I've been a 'strat' man for over thirty years, but this fascination with vintage instruments still baffles me. Fenders were built on production lines by regular workers, not master luthiers, they are tools to do a job which they do exceedingly well. An old guitar is just that... an old guitar. the tuners might be worn out, the frets almost certainly will be and likely the switch will only be a three way. I can remember when 'vintage guitars would only ever sell for half the price of a new instrument, even with a celebrity pedigree (Dave Murray's black strat was originally Paul Kossof's white strat, but he got it for a couple of hundred pounds in the 70s). If you like the style of a vintage guitar, get a reissue (my no.1 strat is a 1987 vintage '72 reissue that I bought new back in 87) and you'll be less worried about repairs and maintenance as time goes on. Spending big money on a genuine vintage guitar that you'll probably never play live at a gig is frankly madness to me, but you'll do it whatever I say...
Couldn't agree more and you'll also have infinitely more choice of instruments. Plenty of excellent guitars have and are being made post 60's generation so why limit yourself to the few vintage guitars floating around in the market? Collectors are another story but typically they become just a piece of furniture and are never played.
The crazy thing is because strats are easy to modify, update and change, sensible 'tinkerers' like them like them for this fact. Point in question is Dave Gilmours 'Black Strat' that someone paid over £2,000,000.00 for! (Madness!) This guitar had gone through so many changes and modifications in it's used life because it WAS USED AND REGULARLY PLAYED and not an ornament, and also Gilmour liked to experiment with his sound too, that if it was not for his guitar techs recorded notes about it when he changed a neck or pickup or somthing, the fact that it had been changed or altered would have be lost in time. If this guitar belonged to 'Joe Public' it would have had trouble raising £200 on Ebay! The world is full of stupid gullable people with more money than sense, in my opinion. No wonder there is a thriving market for fake 'historic' guitars of famous rock stars...
I totally agree with you. I love Strats, and have studied the history and technical details pretty closely, and appreciate that the Vintage Reissue series will get guitarists as close as they can to an affordable near-new '50's or '60's Strat. I have a '57 Reissue in Ocean Turquoise, and it's a guitar I would never part with. Plus, I can't stop making fun of the "relic" guitars Fender are making now, as if applying sandpaper will give the instrument more "mojo". Ha ha ha ha ha...... You would never do this to a new sports car. What is it with these gullible "wanna have's"? (p.s. did you mean to write " '62 reissue " ?)
Television was never free was it. Just so happens Fender has the money to throw around promoting secondary products like tutorials. *I always wanted to learn to play, but the beginning was so hard!*
People were faking Fender guitars as far as back in the late 1980's. I started collecting vintage guitars back in 1973 when you could buy a vintage 1950's Strat/Tele for $500.00 for Mint !!
people were faking them well in the 70s even. thats why about 50 percent of the strats teles and les pauls are fakes but passed around for years as real. unless a guitar has a documented history you cannot verify its real.
Correction: Fake Fender guitars like the Strat & Jaguar models were being made in the philippines, back in the 60's. I remember seeing them in pawnshops. They never looked quite right and if the pawnshop owner was honest, he'd let you know that it wasn't an authentic Fender. Fake Gibsons were also being made at that time.
In 1977, when I was 20 (42 years ago), I bought a used '68 Strat for about $300. And as great a deal that was, it was still a lot of money for me, back in those days. Thank God I did, because by the '80s, and particularly once internet sales began, they basically became unaffordable for most people. Internet brokers were catering to a huge interest in vintage American guitars from wealthy Asian (especially, Japanese) buyers. I still have it and it's one of my favorite guitars - and certainly the most valuable of them. Funny thing, my dad, at the time I bought it, thought it was a huge waste of money. LOL
As much as a hate to admit my newer foreign made locking tuners kick the crap out of my vintage tuners, and sadly it works the same for pickups. I guess it's all the decades of knowledge and experience the drives the cheaper cost and innovation, and amps and effect are a prime examples. Great video with good advice.
Love the tone you're getting with in the opening jam - there's just something about a vintage Strat that gives you a purity in the sound that a lot of other guitars just don't deliver
@@lueysixty-six7300 I am happy that my 86-87 Kramer American Pacer HSS has the most beautiful sounding Seymour Duncan single coils that get that nice vintage sound. Could be due to no "Tone" pot and each pickup having an "On/Off" switch. My 96 MIM Strat has a Bull Frog loaded pickguard with vintage wound pickups and that is wonderful sounding too. One day I hope you are able to get yourself a Super Strat.
