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| FENDER 1960 STRATOCASTER. |
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- CONDITION: Excellent.
- BODY: Alder.
- NECK: Maple.
- F/BOARD: Rosewood.
This beautiful, largely original Fender Stratocaster was originally
owned (we were told) by Stan Webb of ‘Chicken Shack’
fame, who used it along with his Gibson Les Paul’s through
the 60's/70’s and possibly 80’s. It was professionally
refinished to a lovely Selmer/Fiesta red in the late 70’s
early 80's (again the date we were given), and displays the lovely
patina and cracking that occurs on these vintage instruments with
age. In order to verify the history we contacted Stan Webb and
he confirmed that he owned two pre-CBS Strats, one in Fiesta Red
that he traded in 1965, the other in a Brown wood or Sunburst
(he thinks) re-finish which had a toggle switch fitted, he used
that one at the Pop Proms in the Albert Hall and later sold it
on to Robert Plant. Either one could be this guitar, but it is
most likely the Brown wood/Sunburst finish which later went on
to be re-finished again to Fiesta Red, and would also tie in with
the addition of a toggle switch. It was bought by its last owner
in 1997 from Phil Harris, a Kent-based Christies vintage guitar
consultant and very well known vintage guitar hire company owner
(http://www.harris-hire.co.uk/) who has both hired to and maintained
instruments for Mark Knopfler among other artists. Phil writes
a monthly column on vintage guitars in Guitar and Bass Magazine,
and has provided the history of the guitar up until this point.
The guitar was hired and used on many recording projects on the
London A-list recording scene in the 90’s, and is a wonderful
collector’s piece as well as player’s guitar, having
a particularly twangy vintage bridge pickup tone and smooth neck
pickup from its original black bottom pickups. Since 1997, it
has only ever been set up and serviced by Tom Mates of Bermondsey,
London, Eric Clapton’s legendary guitar technician and luthier.
The following is an inventory of what we believe to be original
and non-original parts, and other essential information about
this Stratocaster Serial Number – 50304 printed on the bottom
of the neck plate (as per historical accuracy for some instruments
in 1959-60).
Neck date 5/60 – penciled onto neck below truss rod screw
at body end
Original Parts
Body, Neck, Green guard and foil insulation underneath, bridge,
pickups, jack plate, tone and volume controls, string tree, tremolo
bar, neck plate, switch tip, two x pots no: 304-5946 (dates 46th
week of 1959). some frets are possibly original, the fret bottoms
do not break through the rosewood slab board and were fitted sideways
into the fret slots rather than hammered from above.
Non-Original Parts
Re-finish from possibly (slight signs in body cavities) Brown
or Sunburst. Date: (we were told) Late 1970’s – early
1980’s?.
Kluson tuners vintage re-issues, Fender decal, neck re-finish,
1x pot and some wires, three way switch.
It is believed that a parallel or boost toggle switch was fitted
to the guitar in the 60's/70’s evidenced by a small (8mm
or so) restored circular hole where the piece of green guard has
been kept and replaced and this looks entirely unobtrusive and
in no way affects the playability of the instrument.
Sound and summary
The guitar sounds rich, partly from the rosewood neck, which somewhat
darkens and adds complexity to the tone. These guitars do not
sound like modern day Stratocasters; they have a vibrancy, age
and up front sound which is different to the reissues or replicas.
When I recently compared this to a USA made 1960 specific reissue,
I was surprised at how different they sounded! Modern Stratocasters
have all the ‘classic’ twangs, smoothness and out
of phase sounds, but they all sound similar! This guitar sounds
vintage, and its out of phase sounds are deeply lovely, and the
outrageous twang of the bridge pickup is much more aggressive
and biting than any modern Stratocaster.
The neck is an extremely thin D which is a well known phenomenon
on Stratocaster guitars throughout 1959-60. They became more baseball
bat shaped in 1962, and this guitar has none of that feel, having
instead a lovely, narrow, fast playing D shape which would suit
any style. This has what is believed to be the original ‘home-built-for-the-British-Market’
case, though I have no authenticity for this. It is a heavy 1960's
blue vinyl covered case with white fur lining and compartment.
The guitar is also supplied with a Hiscox Stratocaster case. Our
asking price is considerably lower than the market value.
- PRICE.....£POA. E-Mail: andy@modern-music.demon.co.uk
SOLD
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MM
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