1954 Stratocaster, real, replica, details, fakes and famous.

A couple more blonde finishes but this is a 59.
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It’s the look I like but I need to find something earlier as a reference.
 
Half the fun is tracking down the right parts.
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61 number and the right font under the chrome.
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It started with this stunning replica bridge and I had to put a guitar on it🤣
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Nice 61 2 pat number decal.
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And correct single line gotoh made tuners with kluson branding
 
A quick question;
Here is a fender master built bridge;
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Anyone see what is wrong with it?
Compare to the pic above 👆🏻
This level of detail only matters if you care about it or this bridge was on a “100% original “ vintage Strat priced accordingly.
This level of quality in replica parts ( the ones I used) causes serious problems in the vintage market because you really need a lot of experience to spot them and it gets increasingly difficult even with it . If wanted to make a fake and had the appropriate budget it would be very difficult to spot. With prices for a pre CBS Strat in decent original condition with no swapped parts starting at about £25k the temptation for the unscrupulous gets bigger. Dealers definitely mostly don’t have the ability to identify this stuff properly either .
Here is a vintage original for reference;
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The condition is not helpful but it is clear if you know what you’re looking for.
 
Real 60s plastic;
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Late 50s
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My 61 knobs look a good replica for these which is fine because the ones above are 62.
 
Back to 54🤣
This is a restoration refinish.
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Unfortunately I can’t learn much from this. I should easily be able to do something similar but I don’t have a single picture of an actual 54 in blonde, only later.
 
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Eagle said:
A quick question;
Here is a fender master built bridge;
View attachment 29132
Anyone see what is wrong with it?
Click to expand...
Polished edge, like you've mentioned?

My old man used to do this sort of thing when he collected pre-war Lionel trains. There were lots of incorrect repro parts out there. But only if you knew what to look for.

The paint on the car bodies would have very slight diagonal runs in them, due to how they would hang the bodies to dry. He told me if there were no lines, it was a repro. It was hard to tell. Once people started mimicking that aspect as well, it became near impossible.
 
TSJMajesty said:
Polished edge, like you've mentioned?

My old man used to do this sort of thing when he collected pre-war Lionel trains. There were lots of incorrect repro parts out there. But only if you knew what to look for.

The paint on the car bodies would have very slight diagonal runs in them, due to how they would hang the bodies to dry. He told me if there were no lines, it was a repro. It was hard to tell. Once people started mimicking that aspect as well, it became near impossible.
Click to expand...
No because they started polishing them in the late 50s. If this was on an earlier guitar you would be correct. One more thing at least as obvious . The 61style replica I posted has a polished edge to no period correct.
 
TSJMajesty said:
Polished edge, like you've mentioned?

My old man used to do this sort of thing when he collected pre-war Lionel trains. There were lots of incorrect repro parts out there. But only if you knew what to look for.

The paint on the car bodies would have very slight diagonal runs in them, due to how they would hang the bodies to dry. He told me if there were no lines, it was a repro. It was hard to tell. Once people started mimicking that aspect as well, it became near impossible.
Click to expand...
Well spotted BTW but the answer is no tool marks on the new fender saddles and heavy scratches on the originals from the bending process.
 
That is really splitting hairs but you’re right, most wouldn’t see it, I didn’t. I thought it was maybe the font on the saddles but hard to tell for sure in the pics. Thanks for the lesson friend.
 
I could ask anyone to spot the only and very small error on the repro?
You would deserve a prize for seeing it.
One clue;
Fender gets it right on their custom shop bridge. I'm not talking about the block shape and it is visible in the pictures above.
 
What do you think of the Mark Foley bridge @Eagle? I know he doesn't sell them anymore but a friend has one on strat along with some of Mark's pickups and they're allegedly a pretty close copy of an original.
 
SillyOctpuss said:
What do you think of the Mark Foley bridge @Eagle? I know he doesn't sell them anymore but a friend has one on strat along with some of Mark's pickups and they're allegedly a pretty close copy of an original.
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It's the one I have here. It's the closest to an original there is. Crazy parts still have some of their stuff but they sell it as Black Country Guitar Parts. None of it is still in production but their neck plates are identical to originals too.
 
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Trying to find a good version of this;
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They don’t need to have a pat no.
I have a set with the body of the tuner correct but the buttons are not right.
 
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