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Would you recommend I upgrade my 1966 Strat?
(1) Yes, I recommend you do what you need to make it playable again 26%  26%  [ 5 ]
(2) No, I would NOT recommend you modify the 1966 Strat; leave it original 26%  26%  [ 5 ]
(3) A complete re-fret of the 1966 Strat is okay, nothing else. 37%  37%  [ 7 ]
(4) Other? just let me know in your posting, thanks! 11%  11%  [ 2 ]
Total votes : 19
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Post subject: Is it ever acceptable to modify a Vintage 1966 Strat?
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:45 pm
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Dear fellow friends of Fender...This is my first posting in the forum. I have a 1966 Strat in decent shape, it is 100% original, with whammy, ashtray; the frets have been crowned, but never re-fretted; I also own and play a 2006 Am Deluxe V Neck in Mint shape. The 1966 strat is in need of a complete re-fret, and the pups are noisy, no question about it. It is not really playable in this condition, so it sits in the closet while I play my 2006 Am Deluxe V Neck. Some people have urged me not to modify the 1966 strat b/c it would lower its value; but in order to play it, I would have to upgrade the frets, the nut, and possibly the noisy pickups and 3-way switch is very stiff. I thoroughly enjoy my 2006 V Neck, which I bought used from my friend who is really a Gibson player, so I gladly took it off his hands. The SCN pups are nice, the S-1 switch is okay, but I like things more simple, so I leave it alone. But, it doesn't have the vibe of my vintage 1966, which I played for about 20 years (I'm the 2nd owner). Depending on how you all respond, there are so many options for modifying, all the boutique (I won't mention particular brands here, that's not really my issue yet) replacement tuners, nut, bridges, saddles, pickguard with aluminum base, base-plates for pickups, it is mind-boggling. So, I would very much appreciate your thoughts about whether or not it is acceptable to modify the 1966 to make it playable again. Or, should I just leave it alone and enjoy my V-Neck Deluxe, and forget about vibe and mojo? All thoughts are welcome. If this issue has been beat to death, please direct me to any previous postings. Thanks!


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:54 pm
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If you're not gonna sell it and this is gonna be your guitar then do what you want to it. If the frets are so bad you can't play it then a quality refret is exactly what this thing needs. Who cares about the value it's ment to be played not looked at through a glass case. And chances are even after the refret it'll still be worth more than what you paid for it 20 years ago.


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:22 pm
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I'd get a pro refret and shielding done. I'd keep the rest original....there is no point in changing the tuners etc. if they work fine. It would just lower the guitar's value and take away some of it's mojo.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. ;)

*I voted No.3 , because shielding isn't really necessary unless the noise is really annoying you.


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:14 pm
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If you're really gonna play it, make it your top player, otherwise don't destroy a rock 'n' roll collectible


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:30 pm
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Time-Machine wrote:
If you're really gonna play it, make it your top player, otherwise don't destroy a rock 'n' roll collectible


Eh, I'd save the hardware if I ever decided to sell it...

But if I had something like that?

I'd make sure that was my number 1. I'd get that bay boy re-fretted, and new pickups dropped in.

There's no point in owning a guitar if it can't be played. (But then again, I'm not one of those guys who does it as a collector either...I'd be the same way if I had a set of classic cars...I'd drive 'em!!!)


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:53 pm
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The_Sentry wrote:
Time-Machine wrote:
If you're really gonna play it, make it your top player, otherwise don't destroy a rock 'n' roll collectible


Eh, I'd save the hardware if I ever decided to sell it...

But if I had something like that?

I'd make sure that was my number 1. I'd get that bay boy re-fretted, and new pickups dropped in.

There's no point in owning a guitar if it can't be played. (But then again, I'm not one of those guys who does it as a collector either...I'd be the same way if I had a set of classic cars...I'd drive 'em!!!)

Nice attitude :P I feel the same way, don't buy a guitar that won't be used(a lot) and if you're not going to use it, leave it for someone that will use it
It just takes a lot off the value to modify it
:cry:


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:59 pm
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Time-Machine wrote:
The_Sentry wrote:
Time-Machine wrote:
If you're really gonna play it, make it your top player, otherwise don't destroy a rock 'n' roll collectible


Eh, I'd save the hardware if I ever decided to sell it...