BS lol. It’s the player 99%. In the hands of a talented musician, a 2019 Strat played through a decent amp will sound every bit as good as a “vintage” guitar. If you’re hearing a difference, it’s most likely all in your head. 😉
Nunya Bizness who cares? All they said was I enjoyed the tone in this video. Of course if you don’t know how to make it talk it’s not going to sound good. This is this dude’s dream guitar and people enjoy the sound. The end. It does t matter if it’s a million dollars or $10. Good tone is good tone. Just be happy about it and move on.
I've always thought it would be cool to have some gear from the year I was born(68) and have been looking around the internet for '68 strats. The info you shared will be very helpful,thank you.
I find it funny that all of these sought after Gibson and Fender traits, like "tone wood" or pickups, were originally just whatever the shop had laying around as materials.
Hey Robert, Thanks for posting! Interesting how much easier it is to date say a Gibson VS a Fender. At least in terms of with Gibson, the entire guitar was assembled during one process. With Fenders being modular, you could have a guitar with components that span several years of manufacture. I have a Strat that I have owned since 73. The neck plate and pots date it to 67 but the neck code has it being Oct. 69. It was that way when I got it and the case was original to it. Fender would have stockpiles of parts and would put whatever was available as they assembled guitars. Even though it’s a post CBS, it’s a phenomenal guitar. I’ll never part with it. Later on the quality probably did drop but it’s not like they flipped a switch and the guitars sucked the next day after CBS took over. Jimi didn’t seem to mind playing his 69.
Robert Baker - that's when you can post a link to a 'extended takes' or 'outtakes cut' to capture a secondary audience, what the heck it's more views people can enjoy and there's nothing wrong with the content, After all people should do several hours of their own research before attempting to buy vintage. Some of the cleverest evil-est fakes might fool even the George Gruhns and people like that of course.
Haven’t played guitar in quite a few years. Your Strat videos got me back into it. Bought my first Strat a few days ago and would like to own a vintage at some point . Thank you sir
WHY??? Whats wrong with a shiny new one with 'vintage' sounding pickups? You sir have MUG written on your forehead with money to waste in your pocket too like so many people seem to. Buy a nice antique sideboard instead! if you have not played for a few years why the craving for an 'vintage' one. You are obviously not really interested in playing guitar very much, just someone looking for a dinner party 'ornament' to tell your chummies about that you own...
Beautiful 63' Robert. I really like that you restored period correct pots and the 3-way, love it. I'm new to the channel and really enjoying it so far. Keep up the great content.
The sniff test, if it smells like gramas attic, chances are it's old🤪 . Btw, I have a nice 1963 Princeton Brownface amp that would pair up nicely with that babe.
JukeBoxHero 's I bought a 60’s roadworn strat a couple years ago, it was brand new and it had the smell, sort of aged, moldy wood smell. I don’t know if Fender actually replicates the smell, but it is very convincing if they do.
@@RyanSnyder1232 I wouldn't be surprised that deep down in some secret basement they have concocted a paint scent with rat droppings mixed in with mothballs and a touch of basil sprayed onto the bodies. So when they "relic" the gits, out comes gramas essence🤪
The circular marks, or “circle routs”, are where the machinist touched off the cavity floor with most likely a different size end mill cutter. He sets his depth at zero and makes the required pocket route. I often see these “touch off” marks under the pick-guard on the neck tenon of vintage Les Paul DC Juniors & Specials
If/when I were to buy a pre-CBS strat...I would ONLY buy from Norman's Rare Guitars, Carters, or similar. You're gonna pay top dollar, but it's pretty much guaranteed authentic. I would NEVER buy one from Reverb.
That is a very nice ‘63 strat! It’s been restored to it’s original condition in a wonderful way. Nice plastic parts, good repro headstock decal. Your guitar has got the best looking fingerboard I’ve ever seen on a strat. It’s kinda unique too because it’s the only pre L-series guitar with the later style pickguard I know of. I think they moved one of the screws a bit further down by the end of summer in ‘63. A very cool strat. Congrats! Greetings from Holland.
@@ogopogo1397 im curious are you joking because i always thought the finish and decal look all wrong. Way too shiny with dark clay dots black fingerboard when it should be brazilian. It might be legit but id never buy one so new looking imo
I use a handheld router to build my guitars, and my pickup cavities, control cavities, etc. are always flawless and CNC-like. Maybe I should work for Fender. lol A router and a jig go a long ways, and make for a process just about as fast as a CNC. Just more "hand-made".
