1963 Fender Strat neck

[dvadneau]

Hi guys,

Hopefully someone can help me out. There are other forums I'll hit later, but I know we've got a bunch of knowledgeable guys here too, so I thought I'd show it here first.

A bandmate has (now in my possession) a 1963 Fender Strat neck. I don't know how he got it exactly, but people have given him old guitars in the past, like an old MusicMan Sabre. He traded that at a second hand music store for a new Traynor amp.

Anyhow, the neck looks legit as far as I can tell. I've read up on the era and what they did at different points and it seems to fit the bill.

For instance, in the second pic you can see where the rosewood was more of a veneer as opposed to a slab, which narrows down the year. There's the date as well

Here are the pics:

The following sequence is of the fingerboard. It's been scalloped by use!

Unfortunately, the original nut is missing...

Notice that the tuners are not the originals. They are Schallers, though.

The back is pretty smooth, but raw. Whatever finish was on doesn't appear to be there now.

I can only guess that the guitar this was on was potentially black, leaving the black "residue" on the heel.

If you look closely at the headstock, just past the nut, you can see some scratches. They are scratches, not cracks. This neck has no structural issues, that I can see.

Now to the question: How much would this be worth, in dollars? My friend's goal is to sell this neck.

I've seen quite a range of prices for '60's Strats and pieces of Strats.

Also, my friend was thinking of removing the tuners. A lot of people prefer an item to be all original, which includes not having non-original stuff attached. We can't do much about the new holes, except fill them, but I think that would make things worse. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

I would just leave the tuners alone and sell it "as is". Let the new owner decide what they want to do about it.

No idea of the value since it's been modified and is missing the nut. You could always throw it on ebay and see what happens.

 

[tc]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

No, I'm sorry, that looks completely fake. The inlays are off, and they didn't even bother putting the entire name on the headstock for crying out loud! What's a Fender "Str"?

Now, I'll send you my address and properly dispose of that piece of firewood for you.

 

[CTN]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

that fretboard looks like it was quite crudely sanded with some really rough grit sandpaper.

No rosewood fretboarded guitar I have ever seen has string-scratch marks like that especially that close to the frets. The strings don't even come in contact with the fretboard that close to the frets, regardless of where they're fingered.

The back looks almost like water damage ...

IMO, it just looks like it's been beaten to hell, and not in a good way.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

I don't believe Fender Strats of that era used two string trees. Also, where is the truss rod pug on the headstock end?

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

Was the fretboard sanded?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

Well, it has really been butchered by an idiot (not "scalloped by use"), and it is not too desirable of a year for Strats in the grand scheme of things, but I'm sure someone will pay something for it. I'd start it on E-Bay at $1 with no reserve and take whatever the highest bid ends up being. You'll get a bunch of e-mails asking what your Buy It Now price is, but jut let the auction run it's course. The market will dictate it's value just fine without any interference.

I'd leave the tuners in, and definitely don't try to talk it up in the auction description like you've done here. That screams used car salesperson-like b.s. and turns off serious bidders. Just take lots of good photos that speak for themselves, and be prepared to be friendly and provide whatever information anyone asks for.

IMO, what really needs to be done to that neck is a refret and a leveling of the fingerboard. Not a lot of meat to work with on the veneer necks, but it can be done. I'd keep it, personally, and do that work myself or have it done for me.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

I don't believe Fender Strats of that era used two string trees. Also, where is the truss rod pug on the headstock end?

There should not be a truss rod plug (or skunk stripe). And string trees could be added at any time (and obviously were in this case).

The black paint is most likely not from the original body, as paint sticks were used in the neck pockets in '63. Therefore, there would have been no paint in the neck pocket in certain areas of that neck where black paint is stuck.

 

[wahwah]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

Well, it has really been butchered by an idiot (not "scalloped by use"), and it is not too desirable of a year for Strats in the grand scheme of things

Since when is L series considered "not too desirable?" They were considered very desirable when I was a teenager in the late 70's. Do you think have they become less desirable over time?

That aside, this neck definitely needs some attention. That scratching should be considered 'damage.'



Cheers...................................... wahwah

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

Since when is L series considered "not too desirable?" They were considered very desirable when I was a teenager in the late 70's. Do you think have they become less desirable over time?

That aside, this neck definitely needs some attention. That scratching should be considered 'damage.'



Cheers...................................... wahwah

I said in the grand scheme of things for a reason. Not as desirable as a slab board or all-maple neck in other words.

 

[wahwah]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

I said in the grand scheme of things for a reason. Not as desirable as a slab board or all-maple neck in other words.

Not as desirable as the most desirable of all does not equate to "not too desirable", even within the 'grand scheme'. An L series Strat could be described as the 'second most desirable Stratocaster era of all time.' That's still pretty desirable in the grand scheme.




Cheers...................................... wahwah

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

What I actually said is "not too desirable of a year for Strats in the grand scheme of things," not what you partially quoted. It's clear enough IMO, though maybe I could have said something like, "In the world of antique Fender parts, they're not as desirable as a slab board or all-maple neck."

In other words, "It ain't as valuable as you might think it is."

 

[dvadneau]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

that fretboard looks like it was quite crudely sanded with some really rough grit sandpaper.

No rosewood fretboarded guitar I have ever seen has string-scratch marks like that especially that close to the frets. The strings don't even come in contact with the fretboard that close to the frets, regardless of where they're fingered.

The back looks almost like water damage ...

IMO, it just looks like it's been beaten to hell, and not in a good way.

Definitely sanded with something harsh. Water damage? I didn't think of that. Any way to know for sure?

