ARCHIVED • SOLD

1957 Fender Stratocaster

This is one of those Mojo guitars... we didn't clean it up at all as we normally do - any Strat that has this kind of one-owner wear to it has got the vibe, mojo, charm, and sex appeal that we are all looking for - and we can't mess with that! 1957 Stratocasters are known for the strong V neck profile that pretty much everyone favors over earlier and later neck shapes, and the first use of ABS plastic parts. 1957 was also the last year of the gorgeous 2 tone sunburst nitro finish. The guitar plays great, and sounds breath takingly good. We've played it through the '57 Super in the photo and through our various house amps ('64 Deluxe Reverb,'65 Supro Thunderbolt, and '62 Harmony H-305) and were nearly brought to tears each time. This is a killer guitar, and there are no two ways about it.
Serial # 023428 (neckplate has second stamp on the inside surface of -25603). Body date of 12-57, neck date of 11-57, pot codes are 304723 (23rd week of '57). Original pickups, pots, capacitor, CRL switch, cloth wires, and output jack. Completely original set of plastic parts, except for a new pickguard. Original bridge, trem arm, bridge saddles, and trem hardware. Original frets, nut, and early '58 Patent number Kluson tuners. Original well-worn finish throughout, with some old and hard to detect black touch-up paint applied around the body edges. Original headstock decals; original hard shell case. Strong V maple neck with B nut width. Pickup out DC resistances are 6.3k, 6.2k, and 5.8k neck through bridge. 7.24 pounds total weight. The body, neck, and fingerboard are evenly worn, but there is a significant area of case-wear on the lower corner of the body. Until recently there was a case latch screw which protruded through the case, causing the wear that is shown in the photos, below. This problem was remedied, but the guitar's body was left with the scar from the years of abrasion in the area. Under the pickguard there are no routes or modifications to the body, with the exception of two 3/8" wide holes drilled adjacent to the main control cavity. We have been told that the original owner installed a toggle switch, and in doing so drilled through the original pickguard, and inadvertently, into the body... twice. The guitar has since been rewired correctly, with all its original components, on a repro white single ply guard. There are, as you would expect, some non-virgin solder joints.
The guitar is overall a nicely original and largely unmodified example of the most desirable Sunburst Stratocaster on the vintage market. It is a fabulous sounding guitar, with looks to kill, and has its original tweed side-pocket hard case. A solid investment, and one that you can not be too scared to actually use.
On Consignment
SOLD

1957 Fender Stratocaster

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Folkway Music in Guelph, Ontario Canada

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