I was looking at a vintage Strat owned by my Uncle and we can't quite figure out the associated what and when.

The serial number on the neck plate is 0983 indicating 1954 but the headstock lists the three patent numbers associcated with the 1962,1963 models. The color is solid red - (not sure if it is Fiesta, Candy Apple, or custom).

The fret markers are not black but look ivory. There are 5 tremolo springs.

He bought it in 1968 from a guy in Des Moines, Iowa with the original case and it has been sitting since then except for a period of time about 15 years ago when his son used it when receiving guitar lessons.

The tremolo spring cover has oval holes rather than the round associated with the original 54's. We are thinking possibly the neck was replaced maybe in 1962 or 1963 but did not pull it apart and look under the controls or at the base of the neck. We did not want to do that without have a professional involved. The 0983 serial number is what is really throwing us off.

Any thoughts or ideas? I have some pictures I took yesterday (Nov. 21, 2009)

could you tell us if the nek is maple or rosewood? it could have been refinished and had the neck swapped, or in the case of one '54 I saw at Fretted Americana, the body was thought to have been refinished, but the body had been swapped, and the electronics and other things saved.

pictures would be great too. upload them on tinypic.com or photobucket.

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The neck is Maple. It does not have the dark stripe along the back of neck.
I will get some pictures uploaded.

Hello! I´m from Brazil and recently I bought a Vintage Strat '62 Reissue Sunburts. She looks all original and behind the neck has a date "Jul 7 1999". I'd like to know where she is from. It doesn't have some indicate if she's Japanese or American (os Mexican if is It possible). So, the serial number is V118618. Could you help me?

There are some photos in this site:

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB- ... rapido-_JM

http://www.photobucket.com/strat0983

You can view photos of this Strat at the photobucket link above.,

This picture shows a veneer'd fret board suggesting 64



The 8 hole scratchplate suggests 50's. Fiesta red is a very very rare colour for 54, if they made them then at all. I thought the options black, white or burst.

Note also the neck hasnt aged the same way as the body. Thats a bit suspicious to my mind.
Compare


with



Looks like its 5 years old, and shines like urethane. Not a played cellulose neck in my opinion. The body looks like its been used to play hockey with. The sharp edge chips aren't too like cellulose either. They certainly dont look like checking which I think they were intended to.

I could be wrong, it can all be explained away easily. However its a bit far fetched that it all happened to one guitar.

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Thanks for taking a look but I can't answer your comments other than what I do know.

It was purchased in 1968 by my Uncle and nothing has been done to it since then other than change the strings and even that was probably only done a couple of times. So it can't be Urethane and 5 years old for sure but I can't say why it looks that way to you. It would take a closer inspection of the finish I guess.

It couldn't be a 64 beause the patent numbers have the 3 numbers on the headstock associated with 62 and 63. In 64 a fourth patent number was added unless that patent number was added later in 64. I would have to think the neck is from 62 or 63 based on that the 3 patent numbers.

It's hard to say what the chips are from but they look like they are from being banged around but certainly not from being played. Better quality photos would help maybe but I took these with my iphone.

I could find no reference to the color Fiesta red for 54 either and as mentioned earlier the tremolo spring cover is definitely not 54 because the string holes in 54 were round. It could be a custom color or just a later year for the body.

It still looks to me like it was mostly likley renecked in 62 or 63 but the body doesn't seem like it could be a 54 either based on color and tremolo cover. Maybe the neck plate was changed with the neck. We are thinking maybe a 58 or so with a new neck and probably played very little especially after the new neck. It's mostly speculation right now until someone opens it up to see if there are any dates on the inside.

What we know for sure is that 1968 is the last year anything could have been modified.

Yep your right. After refreshing my mind on boards it appears to be around August 62 that the veneer board was introduced.

I still dont know what to make of that finish though.

heres a beaten 58 in Dakota red. Note the difference in the way the paint has knocked and chipped


A fiesta red



A really beat white over sunburst that looks closer to your guitars finish. Still no major cracks though.


So the earliest I can ascertain is that its a 62 with a 50's scratchplate. The only other info lies in the neck pocket, on the neck heel and in the control cavity.

Also can you upload a clear picture of the bridge please. Preferably upclose.

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The photos of the Fiesta Red you posted look very much like the one my Uncle has and the type of chipping on the white one is similar.

I am now several states away from the guitar but I will see if he can get some better pictures for me and one specifically of the bridge.

At some point he will need to take it to a professional and remove the neck and controls to see what dates lurk beneath.

Bottom Line: You're going to have to at least take it apart in order for us to date it. Especially the neck.

Here's what I do know... there is at least 1 '54 strat documented to have been refinished in a lake placid blue. Here's what they did: They took the body of the 54, replaced it with a 61 or 62 body back in 61 or 62, refinished the neck and placed 60s decals on it. Fretted Americana actually is in posession of it at this time.

You have a very weird guitar, and I'd call it a 58 sunburst with a mid to late 60s factory refin if I HAD to date it... that would explain the odd guard and even the headstock logo. Pop the neck, and then take off the scratch plate. It's the only way.

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Some Guitars played through an amp...

My vote though is going with a late 50's body, mid 60's neck parts-o-caster from the 60s.

Many guitarists did this... they'd find the best neck, with the coolest body and then bolt them up. Eric Clapton did that.

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It cant be a 58 neck because of the veneer'd fretboard. The only way to know is by having a gander at the innards.

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Yes, I agree. At first glance, nothing looks truly "vintage" to me. But then, upon blowing up the picture, the tuners look do like early '60's tuners.

Like was suggested above, we'd need to see pictures of the thing apart to get a clue as to what else might be vintage. Pictures of the neck pocket, the neck heel, the bottoms of the pickups, and the date codes on the pots.

I love vintage Strats ...

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My other guitar is a Strat.

I added some additional photos to photobucket. They don't show much more than the previous ones but do include the tremolo arm and case.

http://www.photobucket.com/strat0983


Will try to have some better closeup shots taken.

You've got 2 guitars there... I'm almost certain of that. Case goes with the body.

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Some Guitars played through an amp...