1963 Fender Stratocaster, Hardtail
(Click on photos to enlarge)
Offered for sale, an exceptional 1963 Fender Stratocaster, Hardtail, with OHSC.
I purchased this guitar from the original owner in 1992, it has been in my collection since that time.
The original owner stripped the body to "natural" color in the 1970s.
From 1990-1992, the guitar was painstakingly restored (body and neck) by Isle of Wight Instrument Company in Smithfield, Virginia, to period-correct original finish (3-tone burst over fullerplast).
(How many luthiers does it take to change a light bulb? Just one, but it takes two years !)
As a rare "hardtail" variant, this guitar is super-light at around 6.6 pounds!
A period-correct reproduction decal was sourced from Fender, and (appropriately for the marque) it does not feature the "with syncronized tremolo" lettering.
Original tuners are in great shape, work well, and have a lovely patina.
Neck shape is classic early-60s Fender, with a pronounced taper from the 12th to 1st fret, and typical early-1960s "c" shape, with shoulders.
Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard in great shape, darkened beautifully.
Orginal frets painstakingly refretted in 2010 by Colonial Tonewoods, Williamsburg Virginia, in period-correct "short tang" frets. The fret slots were not deepened or widened in any way!
I'm a big believer in keeping guitars all-original; however, the original frets were just "played out" and at the point where there was no more useable life in them.
All original "clay dots" in excellent condition.
Extra care was taken with the refinish of the ferrule area, unlike poor artisans who use an x-acto knife, the ferrules were removed and replaced after the refinish.
Neck date of November, 1962 (2 NOV 62 B)
The bottom of the neck heel.
Pickup cavities, showing wire channel rout.
Classic "nitro" guard is in excellent shape, some shrinkage but, remarkably, no major cracks.
Body date, "1/63" in control cavity.
Pickup shield in great shape. It amazes me that so little attention is paid to the full-width metal shield as a vital component of the classic tone of Pre-CBS strats.
In a 1950s strat, attaching the pickups to the body with an intermediate plastic / phenolic pickguard will give a completely different tone and coupling than found with a metal guard transferring vibration!
Pickups are strong, with great "quack" in the middle positions. Between the hardtail design and the metal shield, the bridge pickup has great Telecaster-style attack, and the neck is pure Hendrix-y warmth.
For play-ability, the pickup switch has been swapped for a modern 5-way. The original 3-way switch is included.
All original knobs, etc.
Ahhh, the neck pickup ...
Bridge has a nice patina, and the usual oxidation, but is in great working shape, fully adjustable etc.
Output jack.
Original brown tolex 1960s case, in good condition.
Also included, a photo of the receptionist at Isle of Wight, with the guitar as it came in, natural, and a photo of the original owner with the guitar after its restoration!
Not offered for sale at this time - but potentially if a package deal is requested - I also have the original 1963 Brown Deluxe amplifier that the owner bought with this guitar.
(ignore the reverb unit - it's a reissue!)
This guitar is available for outright sale, or potentially a consignment with a dealer with appropriate clientele.
Having bought and sold guitars sight unseen over the internet (classifieds, Gbase, eBay, Harmony-Central etc.) I'm aware of the pluses and minuses of that sort of transaction, and IMO a guitar of this caliber will fetch a much better price from an in-hand buyer who can inspect it in person, or purchase from a reputable dealer or at a show.
Offers and inquiries are welcome, please call for an in-hand description.
