Call me to discuss price…..
It is my absolute privilege to bring this original Fender Stratocaster to market for the first time since 1965.
It has been lovingly owned, loved and cared for by an amazing gentleman who has now become my friend.
It’s been my pleasure to do the journey of bringing it to market over the past few months.
The previous owner has been meticulous in his memory and the story of this wonderful guitar and the new owner will get an exclusive copy of the 64 page book called ‘the red Strat’ (not for distribution)
Please look at the photos and you will see the previous owner in action.
The guitar has been played, gigged and loved for 63 years so as you can see it’s got all the wear and tear from its life on the road. I think it is the most beautiful, natural and honest relic you could wish for!
He was an electrical engineer so his knowledge of electronics is second to none. He changed the scratch plate over for a loaded plate but meticulously kept all the parts and we have put everything back (even the scratch plate screws)
The guitar is 100% original except for solder, one tuner (old snapped one is in the case) but we have sourced a correct year vintage tuner and the minor repair on the pickup (see description below.)
The case is battered and repaired but it’s original. You will get a replacement case for transport included in the sale.
Externally everything is original. Starting at the top, the small headstock bears the original “spaghetti” logo and 3 pat no. decal. It has the single butterfly string tree and the original Kluson single line tuners. One of the tuners has slight damage to the top but still functions perfectly well. (Now replaced but old in the case)
The 7.25” radius rosewood fingerboard with its “clay” dot inlays is in very good shape and, although the guitar has been well used, it still retains its original frets.
The original 3 ply pickguard and aluminium shielding plate is in good condition apart from the usual crack by the neck pickup adjusting screw. The guitar retains all of its original plastic items including the volume and tone pot knobs, pickup covers and the tremolo back plate.
The tremolo block, arm, bridge, and the six Fender Pat pendstring saddles are all original. The four screw neck plate on the back is stamped L07688.
The body overall retains its original Fiesta red finish but, having been played regularly for the last sixty years, parts of the top edge and the back of the guitar have worn away to expose the undercoat and the bare alder body. The guitar weighs in at 7lb 8oz.
Under the pickguard are the three original pickups together with the original volume and tone pots. The three pots have knurled split shafts and are all stamped with the numbers 304-6334 which indicates that they were made by Stackpole in 1963 in the 34th week, which is in August.
A while back the neck pickup went open circuit and it was sent to Paul Best at Radioshop Pickups to be repaired or rewound. They discovered that the break was in the first half a dozen windings so were able to re solder it and add new tails without having to rewind it. The pickups give a resistance reading of Neck: 5.8K ohms Middle: 5.8 K ohms Bridge 6.2 K ohms. The guitar comes in its original faux croc skin Selmer case.
This guitar offers the chance for the buyer to own an iconic and genuine 1963 Fiesta red Fender Stratocaster with a full service history and provenance from the time it was bought in 1963. In spite of the fact that, since 1965, the present owner has gigged regularly, in some decades averaging 30 to 40 gigs a year the guitar retains its original finish and parts!
