1962 Fender Strat

Diminished Triad

Diminished Triad

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There's lots of writing and info about the year 1962 being a major step for Fender and Strats...........has anyone played a strat from that year? Seems there are so many variations available today but hard to find the actual 1962 model (re-issued) with its standard specs.

Has anyone tried the D neck from back in the early 60's? Saw one model for sale that highlighted that feature as one of the rare '62s released. Most seem to be the traditional oval C which is larger than the modern C shaped necks available on Fenders today.

Thanks!
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

Part of the over-emphasis on 1962 stems from Fender using it as the name on its first American Vintage Re-issue Stratocaster model back in the early Eighties. The reason later given was that 1962 saw numerous specification changes. Fender took the view that they could legitimately switch from, say, the slab to the radiused rosewood fingerboard joint without needing to rename the model.

The original instruments were belt sanded by hand. Neck profiles would vary from one instrument to the next.

The CNC-shaped modern re-issue necks are far more consistent than the originals ever were. So are the pickups. Hence, there is less chance of an exceptional instrument with exactly the right neck profile for any one customer.
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

You start a lot of threads about 1962 Strats...

I'm curious...what is it that has you so hung up on one year??

The D neeck thing refers to the nut width, not the shape so don't confuse a "D neck" with an "oval C neck"...in those terms a D neck is the nut width and an oval C is the shape.

Vintage Fender nut width breakdown

A = 1 1/2
B = 1 5/8
C = 1 3/4
D = 1 7/8

Now, keep in mind ALL of those necks were done by hand so once the neck was finished they would measure it and pick whatever was closest to those 4 sizes and stamp it.

FWIW, I have never, personally seen a Fender "D neck" and have seen VERY few "C necks"...the majority of Fender necks were B necks and in truth most of them were slightly over that 1 5/8 measurement...you'll notice that Fender is VERY fond of a 1.65 nut width on their reissues.

Anyway, I am rambling...so back to you...whats with the hang up on a 62 Strat??

Also, do you realize that even for a rough as all hell players grade 62 Strat you're looking at around 10k??

Mint examples can go 25k or more...
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

Funkfingers said:
Part of the over-emphasis on 1962 stems from Fender using it as the name on its first American Vintage Re-issue Stratocaster model back in the early Eighties. The reason later given was that 1962 saw numerous specification changes. Fender took the view that they could legitimately switch from, say, the slab to the radiused rosewood fingerboard joint without needing to rename the model.
.
Click to expand...

+1.

CBS took over during (or by?) 1965, so the pre-cbs strats can be divided up into two main eras. Those with one piece maple necks and those with rosewood fingerboards.

However, among the rosewood finger board models the necks made from 1958 1/2 to 1963 have the "slab board" or thick rosewood finger boards. Those made after 1962 have a thin vener RW fingerboard. I guess if your planning on re-issuing pre-cbs strats your going to want one with a RW fingerboard and one with a one piece maple neck.

I think they did right to re-issue the slab board neck instead of the thin vener fingerboard model. A thick slasb board will likely offer a greater tonal difference from a 50s strat with one piece maple neck.

Also 57 among the strats with maple necks is more like the early 60's models in terms of an alder body like a 62. If they re-issued a 54, 55, or 56 it technically would need an light weight ash body to be historically correct. 57s had more numbers of strats with custom colors than earlier too. The early 60s strats was the age of solid colors, where as most (probably 90%) real 50's strats were two tone burst only. So by having 57 and 62 reissues, that gave the modern Fender company more lee way in terms of marketing and build options for pre-cbs re-issues.
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

the guy who invented fire said:
Also, do you realize that even for a rough as all hell players grade 62 Strat you're looking at around 10k??

Mint examples can go 25k or more...
Click to expand...

More than that a few years ago. But maybe since the crash the prices have come down. The women that used to cut my hair (RIP-breast cancer) had a mint 61 tele and mint 61 strat, both in red, from her parents, which she sold for more than 60K each. I also knew a girl that had a 57 strat, from her grandpa, who sold it to finance med school.
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

There's a 62 or 63 Strat in one of the shops here, it's in pretty rough shape (someone stripped the finish at some point), and it's still listed at $17,500.
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

I've played several '62's, and even repaired one when I worked for a music shop. The one I repaired was an outstanding guitar. It had been stripped to bare wood and had giant Grovers installed, so it wasn't as collectable as some, but the tone was otherworldly and it played great. The others were in better shape, but didn't stand out as being particularly great. I've played CBS Fenders that were as good or better than most of those '62's I've played...and some CBS ones that were worse. Just like new guitars, old ones vary considerably. Many old guitars are actually dogs that would easily be bested by a present-day reissue. So I would not buy based on year/specs alone. Go play a bunch and buy the one that is the best for you.
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

That same shop has a 67 or 68 strat, as well. Having played them both, I would pick the CBS one everytime.
 
Re: 1962 Fender Strat

Based on the couple I have - FJ's are really well made. One's a "Craft Shop" and the other a Japan market so not the line exported to the US. Only sin is a thick finish and I did not care for the bridge hardware on either.

FCS has more 'Lacquer' finish options.
 
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