Posted this in the "lounge" but thought someone in the strat forum might appreciate. This is an original 57 (top) alongside of a 50th anniversary 57 George Fullerton Masterbuilt reissue.

Joe

[/img]

Dont think I'll ever get tired of looking at either of those guitars. This should be made sticky.

_________________
No no and no

That's a great repro...in the pic it seems the sunburst is identical....very cool.

I'm totally digging both.

_________________
-Kc
"Payin' dues."

I've ordered, and should receive this week, two "Display and Play" tweed display cases with red plush interior to finally get these two guitars on the wall. I'll send a pic when they are finally there! I guess you can tell I'm like a proud parent! Very nice people at "Display and Play" for anyone shopping a display case.

Love those strats.

What a gorgeous set of twins!

_________________
The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ

It's real. The top guitar is Serial number -18854 (with the dash). Pots are 304 715. Has been appraised and confirmed a few times. Happy to send other photos if you'd like to see more detail. The bottom guitar is the George Fullerton 50th anniversary that came with the little Pro Jr. Amp.

Hi Joe: neat, thank you for posting.

Tell me, are the pickup covers on the '57 original? Either way, there's got to be a good story behind that guitar, and also of how you come to own it. Care to share?

Last thing. I saw you elsewhere describe yourself as a collector. Do you have other interesting things you could show us - doesn't have to be Fender? Or a link to an online photo album?

Anyway. Cool geets! Lucky you!

Cheers - C

Hi C. Yes they are original. The machine marks on the inside were documented professionally, as was the whole guitar. I call myself a collector because I own a few guitars (my first was a 76 Strat I bought as a kid by delivering newspapers) but don't play well enough to consider myself a musician. Still in love with strats though. I have always wanted an original 57. Spent several years looking for one waiting till I could get the funds together, and with the market currently down on guitars, I got lucky.

This guitar was bought by a gentleman in 1957, who was a Army Band member. He got out in 55, and bought it in 57. I spent several hours talking about the history of the guitar with him and his wife. It was a real treat. The guy who sold it to him is still around as well. Like so many of these treasures, it was played regularly until 71, when it went under the bed. (I have the original Krylon case, strap, even a set of flat wound strings). It had flat wounds on it when I got it.

Over the years they realized they were sitting on a little money, and decided to let it go to help fund their grandson's education. All in all, it's a pretty cool story.

I would say the guitar is overall in an 8 condition. Some nicks and dings which are not visible on the pic, and some pretty good rash on the back side. But it all checks out legit. I have the entire guitar photo documented and am happy to post any additional photos if anyone is interested.

Joe

Ooo - well I know lots of us would be delighted to see any pics you care to show! Photos of the innards of old guitars are always interesting in particular, as you know...

Yours is one of a handful of '50s Strats owned by Forum users. I wonder if you've seen Orvilleowner's '54, for example? [After a bit of searching]...Uuuhhh - his photos of it seem to be missing from this thread!

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=33199

How frustrating!

[Calling]Orville...?

Cheers - C

Hi C: I'm happy to share some of the pics. I'll try to get some posted this evening, after work. Gotta pay for this thing somehow! Appreciate you sending the links. I'm new to the forum, so it's nice to see some of the vintage discussions.

Joe

That's amazing a '57 would look so new. I'd expect the plastic to be well discolored. It almost looks like the parts were replaced... Interesting to see the headstock is actually smaller on the original '57...

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


facebook.com/313DBC

I'll post more pictures tonight. The picture is quite macro so some of the details aren't getting picked up. If the headstock on the original looks smaller, I think it's just the angle. The lower one is a masterbuilt version built on the original spec. There are only 150 of those in the world, and while I haven't put them on top of each other, I am pretty sure they are identical in size. The 50th anniversary copy even has "Abby wound" pickups as the original might.

The pickup covers do have some yellowing as do the knobs. These are not bakelite and don't have the bright white appearance of bakelite. IF they were bakelite, there is a good chance they'd be worn through exposing the black underneath. Some 57s got bakelite, or partial bakelite. This one none. Also, there is a beautiful patina to the nitro finish which I'll capture in the photos. The neck on the original is more yellowed, which doesn't show here, and she has some fret ware and "fret dings" which would be expected for a 53 year old guitar. Neck date is "7-57" The guitar is a solid 8 condition. There is some rash on the back of the guitar. The insides are very clean as you will see in the pics later. Hope you all enjoy them.

Joe

I made a big mistake of usine a fretboard cleaner on the neck, which slightly lightened up the fret wear. That was a mistake. However, it maintains its richness far better than the pic shows. I'll send up additional pics.

Joe

Here are some photos for you all:

Hope you enjoy them!



Bottom Tone Pot



Beautiful patina of the nitrocellulose



Neck Plate Original 57



Neckplate 57 Masterbuilt George Fullerton 57 50th Anniversary



Knobs



Neck on original



Neck color on Reissue



Shot of back. Small crack in lower left of trem cover



Back of headstock Original. Single line Kluson's



Reissue Headstock



Original 57 Headstock - Note Incomplete "Original Contour Body"



Frets - I made a mistake of cleaning the fretboard with fretboard cleaner. It was better with the 53 years of grime on it. Bad decision.



Electronics

[/img]



Inside electronics. Note the "nail hole" near the bridge where Fender pounds nails into the body to serve as a pedistal for staining, spraying. Sometime those holes are filled with stain, which indicates a refinish.

Hope you all enjoy!

Joe