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Post subject: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:09 pm
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Hi,

I have this picture below from a 1954 Fender Stratocaster. The body and the neck are both from june 1954.

Please look and the headstock. The stopper of the trussrod seems to me darker and longer than usual.

Is it original ? Can anybody explain me where it comes from ?

http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=697807P2241661.jpg


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:21 pm
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The size and shape of the walnut truss-rod plug often varied significantly between guitars of the initial run produced in '54 and '55. That depicted in the photograph you've linked to looks perfectly legitimate.

Arjay

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Last edited by Retroverbial on Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:22 pm
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Looks fishy to me!
The plug at the headstock end is completely wrong.
Here are a couple of '54 Strats as an example http://www.guitarhq.com/54strat.html


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:35 pm
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Thanks for the answer ! I have already noticed it on several 54' stratocaster (#0273, #0408 and #0504 for example). I have always wondered if it was original or reparation.


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:51 pm
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I'm with Arjay on this, they varied in 1954, I've seen several like this.


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:18 pm
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Is this the OP's guitar?
The wear looks very close on both guitar and case.

Image

I've had a good dig around with respect to the plug at the headstock end, and the OP's instrument is definitely at the extreme end of things.
There's a similar one http://www.frettedamericana.com/product ... tocaster-3

The one that George Gruhn had (#0100) is somewhere in between http://www.fretboardjournal.com/blog/ca ... ratocaster

Could these variations be down to the way the neck was carved?
I'd assume that the neck would be carved before the truss rod is fitted, and then routed and drilled to permit the rod to be inserted.


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:41 pm
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Yes, it's the same stratocaster on your picture (#0273). Sold by FrettedAmericana then by GuitarPoint (you can see their business card in the case on the picture). I know the current owner.
Where does this picture come from ?
And what do your mean by "OP's stratocaster" ?


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:48 pm
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OP = Original Poster.
As you know the current owner it's obviously not yours - I thought it was yours :oops:


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:18 pm
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It's amazing what you can find when you're wandering around on the interweb - this fits right in with the discussion in this thread http://timeelect.com/54-neck.htm


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Post subject: Re: 1954 Fender stratocaster - trussrod stopper
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:10 pm
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You will also notice that all the edges on 54's and 55's are very rounded when compared to later necks. This is due to the level of hand processing (sanding) done during these years. The level of hand sanding is well documented in several books on the early production of the Stratocaster, not to mention look a Teles from this period as well and they are also rounded. Yep, the level of hand processes means they are all just a bit different and thus the plugs differ.

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