SOLD! - 1963 (early) Fender Stratocaster Fiesta Red Pre-CBS

First the quintessential good and bad news: The good news is that this is a rare original 1963 Fender Stratocaster with 100% original parts! The bad news is that it seems to have been refinished a long time ago in Fiesta Red. According to the previous owners it was done by Selmer in England (after the US import ban ended in the late 50's, Selmer was the first to import Fender guitars into England and sprayed them in the factory to the color people wanted. And guess what: everybody wanted to be Hank Marvin...) or maybe it was refinished by someone else long time ago. There is some old Sunburst still visible on the body and also some even older Desert Sand undercoat which could mean it already was originally finished in Fiesta Red by Fender. Hard to tell 100%.

Anyway, Custom Color Pre-CBS Fender Stratocasters are probably the most sought after Strats in the world and this 3.68Kg early 1963 5 digit (pre L-series) serial Stratocaster is just the perfect guitar to fulfil one of your dreams.

This baby has an amazing tone, feels super smooth, has well balanced sounds and lots of bells and harmonics. The neck pickup is warm and bluesy and very powerful, the bridge pickup rocks with snappy attack and the middle position is rich and sparkly. This guitar plays so easy you can pick it up and play it all day long.

The original alder body has all correct '62 - early '63 marks like pinholes, nail holes, shoulder control cavity and body shape. It has the three original 1963 black bottom pickups with rubber grommets, measuring 5,86k (bridge), 5,68k (middle) and 6,96k (neck) Ohm with the original paper masking tape, original pots with matching 304 6302 code (week 2 1963), wiring, jack output, jack cup, cloth wire, disc capacitor, original pickguard and shield, knobs, switch tip, pickup covers, tremolo block, tremolo arm and tip, stamped saddles, backplate in near mint condition, neckplate with serial 93460, screws, Kluson Deluxe single line tuners, string tree etc. etc. Together with an extra (original) tremolo spring, the original CRL1452 switch (PAT's 2291516 2291517 6503883) is in the case and in perfect working condition. Currently installed is a CRL Pat.No. 6503885 5-way switch but if preferred that can easily be restored back to original before shipping it out. All solder is untouched except for the switch replacement parts.

The "flame" maple neck is stamped 2 MAR 63 B and is in great condition with the original nitro finish faded and worn on the back to a smooth clean feel. The BRZ RW fretboard is in good shape with only an indent on the treble side close to the 11th fret and some wear on the lower positions. Clay dots are in the "pre mid-'63"  position at the 12th under the A and b string. The neck feels so smooth and easy and plays effortlessly. Original 1963 Fender 3 patent no. spaghetti logo decal, single string tree, Kluson Deluxe single line tuners and a beautiful dark figured fretboard. It was refretted and the frets are in perfect condition as well. The neck feels super smooth and has that typical early '63 C shape that feels very comfortable.

The guitar comes with the original early 60's Fender Brown rectangular case made by Cheney England in good condition. All the latches work but the outer two are missing the springs.