Fender Stratocaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1960)
This item has been sold.
Item # 9899
Prices subject to change without notice.
Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 45547, sunburst lacquer re- finish, alder body with Brazilian rosewood fingerboard on maple neck, original brown tolex hard shell case.
This is a truly great feeling player's "slab board" Stratocaster, previously the property of well known modern hard rock player Richard Fortus (best known as a member of the latter day Guns'n'Roses). The guitar was recently sold from the Richard Fortus collection, and has been little played since. Fortus has been a member of Guns N' Roses since 2002 and collaborated extensively with The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler and fellow Guns N' Roses bandmate Frank Ferrer. He is a former member of Love Spit Love, Thin Lizzy, and The Dead Daisies and provided guitar for Replacements/Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson's two solo albums.
The body of this Stratocaster has been refinished to the highest standard in a very correct looking three-faded to two tone sunburst. The penciled body date of 1-60 is still visible in the trem cavity. It has been lightly relic-ed and has signs of genuine use since the refinish as well. The neck was refinished in thin nitro with a slightly more satin-y character than the original lacquer, but a very comfortable feel. According to Fortus the finish is by ex-Fender Custom shop master J. Black. It has a correct style repro decal and the original tuners and string tree. There is no penciled neck date which is correct for early 1960, but the guitar retains the original neckplate with a serial # correct for that period.
The original "green' nitrocellulose pickguard is in place, with one lower corner missing and the typical crack on the bass side by the neck pickup. The pickup screw adjacent to this is screwed down into the body wood, securing this area from movement (remember this was a stage and recording guitar). The pickguard and pickup screws have been replaced, the knobs replaced with era-correct knobs. The guitar retains the original bridge, saddles and tremolo fittings. The trem back plate is missing.
The original pickups are still fitted, the middle pickup has been rewound to original spec. The wiring rig is mostly original with two out of three original pots date coded the 46th week of 1959 and the lowest (middle tone) pot replaced. The caps and wiring are original, with some disturbances to the solder joints from the disassembly required for refinishing over the years. The switch tip is replaced.
The neck has been refretted with wire somewhat taller and wider than the original spec, as would be expected for a modern rock guitar. The frets are not hugely oversize, and play very well. Typically the nut was also replaced. This is indeed a great feeling and sounding Stratocaster, at under 7.7 Lbs. fairly light for the period. When sold from the Richard Fortus Collection this was described as his #1 go-to Strat for recording purposes. "This has the best sounding bridge pickup I've ever heard. We cloned this pickup for my Trussart signature model" is an additional comment by Richard Fortus on the signed certificate provided.
Overall length is 38 15/16 in. (98.9 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This guitar has moderate play wear for its age, some of which appears induced and some authentic. There is light finish checking present on the headstock, neck, and body; the finish under the tuners is flaking possibly from residual oils in the wood. The back of the neck is worn down with a lovely satin feel. The body has numerous scratches, dings, and chips but no heavy wear or relic-ing.
Originality of the hardware is as noted above. The original pickguard and pickup covers have visible scratches and minor dings and some residual funk from heavy playing. There is a decent amount of corrosion to the original bridge plate and saddles; the saddle height screws are replaced. The original neckplate and screws, strap buttons and trem block have some corrosion as well.
The original brown case is included, very worn but functional with the leather ends and interior pocket gone but all latches still working. This is a well played but great playing and sounding Strat, well restored and then played in again with a cool history. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a truly great feeling player's "slab board" Stratocaster, previously the property of well known modern hard rock player Richard Fortus (best known as a member of the latter day Guns'n'Roses). The guitar was recently sold from the Richard Fortus collection, and has been little played since. Fortus has been a member of Guns N' Roses since 2002 and collaborated extensively with The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler and fellow Guns N' Roses bandmate Frank Ferrer. He is a former member of Love Spit Love, Thin Lizzy, and The Dead Daisies and provided guitar for Replacements/Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson's two solo albums.
The body of this Stratocaster has been refinished to the highest standard in a very correct looking three-faded to two tone sunburst. The penciled body date of 1-60 is still visible in the trem cavity. It has been lightly relic-ed and has signs of genuine use since the refinish as well. The neck was refinished in thin nitro with a slightly more satin-y character than the original lacquer, but a very comfortable feel. According to Fortus the finish is by ex-Fender Custom shop master J. Black. It has a correct style repro decal and the original tuners and string tree. There is no penciled neck date which is correct for early 1960, but the guitar retains the original neckplate with a serial # correct for that period.
The original "green' nitrocellulose pickguard is in place, with one lower corner missing and the typical crack on the bass side by the neck pickup. The pickup screw adjacent to this is screwed down into the body wood, securing this area from movement (remember this was a stage and recording guitar). The pickguard and pickup screws have been replaced, the knobs replaced with era-correct knobs. The guitar retains the original bridge, saddles and tremolo fittings. The trem back plate is missing.
The original pickups are still fitted, the middle pickup has been rewound to original spec. The wiring rig is mostly original with two out of three original pots date coded the 46th week of 1959 and the lowest (middle tone) pot replaced. The caps and wiring are original, with some disturbances to the solder joints from the disassembly required for refinishing over the years. The switch tip is replaced.
The neck has been refretted with wire somewhat taller and wider than the original spec, as would be expected for a modern rock guitar. The frets are not hugely oversize, and play very well. Typically the nut was also replaced. This is indeed a great feeling and sounding Stratocaster, at under 7.7 Lbs. fairly light for the period. When sold from the Richard Fortus Collection this was described as his #1 go-to Strat for recording purposes. "This has the best sounding bridge pickup I've ever heard. We cloned this pickup for my Trussart signature model" is an additional comment by Richard Fortus on the signed certificate provided.
Overall length is 38 15/16 in. (98.9 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This guitar has moderate play wear for its age, some of which appears induced and some authentic. There is light finish checking present on the headstock, neck, and body; the finish under the tuners is flaking possibly from residual oils in the wood. The back of the neck is worn down with a lovely satin feel. The body has numerous scratches, dings, and chips but no heavy wear or relic-ing.
Originality of the hardware is as noted above. The original pickguard and pickup covers have visible scratches and minor dings and some residual funk from heavy playing. There is a decent amount of corrosion to the original bridge plate and saddles; the saddle height screws are replaced. The original neckplate and screws, strap buttons and trem block have some corrosion as well.
The original brown case is included, very worn but functional with the leather ends and interior pocket gone but all latches still working. This is a well played but great playing and sounding Strat, well restored and then played in again with a cool history. Overall Very Good + Condition.