Hi, nice video but the picture of slab board is not from pre CBS neck... I mean the neck with Slab board from Pre CBS always have truss rod adjustment screw into rosewood a bit. The picture you used in the video is appearently separated between rosewood and the screw. anyway I love the story you got the 63 strat!
The screw placed between the middle and the neck pickup, not a biggie I would say but something that could tell if it would lineup as a 62 or 63. It's moved closer to the middle pickup on 63s
DAMN! Every time I hear you play that '63 it sounds sooooooo good. Cool video BTW. Great info and incite into your research and the world of vintage Strats.
Bass player with almost thirty years playing experience here. Vintage instruments are great. They track well, they sound good. No one is debating that, however, they are not worth the cost. Repairs can be costly, ESPECIALLY if you have to replace parts and want to keep it original, and necks can be finicky. If you can afford one, be my guest. But with all the options anymore you can get a modern instrument that’ll play better and survive the beating that constant gigging will put on it.
How is very handy because I've owned a strat for about 25never knew what build date was and now I know how to find out cuz it was used when I got it and I worked on it for quite a while to get it to play absolutely great
Don,t buy a vintage strat unless you are buying it for its antique value . They newer ones play and sound better Even some of the partscastrers are tweeked to make a better instrument . Bottom line is the vintage fender is not the holy grail.
This information is fairly spot on, web info is sketchy at best, if you're into vintage fender you need to speak with dealers that are high-end vintage instruments , people who have studied the History of Fender SINUFICANTLY...two books that are VITAL by Fender Historians The Soul of Tone Fender Amps and Fender Guitars, the books are not inexpensive, ESET right now especially if you get the first printing of either book they can be $150 or more find them used on eBay for the first addition 2006/2007, there are new sets at 360 dollars, I was gifted mine by an Engineer from FMIC back when it first came out...this is as valuable as my L.D. Heater 1968 Hard Bound Gibson Catalogue
Thank you for this. I am about to send money for a replica Strat made in Corona. 2019 manufacture, and your decal pictures showing the Emblem and patent numbers showed it is a 1963-64 replication, with US S/N. I know there are Chinese fakes of even the US manufactured replicas. This vid assured me this guitar was almost assuredly made in CA. Thanks again.
It's a good thing if you know someone who knows these things before shelling out. I bought a '63 strat and everything was original according to my man but then as we were looking at the neck the truss rod screw, the phillips shape nut at the base of the neck just fell out!! It wouldn't screw back in. I guess the rod thread had been so cross threaded there was no way of adjusting the neck. That was a deal breaker for me. I suppose if you have enough money you can fix anything. but replacing a truss rod looked to me like major heart surgery on these old guitars. Previously, I'd spent £30 giving it to a guitar shop to check it out and they hadn't seen this major issue. What I'm saying is there are loads of dodgy guitars but plenty of books out there so it's worth cramming it all yourself so you don't waste £20,000 or so. That could really hurt.
I'm late discovering this but great video. I have a 65 Strat that I bought in 75. It had already been modified, and I had some further mods (refret, rewire, tuners) done in the 70s. It was already refinished and had a single ply pick guard. I still have 2 original pots which appear to be Stackpole 1957, so I'm wondering if the pickups are also from the late 50s? 2 black bottom and 1 grey bottom. I assume at least one was replaced. Is there a way to determine what the pickups are?
I appreciate this video, but pictures are better than words when you are trying to describe "imperfect router marks" vs. perfect CNC routing. The two examples on the inside of your guitar weren't really sufficient to demonstrate the comparison. More still pictures with arrows and explanations of the routing errors vs.CNC routes would have been helpful.
you havent mentioned the dowel marks on the body front and back (2x per side) these are very important to know whether is a real or a fake body, the fendar decal in that guitar isnt original way too white and the "patent pend" name is missing under the contour body. we call it clay dots but arent made of clay it was a kind of fiber material and the name clay was adopted. I really dont think you are quite known with pre cbs strats, the L came later and stood for Leo (Fender) not just 1 as u try to explain, the tuners had also differences to recognize whether were relic or originals....
Im a beginner and this kind of information makes me alittle more confident on how to purchase my first guitar in the future.This is my favorite video so far thank you robert.\m/stay rock'n!\m/ and i'll cya in the next 1 peace and guitar arm grease
Just a note on the patent #. If it was for the trem, they couldn't have put that on a hardtail without exposing themselves to significant liability. If you mark your product, it better be a commercial embodiment of the patent. If not, you are subject to false marking claims, which, I think used to be qui tam (that is, anyone could sue), and you would have to pay damages for EVERY instance of the false marking. With a lot of hardtails, that could end up being a lot of money. Pro tip from your friendly neighborhood patent attorney and former student.
