PRE-CBS STRAT RESTORATION
Not all mods involve fitting new parts to fairly new guitars. Modding is almost as old as the electric guitar itself, though in the early days, upgrades were often prompted by repair work. The Strat featured here is a typical example of an early customisation. One advantage about buying a refinished body of this kind as the ‘chassis’ for a build is that it leaves the door open for further refinishes and mods without the risk of significant resale value loss. And so it was that Guitarist writer Rod Brakes patiently assembled a collection of compatible, vintage Fender parts to construct his ultimate ’65 ‘Parts-caster’ that exudes the spirit of Leo’s factory masterpieces – but has a unique vibe of its own. It was also markedly cheaper to own than a factory-original 60s Strat.
Body
With a 1965 L-series serial number stamped onto the metal neck plate, the threepiece alder body shows various matching/periodcorrect characteristics, such as having no nail holes (post 1964). The two small dowels on the reverse side are in the correct place, as are all 11 holes of its threelayer ‘mint green’ celluloid pickguard (produced from 1959-1965). Along with the correct routing and tooling marks, this ’65 Strat body has been through at least a few refinishes in its time, before being completely stripped back, dyed yellow and resprayed using black nitrocellulose.
hardware
Aside from the (1964 and earlier) metal spacer-type butterfly string tree on the headstock – presumably retained with the neck since 1962 – all the hardware on this guitar is period-correct to 1965, including the input jack plate, the entire tremolo system and bridge saddles. The doubleline Kluson Deluxe tuners are also indicative of 1965, as this was the year that Fender changed over from the single-line Kluson Deluxe type.
Neck
Aside from rarity, ’62 slab ‘board necks like this are prized for their feel and natural resonant qualities. The thick, checked lacquer was carefully removed, and a thin layer of clear nitrocellulose lacquer was applied, along with a black matching headstock nitrocellulose refinish and replacement logo decal. It retains its original nut, frets and dot fretboard markers.
plastics
In 1959, Fender changed from using a single-layer, eighthole, white pickguard to a three-layer (white/black/ white), 11-hole celluloid type. Often referred to as ‘mint green’ ’guards on account of their discolouration during aging, this celluloid material was discontinued in 1965 as Fender disliked the material’s tendency to shrink over time. Indeed, this scratchplate has shrunk, slightly, pulling the angle of the pickups and screws inwards and exposing areas of the aluminium shielding underneath. Although heavily nicotine-stained, the white plastic pickup covers, knobs and selector switch tip also spec-match to 1965.
pickups & Electronics
In 1964, Fender Stratocaster pickups changed from the ‘black bottom’ to ‘grey bottom’ type (referring to the colour of the bottom flatwork). The grey bottom pickups in this guitar show original handwritten dates of 1965 and appear to have been retained with the ‘mint green’ scratchplate and all of the original electronics, including the CTS brand pots (also dated to 1965), the orange ceramic tone capacitor and the threeway CRL brand pickup selector switch.