Well, it has really been butchered by an idiot (not "scalloped by use"),

I realize someone did something dumb with the scratch marks, but didn't think the overall shape was caused by that. Some of the inlays are slightly taller than the surrounding wood in places, so I thought there was wear. Hard to know for sure because of the obvious sanding, I guess. I just figured the inlays would have been more even to the fretboard if it was simply due to sanding. My impression was that maybe someone tried to "clean" the frets with some sandpaper.

I'd leave the tuners in, and definitely don't try to talk it up in the auction description like you've done here. That screams used car salesperson-like b.s. and turns off serious bidders. Just take lots of good photos that speak for themselves, and be prepared to be friendly and provide whatever information anyone asks for.

Eek! I didn't think I came off that way. I guess I was trying to sell it, but I was excited about it, not trying to hock it to the forum. Sorry about that.

The black paint is most likely not from the original body, as paint sticks were used in the neck pockets in '63. Therefore, there would have been no paint in the neck pocket in certain areas of that neck where black paint is stuck.

Yeah, it was the only explanation I could think of. I guess I shouldn't draw conclusions ahead of time when asking for advice. :scratchch

Thank you, ItsaBass, I appreciate the answers and the candor.

And thanks to all of you for your time. I'll point my bandmate to this thread to help him decide what to do.

 

[wahwah]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

What I actually said is "not too desirable of a year for Strats in the grand scheme of things," not what you partially quoted. It's clear enough IMO, though maybe I could have said something like, "In the world of antique Fender parts, they're not as desirable as a slab board or all-maple neck."

In other words, "It ain't as valuable as you might think it is."

"Not as desirable as a slab board or all maple neck" would be correct. "Not too desirable of a year for Strats in the grand scheme of things" is not correct. That's the difference. L series parts can fetch some pretty serious prices, because most people understand how sought after those instruments are. 50's Strat parts will be more expensive again. Unless the comparison is being made to 50's Strat parts, the last statement doesn't stand either. The point would be whether or not it gives the OP an accurate impression, and there's nothing suggesting that he's considering the price of 50's parts as his point of reference.




Cheers...................................... wahwah

 

[dvadneau]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

That aside, this neck definitely needs some attention. That scratching should be considered 'damage.'

Regardless of whether or not this series is valuable, I think we can agree, this neck isn't a stellar representation of that.

So, maybe a $1 start is a good idea. Let people that are looking for this sort of thing have at it, or not.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

"Not as desirable as a slab board or all maple neck" would be correct. "Not too desirable of a year for Strats in the grand scheme of things" is not correct. That's the difference. L series parts can fetch some pretty serious prices, because most people understand how sought after those instruments are. 50's Strat parts will be more expensive again. Unless the comparison is being made to 50's Strat parts, the last statement doesn't stand either. The point would be whether or not it gives the OP an accurate impression, and there's nothing suggesting that he's considering the price of 50's parts as his point of reference.




Cheers...................................... wahwah

Context made it pretty clear that "the grand scheme of things" in my use in this thread refers to the market for antique Stratocaster parts. I am obviously not saying that the neck is undesirable in comparison to a modern MIM neck. We are obviously talking only about antique Strat parts, and nothing else, in this thread, so the statement is not misleading, however imperfectly crafted it may have been by your standards.

My last statement certainly does "stand" without specifying a comparison to '50's parts, because the point of comparison in the statement is not about parts, but is about "what [the OP] might think." Not "what I know [the OP] thinks." Based on the language in the OP, I though the OP might think that this is a very valuable neck that had only some playing wear. In any case, the word might covers up any slop, and that is why I used it.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

Regardless of whether or not this series is valuable, I think we can agree, this neck isn't a stellar representation of that.

So, maybe a $1 start is a good idea. Let people that are looking for this sort of thing have at it, or not.

If you misunderstood what I wrote initially, I hope it's clear now that all this **** has been raised about my statements. Then it won't have been useless typing.

To sum up what I opined in terms of dollar signs, all I was trying to get across was that you shouldn't expect to get several thousand dollars for the neck. My rough guess is at least a grand, though.

And as for the used car salesman thing, I wasn't accusing you of trying to sleaze off a bum neck on us. Just telling you how people can see things in descriptions. If I was shopping for an antique neck for a neckless '63 Strat body, and I read a description of this particular fretboard that said "scalloped by wear" next to a photo of the board, which has clearly been seriously screwed with, I would immediately rule the seller out as dishonest, and move on. The point was simply, "Don't put your foot in your mouth when trying to sell it." Pictures speak 1,000 words, so that means if you have good pictures, you don't have to speak much!

 

[Bludave]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

It looks like its been refretted too. Those frets look to big for a vintage Fender. Fenders never had two string trees on their guitars until much later. As far as value Fender necks in original condition will sell for over $1000.00. depending on condition(and how bad someone wants it). I would offer your buddy $250.00 then if he baulks on that go to $300. I wouldn't spend much more then that. that is going to need a lot of work & there is no way to tell if the rod is working or not and even if you can get the neck straight to play properly.

 

[uOpt]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

Definitely refretted and some Blackmore fan tried scalloping and rounding the fretboard.

The Schaller tuners imply that the tuner holes have been enlarged. That's a real problem.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: 1963 Fender Strat neck

That neck is a gem. Id say its worth 800-1200.00 as is. I don't see any refret..maybe someone tried to sand the neck fretboard between frets so they could try and get some Malmsteen action..
That neck would sound astonishing with the aged Brazilian wood and aged Maple...a handcrafted master crafstman luthier neck is really something ya gotta play to believe..all your pre-misconceptions about what a neck should be go right out the window, and you have neck that allows you to play like Segovia( well, if you COULD play like Segovia)
Worth 1200.00, but on this economy you might could pick it up for a steal?
NO CNC neck is EVER gonna have the feel of this neck, and no newer neck will ever sound as good.
Being as how "feel" is 9/10ths of playability over and above "action"., no new Strat neck will ever play as good either..