Happy New Year to the Baker clan and to my fellow subscribers! So, what if I have a 63 Strat body, 71 tone pots, 68 volume pot, 67 blade switch and 61 Neck? Ohh I have got myself a Cluster F**k of a geetar lololol. I think that's one area that Les Paul really has it over the Strat, it's much harder to fake a vintage Les Paul because of everything you mentioned Robert, not that it isn't frequently tried though!! I saw one awhile ago and the guy was trying to say it was a 1965 Gibson Les Paul - he told me that date because I was talking about wanting to buy a Les Paul for my birth year but darn it I was born in 1965 - in case someone isn't aware, they stopped making the Les Paul in 1959 and didn't make them again until 1968 (67?). So right off the bat I knew this guy was trying to pull a fast one, that and his $1500 price tag lol. It was a beautiful guitar though and I might have given him $250 for it lol. Oh I heard that missed harmonic there Mr. Baker!! Lol, I can't get those to play consistently if my life depended on it! I see Tyler over there on Music is Win doing it like it's nothing and I get so envious lol.
Yeah it's often overlooked that Gibson was just way more experienced in the world of documenting and like you said the construction process is so different.
The problem is that anything made. Can be remade!! Some of these "Fakes" are extremely difficult to check out. Even with dated pots, you can source originals/wiring looms on E bay (even though expensive) all the routing and nail holes etc etc can easily be duplicated. When original early Strats are going for a fortune the Fakers have plently of money available to make their Fakes look right!
Robert , I was just watching a video by Mike @CGS about the company in Spain are making pre CBS strats that are almost impossible to prove that it's not a true pre CBS strat . So nowadays you never really know .
Man, that mid-range response is just perfect from that guitar. And it has a wonderful balance of full-note and spank, ya know? You made a really sound purchase there, Robert. I have to wonder if you find yourself gravitating to it more often than your others? I have recently become this way with all of my other guitars, following purchase of two Eastman LPs. Once you find a guitar or two that outshine the others, it becomes difficult to pick the others up. I am selling off a bunch of mine because I know that they will now stay on the bench in the dugout. lol
Most vintage guitars are really only valuable to a collector who most likely doesn’t even play it. Lol. I value my ability to play the instrument far more than getting wrapped around the axle about the age or expense of the instrument. There’s tons of modern guitars that play every bit as well and sound every bit as good as any vintage instrument. Imho, spend your money & time becoming a better musician than geeking out on equipment. 😎
I've always said "No one can hear the name on the headstock of your guitar" Either you can play the damn thing or you can't. Eddie van Halen set the world on fire with a guitar he made with 120 dollars worth of scrap guitar parts. EVH guitars put out an EXACT replica of that guitar and the price was 25,000 dollars!!
Great video. I never knew what to look for in the routing. Thanks for the information. Not that I’ll ever be able to afford one anyway but a guy can dream. Great playing as well
Sick video, just FYI you have a mistake on the tuner slide card where it says “tunners”. Not sure if you care or want to fix it but I figured if it were my video I’d want someone to tell me. Thanks for the killer vids man!
I’am maybe about to buy a Fender Stratocaster White Mexico from 1992 is That a Vintige guitar? Dose it county If it’s 30 years old? Cheers everyone have a great day!
I would put some better quality pots and caps in it and toss the originals in a box or a baggie. RSguitarworks makes some killer pot upgrade kits for the vintage strat.Seriously if you want that guitar to sound even better get the RS pot upgrade kit.
Happy Robert Baker n many more videos we can appreciate from you.play that funky music.i really enjoy your channel.And those super nice guitars you have.peace
i learned many many years ago that if you are not an absolute expert, stay away from vintage instruments. i've seen some incredible fakes and if you don't know what you are looking at you will lose your ass. i even knew a guy that had the tools to stamp saddles.
I can go as far back as 1978 when I had a fake unpainted Strat. Nice quality but it WAS not a Fender. Decided to go to our local "respected" guitar store and sold/traded it. About 2 weeks later went back for strings etc and saw a bright red Fender Strat on the wall with some guys oohing and awwing over it as "real Fenders and Gibsons were rare. Well on the guitar was one ding near the jack and when I looked at the Strat guess what??? Yup, the ding was there. Hell I could even smell the spray paint. So a Fender decal and $150 can of paint the guitar went from iirc $50 and a Rat pedal to a Fender for $400.
