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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:51 pm
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Ceri wrote:
There was a gentleman who went by the name of 53strat who arrived here on the Forum about five years ago claiming to have a 1953 design prototype version of the Stratocaster, which would make it the oldest known surviving example. Forum user Orvilleowner refers to it in the third post down on this thread:

viewtopic.php?t=33199

However, 53strat's thread itself seems to have vanished - which is frustrating! But there's a webpage about the guitar in question:

https://sites.google.com/site/1953stratocaster/

An interesting read.

Cheers - C


According to this website in Ceri's post, the 1953 Strat shown here was the first Strat. It's even shown in the same book as the 54 Strat Mr. Gruhn has.

https://sites.google.com/site/1953stratocaster/

Would this guitar not count as the first one because of it being a prototype? I'm not saying it should or shouldn't. I'm just asking.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:16 pm
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bshane84 wrote:
According to this website in Ceri's post, the 1953 Strat shown here was the first Strat. It's even shown in the same book as the 54 Strat Mr. Gruhn has.

https://sites.google.com/site/1953stratocaster/

Would this guitar not count as the first one because of it being a prototype? I'm not saying it should or shouldn't. I'm just asking.

Whatever Ceri says is fine by me. I don't have a dog in this hunt, just repeating what G. Gruhn stated: that the one in the interview was (in his opinion and as best I remember) "the oldest example of a complete, all original parts, unmodified production strat."

This story about a '53 prototype that became a working guitar, authenticated by Richard Smith, is pretty cool too. https://sites.google.com/site/1953stratocaster/

I just realized that's the story Ceri referred to. :oops:

For all I know Ceri has one from Dec. '53 that he's yet to acknowledge until the time is right! (If so I'd say it's time has come) :D

For me it's a wonderful piece of Strat history and I don't care if it's the oldest, it's plenty old enough for me to wonder at, especially in such nice condition.

Shoot, it's nearly as old as I am! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:43 am
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Too bad we lost that thread about the Strat prototype which Ceri referred to. It would have been interesting reading for many who were not familiar with that encounter. Anything Ceri doesn't have lying around in wait, he can build. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:04 am
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I've been to Gruhn Guitars once. Had the opportunity to play a vintage Strat while I was there. If I remember correctly it was a 61 or 62 model. It was the only vintage Strat in the store that day. That's me in the photo. :D :D

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:20 am
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I watched the video with the 54 Strat again. Mr Gruhn said the 54 is the first Strat to receive a serial number. Missed that part the first time.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:26 am
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bshane84 wrote:
I've been to Gruhn Guitars once. Had the opportunity to play a vintage Strat while I was there. If I remember correctly it was a 61 or 62 model. It was the only vintage Strat in the store that day. That's me in the photo. :D :D


You look like you belong there! 8)

Gruhns is a very cool place, kind of a "Guitar Mecca". I visited there 2 years ago and many times while I lived in Nashville from '69 to '90. You wouldn't believe how many recording studios and stages and Luthiers are within a 3 mile radius of that site.

Another one is The Mandolin Bros. in Staten Island, NY. Not quite as big as Gruhn's but very nice stuff.

Back in the late 60's my CA buddy Jeff Ferree brought me to McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA. I was amazed and wanted one of each! In those days I was hauling around a 50's Martin A style Mandolin, that I traded for some relative junk later on. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:28 am
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bshane84 wrote:
I watched the video with the 54 Strat again. Mr Gruhn said the 54 is the first Strat to receive a serial number. Missed that part the first time.

That's right, on the back of the Tremolo cover. Soon to be positioned on the neck plate.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:36 am
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I believe it was Premier Guitar which presented a terrific video tour of Gruhn's. Check their archives for it. It's worth the viewing.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:39 am
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IMHO, the most impressive thing about this guitar is the condition we find it in. It's almost as if the original owner was visionary enough to consider setting it aside to see what happens over the years. Certainly not as exciting as finding 10 million dollars in gold coins on your property but........ let's see who feels its worth $250K to take it home. Personally, I feel that FMIC should acquire it and put it on display in the visitors center. But then there's always Guitar Center as well as Paul Allen's EMP to consider.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:45 am
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Asking price is $250,000. Would be interesting to know who ends up buying it and what it goes for.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:47 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
IMHO, the most impressive thing about this guitar is the condition we find it in. It's almost as if the original owner was visionary enough to consider setting it aside to see what happens over the years. Certainly not as exciting as finding 10 million dollars in gold coins on your property but........ let's see who feels its worth $250K to take it home. Personally, I feel that FMIC should acquire it and put it on display in the visitors center. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's a pretty good idea Doc, it's an impressive piece of their history.

An alternative would be to donate it to the:

"danagos living museum of fine stringed instruments"

Meanwhile I'll invest in that commercial grade humidifier and a few exotic tools that I've wanted for some time now! :D

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:54 am
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danagos wrote:
An alternative would be to donate it to the:
"danagos living museum of fine stringed instruments"

Seems to me the new effort of alainlafrance and friends could do justice to that guitar. Who knows...they might be negotiating for it at this writing.

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:43 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
danagos wrote:
An alternative would be to donate it to the:
"danagos living museum of fine stringed instruments"

Seems to me the new effort of alainlafrance and friends could do justice to that guitar. Who knows...they might be negotiating for it at this writing.

My vote, for what it's worth, is anyone who can preserve it for posterity.

I wasn't aware of alainlafrance on the forum. Just looked him up and read Paris' question and the hilarious thread "Famous People on Board".

"They're legends in their own minds" :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 8:02 am
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danagos wrote:
Whatever Ceri says is fine by me. I don't have a dog in this hunt...

Haha - hi danagos! :) Just for the record, I'm not running dogs or even issuing opinions. I just remembered a fascinating discussion a few years ago on this Forum about which was "the first" Strat, and gave the links for the interest of folks reading this thread.

danagos wrote:
For all I know Ceri has one from Dec. '53 that he's yet to acknowledge until the time is right! (If so I'd say it's time has come)

Ah... I definitely don't. :( And if I did I'd immediately sell it to someone who could look after it better - and pay the insurance charges!

It's fun to look at a museum pieces, but I like guitars for playing. 8)

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Very first Strat ever!! Serial #0100
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 8:20 am
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Ceri wrote:
danagos wrote:
Whatever Ceri says is fine by me. I don't have a dog in this hunt...

Haha - hi danagos! :) Just for the record, I'm not running dogs or even issuing opinions. I just remembered a fascinating discussion a few years ago on this Forum about which was "the first" Strat, and gave the links for the interest of folks reading this thread.

Hey Ceri, I've heard that you did run dogs but they couldn't keep up!

Ceri wrote:
danagos wrote:
For all I know Ceri has one from Dec. '53 that he's yet to acknowledge until the time is right! (If so I'd say it's time has come)

Ah... I definitely don't. :( And if I did I'd immediately sell it to someone who could look after it better - and pay the insurance charges!

It's fun to look at a museum pieces, but I like guitars for playing. 8)

Cheers - C

...aaand....zzdoc said you Could make one and I believe him!! :)

Yeah, between the insurance costs, Storing and Displaying, the the industrial HVAC unit, and ALL the new tools :shock: I guess it's out of my reach as well.

Will you let me play it sometime? I'll wash my hands first! :lol: :lol: :lol:

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