,000, who cares. Seems like someone tried to make me feel guilty for posting a thread that about something that once again, I thought was interesting. I expected more positve response/possible shared stories about this kind of topic, not this kind of crude type remarks. I know I am new here but with the personalities that I have been seeing, I might be an early retiree from here as well. I too love music, guitars, etc. but I do not have attitude from it. Maybe with some folks it developes over time or possibly it is a "northern" thing. Oh well, my rant here is done. I will think twice about posting threads that I find interesting about a Fender guitar, (forbid, on the Fender forum) from now on.


hotrod

_________________
1983 Gibson Explorer 1 (main axe)
2004 Fender American Standard Stratocaster (Butterscotch on ash 1 piece maple neck and fretboard) (my baby)
2008 BC Rich Assassin neck thru(fun toy)
Peavey 5150 212 combo (early model) FREAKIN CRUNCH MONSTER!