Happy new year Robert I love your channel thankyou for a great 2019 of guitar videos and I know I’ll have another great 2020 at guitar because of your channel
Happy New Year everyone :) I hope you had a great start to your 2020.
Robert Baker happy new year! Man, what guitar pick you use? Dunlop red jazz iii?
@@ronaldoortiz1958 Yep good ole Jazz 3 :)
Happy New Year Robert!
You are “The Man”!!!!!!🎸🎸🤘🏼🤘🏼😎😎
Riviera Paradise, that was beautiful Robert!!
The number one sign the vintage Strat is fake is if I can afford it.
People rich enough to afford a vintage Strat Be like: I'm sorry is this some peasant joke I'm too rich to understand
*"You got that right"-👍😂*
Lol
.llop9p0
you could definitely afford the one he's playing
😂😂😅
I've been a 'strat' man for over thirty years, but this fascination with vintage instruments still baffles me. Fenders were built on production lines by regular workers, not master luthiers, they are tools to do a job which they do exceedingly well. An old guitar is just that... an old guitar. the tuners might be worn out, the frets almost certainly will be and likely the switch will only be a three way. I can remember when 'vintage guitars would only ever sell for half the price of a new instrument, even with a celebrity pedigree (Dave Murray's black strat was originally Paul Kossof's white strat, but he got it for a couple of hundred pounds in the 70s). If you like the style of a vintage guitar, get a reissue (my no.1 strat is a 1987 vintage '72 reissue that I bought new back in 87) and you'll be less worried about repairs and maintenance as time goes on. Spending big money on a genuine vintage guitar that you'll probably never play live at a gig is frankly madness to me, but you'll do it whatever I say...
Couldn't agree more and you'll also have infinitely more choice of instruments. Plenty of excellent guitars have and are being made post 60's generation so why limit yourself to the few vintage guitars floating around in the market? Collectors are another story but typically they become just a piece of furniture and are never played.
The crazy thing is because strats are easy to modify, update and change, sensible 'tinkerers' like them like them for this fact. Point in question is Dave Gilmours 'Black Strat' that someone paid over £2,000,000.00 for! (Madness!) This guitar had gone through so many changes and modifications in it's used life because it WAS USED AND REGULARLY PLAYED and not an ornament, and also Gilmour liked to experiment with his sound too, that if it was not for his guitar techs recorded notes about it when he changed a neck or pickup or somthing, the fact that it had been changed or altered would have be lost in time. If this guitar belonged to 'Joe Public' it would have had trouble raising £200 on Ebay! The world is full of stupid gullable people with more money than sense, in my opinion. No wonder there is a thriving market for fake 'historic' guitars of famous rock stars...
I totally agree with you. I love Strats, and have studied the history and technical details pretty closely, and appreciate that the Vintage Reissue series will get guitarists as close as they can to an affordable near-new '50's or '60's Strat. I have a '57 Reissue in Ocean Turquoise, and it's a guitar I would never part with.
Plus, I can't stop making fun of the "relic" guitars Fender are making now, as if applying sandpaper will give the instrument more "mojo".
Ha ha ha ha ha......
You would never do this to a new sports car. What is it with these gullible "wanna have's"?
(p.s. did you mean to write " '62 reissue " ?)
Speaking of fender guitars. I am so damn sick and tired of the fender play learn guitar ad i get on every video 2x in a row.
I had guitar tricks add , which i have already.
You're not in a minority group there I tell you.
Television was never free was it.
Just so happens Fender has the money to throw around promoting secondary products like tutorials. *I always wanted to learn to play, but the beginning was so hard!*
@@j_freed you can view television for free with an antenna. kids these days dont know nuttin!
@@Robster-Craw I'm thinking he meant ad free. Even premium channels have their own ads.
People were faking Fender guitars as far as back in the late 1980's. I started collecting vintage guitars back in 1973 when you could buy a vintage 1950's Strat/Tele for $500.00 for Mint !!
Thats about $3000 in todays money.....
@@avatarquinn There were more of the mint 57s and 62s back then.
people were faking them well in the 70s even. thats why about 50 percent of the strats teles and les pauls are fakes but passed around for years as real. unless a guitar has a documented history you cannot verify its real.
my brother had a 1958 sunburst strat he got 800 for it back in 77
Correction: Fake Fender guitars like the Strat & Jaguar models were being made in the philippines, back in the 60's. I remember seeing them in pawnshops. They never looked quite right and if the pawnshop owner was honest, he'd let you know that it wasn't an authentic Fender. Fake Gibsons were also being made at that time.
