This guitar is a commission sale - if you have high end instruments or musical equipment you are interested in selling please contact us. This guitar is offered for sale to UK BUYERS ONLY. Here for sale we have an incredibly special 1963 Fender Stratocaster, refinished in a Red colour by the highly regarded luthier Ted Lee during the '70s. The serial number and specification of the instrument mean we can be confident of its originality and authenticity as a 1963 Stratocaster. Stratocasters with 'L' Series serial numbers began in late 1962, and ran up to CBS' acquisition of Fender in 1965. The 'L00919' serial indicates that the instrument was part of the earlier run of 'L' series guitars - certainly prior to 1964 when serial numbers followed an L2XXXX format. The butt of the neck is rubber stamped - a practice which was started around March '62. The stamp reads '2FEB63B'. '2' was the code for Stratocaster up to '65. Clearly 'FEB63' indicates the neck was stamped in February '63, and the 'B' denotes that the neck is of standard width. Changes to the Stratocaster specification in 1963 were much less significant from those made to the '62 spec, largely remaining the same save for the relocation of a pickguard screw between the neck and middle pickups. Other indicating factors on the guitar are the presence of a 'slab' Rosewood fingerboard - something which was phased out during '63 in favor of the veneer​/​round-lam fingerboard which was in use until around 1983. The fact that this particular example still has the slab fingerboard and pickguard screw in the '62 location, as well as the low L series serial number and FEB63 stamped neck indicate that it was manufactured early on in 1963, sharing the specification of the '62 Stratocaster. Further evidence of this manufacture date include the pot codes, which with the prefix '304' were made by Stackpole. Fender began using CTS pots during 1963, which aligns with the date code on these pots which is the 6th week of 1963. The presence of the 'worm route' in the bridge pickup cavity to accommodate the wiring harness is a less precise dating indicator but at least places the instrument prior to 1974. In conjunction with all of the evidence outlined above, we can be confident of this instruments' authenticity and originality as an early 1963 Stratocaster. One might expect the presence of nail or clamping holes to the top of the body, which are a remnant of Fender's finishing process, however due to the incredible quality of the refinish job done by Ted Lee, these holes are not apparent, likely having been carefully filled and sanded back to achieve a smooth finish. Other repairs and maintenance that this guitar appears to have undergone during its life include the replacement of the saddles, which although bent steel, are stamped 'FENDER FENDER' rather than 'FENDER PAT PEND' as we would expect in '63. The bridge pickup appears to have been rewound or replaced at some stage as the flatwork is a different colour to the neck & middle. The volume pot has been changed at some stage for an appropriate replacement A favourite year amongst many guitarists and collectors, the '62 Stratocaster specification has been reissued numerous times by Fender and imitated by many other manufacturers. This instrument is an exemplary demonstration of the reason for that; there is a certain magic to it which is very difficult to precisely lay a finger on. The Brazilian Rosewood of the fingerboard is of course not an option on modern guitars due to CITES regulations, and there is no doubt that it does add a distinctive character to the playing experience. The neck profile; although 'Standard' at the time as shown by the 'B' stamp on the butt, feels rather slim in comparison to even modern Fender guitars, offering playability which is strikingly comfortable and smooth. It must have been truly revolutionary at the time. The contours of the body are much more generous than modern Stratocasters thanks to the fact that they were hand sanded back then. The pickups produce a genuine vintage tone, with warmth and clarity and a lower output than modern iterations for a unique sound. Perhaps it's all of these minute factors which add up to greater than the sum of their parts. Maybe it’s the knowledge that so many guitar heroes have used an instrument that was on the production line in the same year as this guitar, and that so many famous recordings feature these instruments. Perhaps it's the sense that all of the reissues and imitations that have come in the subsequent years are based on- even down to the ageing of the pickguard to mint green - a colour which is offered as standard today. Perhaps it really is just magic. Brand- Fender Model- Stratocaster Finish- Refinished Red Year- 1963 Made In- USA Body- Alder Neck- Maple Fingerboard- Slab Rosewood Fingerboard Radius- 9.5" Frets- 21 Scale Length- 25.5" Nut Width- 1.6605" Pickups- 3x Fender Single-Coils Controls- 5-Way Blade Switch, Maste

