Bitsa 63, Help needed to authenticate parts

[MrCarson]

Tried this post a few months ago with little response
So with a New Year, I thought I’d try again!
I've had this wonderful strat since the late 80's
The (here comes a cliché I know) best sounding strats I’ve played!
I need opinions as to what parts are original 1963 and what aren’t

My limited experience deducted the following
Late 60's pups
Repro guard
Re-sprayed
Replaced saddles and bridge
Re-fret and replaced fret markers

Opinions!

Pups and guard

trem cavity

neck plate

neck date stamp

pups

fret board

body (pup cavity)

[MrCarson]

Have I left something out?
Are the pics not detailed enough?
Have I said something wrong?
Are there no 63 guru's on line?

Whats up guy's!

[Kap'n]

Well, authenticating the individual pieces can be tough.

I mean, I couldn't tell you if the bridge springs are original or not, or the neckplate, for that matter.

The paint damage on the body looks wierd....under the pickguard?

I would have guessed c. '67 for the pickups - cloth wire, gray bottom.

The neck and pickguard look real to me, but whether they're vintage and or correct/tampered with, I dunno.

[tuberattler]

You really can't tell from photo's. I agree frets are changed and re-fin and pups are later. Guard is hard to tell almost looks too green but again that may be the photo, my monitor or the host.

I had a '63 which was all original except a re-fin, springs looked like that I think they're nickle plated not chrome and the saddles and trem block looks like my old one..

If you really want it authenticated take it to an expert or do some major research on the net. Either way looks to be a cool guitar to play on and no doubt has some good value.

[MrCarson]

Sorry guy's
I thought it was easy to do with pics
Over on the Les Paul Forum pics are used all the time to evaluate

I've had it to the experts with mixed results (In the land of Oz very few experts)

I'll post a few more pics if it will help



knobs

neck

[Cogs]

All the pics look good except for the refin body. I'd say it's the real deal. Got a phtot of the headstock?

[MrCarson]

Yep! here you go
Klusons have gone
not sure about the decal though

headstock

[Cogs]

That looks like a repro decal. It appears to be under the finish, too.

[MrCarson]

That looks like a repro decal. It appears to be under the finish, too.

Yes it is under the finish
searching around on the provide site, the "E" isn't correct either
looks like the neck may of had a re-fin along time ago?

[MrCarson]

The neck and pickguard look real to me, but whether they're vintage and or correct/tampered with, I dunno.

What do you mean by real then?

[Strummin' Ronin]

What do you mean by real then?

My guess on what he meant was that it appears genuine, but the guitar's authenticity may still be doubted due to the many fakes that are available.

[MrCarson]

My guess on what he meant was that it appears genuine, but the guitar's authenticity may still be doubted due to the many fakes that are available.

Gotcha!
I know what you mean
Reading through many vintage posts I've come to the conclusion that you really need to have handled and listened to a few real ones to get a feel for and know when it's right!
I have heard so many tails of fakes (and there supposed to be very good as well)
I came upon this one in the 80’s so I’m hoping it was before the big bucks really kicked in

[Kap'n]

My guess on what he meant was that it appears genuine, but the guitar's authenticity may still be doubted due to the many fakes that are available.

Well, to be more clear, it looks like a real Fender neck, but it could be tampered with. 7 knows his stuff more than I do, so take his word over mine.

The level of sophistication of fakes in the 80's was nowhere as good as it is now.

[MrCarson]

Well, to be more clear, it looks like a real Fender neck, but it could be tampered with.

Any reason in particular for your doubt?

7 knows his stuff more than I do, so take his word over mine.

I'm new here, so I'm assuming whe you say 7 are you referring to 71818?

The level of sophistication of fakes in the 80's was nowhere as good as it is now.

Nice to know!
Thanks for your comments
I really do appreciate your time and efforts

[Kap'n]

Any reason in particular for your doubt?

I'm new here, so I'm assuming whe you say 7 are you referring to 71818?

Nice to know!
Thanks for your comments
I really do appreciate your time and efforts

None, other than most of my vintage guitar knowlege is book and photo based, rather than hands on, like 7(1818). If the decal looks replaced, etc. to him, I believe it.

[MrCarson]

This guitar is a great player
It takes everything I dish out to it in its stride
Do you know what I mean when I say I take out my emotions on the guitar and it emulates exactly what I’m feeling?
And it’s the only guitar I own that does it

In any case the guitar and I have allot of history together

Authenticity was far from my mind when I bought it, I had limited vintage fender knowledge, so to me it was a Strat and it sounded way different from all the others I’d tried

As time marched on I became interested in vintage guitars and found myself wondering about it’s pedigree

From comments here and from my own reading I feel comfortable that the main bits are right

Does it make a difference?
Well, it’s nice to know you have a little piece of history

Thank you all again for your help!
Keep well

[Cogs]

A guitar like that, the value is extremely subjective. A guy I knew was asked about the worth of his beat-to-death '52 Les Paul. He responded, "It ain't worth nothin', 'cause it ain't for sale!"
If the value was a concern to you, it might be a good candidate for restoration.

[fezz parka]

"It ain't worth nothin', 'cause it ain't for sale!"

That's great! :bwa

[1charger69]

that decal has only 2 patent #s - i believe the 63s should have 3 patent #s spaced differently than those 2

[MrCarson]

that decal has only 2 patent #s - i believe the 63s should have 3 patent #s spaced differently than those 2

It may of been accidentally worn away?, but looking at originals I believe the decal is a repro

A guitar like that, the value is extremely subjective. A guy I knew was asked about the worth of his beat-to-death '52 Les Paul. He responded, "It ain't worth nothin', 'cause it ain't for sale!"
If the value was a concern to you, it might be a good candidate for restoration.

Restoration?
Yep, but the bloody parts are so expensive
I couldn't come to terms with the cost of a bridge, or a pick guard
But when I stopped to consider supply and demand then it's reasonable
But the cost of doing it would possibly out way the return

Hey, It's been re-sprayed, I would of thought it would be difficult to move (although stranger things have happened on ebay!)

I know what the 52 Les Paul guy is talkin about, it would be hard to part with, but as time goes on and music becomes less of a priority if that day ever came I think I'd put it up for someone to have as a project