But if I had something like that?

I'd make sure that was my number 1. I'd get that bay boy re-fretted, and new pickups dropped in.

There's no point in owning a guitar if it can't be played. (But then again, I'm not one of those guys who does it as a collector either...I'd be the same way if I had a set of classic cars...I'd drive 'em!!!)

Nice attitude :P I feel the same way, don't buy a guitar that won't be used(a lot) and if you're not going to use it, leave it for someone that will use it
It just takes a lot off the value to modify it
:cry:


I hear you about the value. But maybe the OP should look at it in this light:

Let's say that you happened upon a 1970 GTO. It was in bad shape, and it couldn't be driven.

Would you restore it to its original condition, or turn it into a hot rod?

(I'd probably say "Make it a hot rod!!" hehehe)


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:15 pm
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The_Sentry wrote:

I hear you about the value. But maybe the OP should look at it in this light:

Let's say that you happened upon a 1970 GTO. It was in bad shape, and it couldn't be driven.

Would you restore it to its original condition, or turn it into a hot rod?

(I'd probably say "Make it a hot rod!!" hehehe)

I'd prefer a VW T1, the Hippie Bus :) I get your point and I agree, but when I look at my friends '79 25 Anniversary LTD strat in original white with original strings I'm on a natural high(the ones where the painting cracked so fender withdrew them and re-released them in Porsche® paint)
But as i think about it, his 66 body/76 neck tele is perhaps the best guitar i've ever played, IMO

The word original is powerful though :lol:


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:37 pm
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And then again, September 07 I was at a vintage show in Svendborg, Denmark http://www.vintage-show.dk/ there was a '54 LP goldtop that apparently was something special, the price tag said 550.000 swedish kr.:shock: (450-500.000 danish, 100.000 dollars) would you restore/modify that or hide it for 10 more years? :)


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:52 pm
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Time-Machine wrote:
And then again, September 07 I was at a vintage show in Svendborg, Denmark http://www.vintage-show.dk/ there was a '54 LP goldtop that apparently was something special, the price tag said 550.000 swedish kr.:shock: (450-500.000 danish, 100.000 dollars) would you restore/modify that or hide it for 10 more years? :)


Hard to say with LP's....the neck through the body design offers a whole different set of problems....(that's actually one of the biggest things I love about Fenders! The necks!)

To be honest about this? I'd probably just forget the show, go buy an Epiphone LP Ultra II with the acoustic pickup in it for 1100 dollars USD instead if I was in the market for a Gibson...

Hahahaha....(OK, I admit it! I am not a collector!! I wouldn't be able to stand having something in my closet I couldn't play or I had to treat with kid gloves!)


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:52 pm
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I've had to make that same decision a couple of times. Sometimes it's an easy decision, because a "basketcase" needs to be restored.

When the vintage guitar is otherwise "original," then YOU have to decide if you want to make it playable for YOU or if you are just preserving it. I decided to give such a guitar a fret job so that I could enjoy playing it (with no intention of selling it).

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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:30 pm
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I would say do the least invasive amount of work that needs to be done to make it playable. Try to get fret wire that is as close to original as possible. Leave the pickups original, and dont add any shielding. These guitars were born noisy and they should remain that way. Have all the work done by a luthier, and enjoy your piece of history.


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:39 pm
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Wax potting the pickups wouldn't be too bad (if they are microphonic).

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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:49 pm
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Like an earlier poster said. Keep the old parts. Leave the pickups and pickguard assy intact. I wouldn't change the solder joints; collectors are looking at the solder joints to verify they are original. Then just get a wired pickguard from Calaham and drop it in or roll your own (much more economical). You could even get a nice after market neck and leave the frets alone. Lots of options I guess.


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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:20 pm
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if it isn't going to be sold, change everything.

while it is true that vintage guitars are awesome, they tend to be unplayable after some time. it is cool to have a 66 strat that is all original, but unless you are keeping it on the wall or stored away, it is going to be a bad guitar. so make it great again.


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