I think everyone is missing the point. If they guy wants to make the guitar playable, then changing out the pickups is a must. However, I've never heard of a pickup that couldn't be repaired. Even if they were re-wound, the guitar would still be worth alot. He didn't ask advice on degrading value, he just wanted the guitar in playable condition since the pickups were "shot". I agree if its all original to leave it alone, but that's not what he asked...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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I honestly was looking just to replace the pups and get the old girl in shape. Of course the “value” arguments are more than compelling. I think it is worth someone, who knows more than me, looking at it and telling pops what it is worth currently/as-is, before we start tinkering with the guts. If it were mine, and someone offered me 20K, I’d be tuning the damn thing for them ; but, it’s not mine. I do think pops needs to know what he has and then he can decide…. But ultimately, my original question has been answered. You guys have suggested some pup replacements that would fit nicely with the 50’s Strat. Thanks!

Peace,

84

Now that's just not very nice...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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Wow. Just wow. I ask sincere questions because I really am uneducated in the world of guitars (by comparison to most here), especially vintage guitars, and this is the bull$hit response I get.
You are one classy individual my friend. Keep up the good work.
Peace,
84

Tis pretty sad that simply restoring a guitar to playable quality destroys its value. Soon none of these guitars will play properly...

Id get the pickup fixed. There is no way in hell I'd sell a pre CBS Strat if I was ever lucky enough to own one.

I think that Big Jay's whole point was that he could not emphasize strongly enough how damaging it would be to do anything to that guitar.I've seen people do horrendous things to vintage guitars completely oblivious of the fact that they were doing thousands of dollars damage when they seriously thought that they were improving the guitar.I agree ignorant was too strong a word,uninformed would have been my choice for a word. There are serious collectors out there who would be willing to pay a large amount of money for that guitar as is and it would be better if your pop knew that the original unmolested instrument would be worth far more than it would with "improvements".There are places such as George Gruhn's in Nashville,Norman's Rare Guitars in Calif.,The Guitar Broker in Fla.The Burst Brothers Guitar Center etc. that always have clients on the lookout for guitars such as yours.First find out what exactly is wrong with the guitar then with that info under your cap go find the highest bidder. Good Luck.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

If you want to make it a player, just don't do it yourself. Get it fixed by someone who has endless experience with seriously vintage Strats to minimize the hit to its value to as close to zero as possible. A knowledgeable vintage tech will tell you what you should and should not do. That's all we are saying ...

Also, be careful playing it ... don't wear a belt, pants with rivets, or play with pointy things in your front pockets like large key rings or such.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...