Verification report

Luthier Report Our ID: 1120625108060 Weight: 7.8lbs Serial: L00919 Aesthetic Condition: Headstock: Overall very good condition. A previously repaired crack is apparent to the front face of the headstock. This has been secured before the re-finish in the ‘70s, and presents no structural concern. It does not pass through the headstock and is only superficial. Light indentation is apparent to the front face towards the top of the headstock, continuing onto the top edges. These markings are also apparent around the perimeter of the headstock, most notably to the treble side. An additional hole has been drilled beneath the tuning machines, likely as a preventative measure for the aforementioned crack. This is again prior to the re-finish and remains entirely stable. Neck: Overall very good condition. The rear of the neck demonstrates a moderate chip to the finish in the early register, behind the bass side of the 3rd fret. This can be felt under the thumb but does not impact overall playability. Further light indentation is apparent in the early register, not piercing the finish. The fingerboard demonstrates playwear and indentation throughout, however this cannot be felt under the strings and does not impact playability. Body: Overall very good condition, the front face demonstrates light scratching and very light indentation throughout, most concentrated between the bass side waist and pickguard, consistent with regular play wear. The sides and rear demonstrate similar markings. Condition of Frets: The frets demonstrate moderate signs of wear in the early register, with some indentation to the treble side of the frets. This does not currently impact playability, and as you climb the neck the condition of the frets quickly improves to what could be described as "light signs of wear". There is no indication of a re-fret as the tangs are finished over. Current Set Up: Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (flathead driver) not included. Hardware: Fully functional with moderate signs of wear. The middle tone control knob has been replaced. The saddles on the bridge have been replaced. Neither of these original parts are included. Original tremolo arm included. The pickguard and pickup covers demonstrate notable signs of wear, with the 3 ply pickguard delaminating in places, and cracking from the neck pickup bass side height screw through to the pickguard edge. Studying other 1963 examples, this seems a common fault. All hardware and pickguard etc demonstrate notable scratching causing a hazing of the finish. Structural: No concerns or issues to note. Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.25mm - Bass 1.75mm Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height. Strings on Guitar - 10-46 Further Notes: This guitar underwent a full re-finish in the early ‘70s by the esteemed Ted Lee. He was well known for his encyclopedic knowledge of guitars and repairs, performing official finish work for Fender at times. The work is exceptional, having held up wonderfully over the last 50 years. Body Dimensions: Bass side horn - 44.27mm treble side horn - 43.57mm Bass side lower bout (Thinnest part of body contour) - 16.36mm Treble side lower bout - 43.74mm Lower bout width - 32.2cm Neck Dimensions: Depth at 1st - 20.29mm Depth at 12th - 23.80mm Width at nut - 42.14mm Width at 12th - 51.28mm Electrics: Fully functional. The bridge pickup appears to have been re-wound or replaced, as the flatwork on the base of the bobbin is a slightly different colour and appears to have been stamped "4039". It runs a thinner sound than the traditional bridge pickup. The volume pot has been replaced. The 3 way switch has been replaced for a 5-way CRL switch, in line with Fender standards. Original 3-way switch included. Additional ground wires have been added to the rear of the pots. Pickup Readings: Neck - 6.46kΩ Middle - 6.18kΩ Bridge - 5.62kΩ Case & Accessories: Non-original c.1970s Fender Hard Case. Fully functional with moderate signs of wear, most notably slight detachment of one of the case latches. The case protects the guitar as intended. 2x Tremolo arms, spare pickguard, original 3-way switch, strap buttons, spare trem spring & Fender strap included in the case. This guitar is a commission sale - if you have high end instruments or musical equipment you are interested in selling please contact us. This guitar is offered for sale to UK BUYERS ONLY.