Riviera Paradise!!
In 1977, when I was 20 (42 years ago), I bought a used '68 Strat for about $300. And as great a deal that was, it was still a lot of money for me, back in those days. Thank God I did, because by the '80s, and particularly once internet sales began, they basically became unaffordable for most people. Internet brokers were catering to a huge interest in vintage American guitars from wealthy Asian (especially, Japanese) buyers. I still have it and it's one of my favorite guitars - and certainly the most valuable of them. Funny thing, my dad, at the time I bought it, thought it was a huge waste of money. LOL
Yes, the "L" tone is really prominent when playing a Q Diminished chord.
Exactly!!!
I must have missed that day on music theory class...
another good one 😅
@@rsfields2009 I will forever miss a music class...
@@lueysixty-six7300 should have had a v8
As much as a hate to admit my newer foreign made locking tuners kick the crap out of my vintage tuners, and sadly it works the same for pickups. I guess it's all the decades of knowledge and experience the drives the cheaper cost and innovation, and amps and effect are a prime examples. Great video with good advice.
Love the tone you're getting with in the opening jam - there's just something about a vintage Strat that gives you a purity in the sound that a lot of other guitars just don't deliver
That was Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble “Riviera Paradise” from 1989 album “In Step”
@@lueysixty-six7300 I am happy that my 86-87 Kramer American Pacer HSS has the most beautiful sounding Seymour Duncan single coils that get that nice vintage sound. Could be due to no "Tone" pot and each pickup having an "On/Off" switch. My 96 MIM Strat has a Bull Frog loaded pickguard with vintage wound pickups and that is wonderful sounding too.
One day I hope you are able to get yourself a Super Strat.
BS lol. It’s the player 99%. In the hands of a talented musician, a 2019 Strat played through a decent amp will sound every bit as good as a “vintage” guitar.
If you’re hearing a difference, it’s most likely all in your head. 😉
Nunya Bizness who cares? All they said was I enjoyed the tone in this video. Of course if you don’t know how to make it talk it’s not going to sound good. This is this dude’s dream guitar and people enjoy the sound. The end. It does t matter if it’s a million dollars or $10. Good tone is good tone. Just be happy about it and move on.
I've always thought it would be cool to have some gear from the year I was born(68) and have been looking around the internet for '68 strats. The info you shared will be very helpful,thank you.
I find it funny that all of these sought after Gibson and Fender traits, like "tone wood" or pickups, were originally just whatever the shop had laying around as materials.
That opening jam, though. Dang, Robert. You can play!
That's Riviera Paradise...One of SRV's best.
A little sloppy imho and the cadence was off. Muted several notes and missed several harmonics. Great song tho. 😉
@@BretAllenStudios He probably changed it up a bit to satisfy YT
@@BretAllenStudios I didnt know we had the Roger Ebert of music here
Hey Robert,
Thanks for posting! Interesting how much easier it is to date say a Gibson VS a Fender. At least in terms of with Gibson, the entire guitar was assembled during one process. With Fenders being modular, you could have a guitar with components that span several years of manufacture. I have a Strat that I have owned since 73. The neck plate and pots date it to 67 but the neck code has it being Oct. 69. It was that way when I got it and the case was original to it. Fender would have stockpiles of parts and would put whatever was available as they assembled guitars. Even though it’s a post CBS, it’s a phenomenal guitar. I’ll never part with it. Later on the quality probably did drop but it’s not like they flipped a switch and the guitars sucked the next day after CBS took over. Jimi didn’t seem to mind playing his 69.
ALWAYS the sweetest tone RB...and that “Riviera Paradise”was kiillleeerrr!!!
This video could have been 3 hrs long and I wouldn't have even noticed
Ha I chopped about 10 minutes out because I thought it was getting too long 😅
Robert Baker - that's when you can post a link to a 'extended takes' or 'outtakes cut' to capture a secondary audience, what the heck it's more views people can enjoy and there's nothing wrong with the content,
After all people should do several hours of their own research before attempting to buy vintage. Some of the cleverest evil-est fakes might fool even the George Gruhns and people like that of course.
Too long video,it should be broad, concise and direct to the point,how to spot between real and fake fender's!!!😆😆😆
Remember ... "You can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish!" (Don't ya hate typos discovered after publishing a video?) :)
haha
@@lueysixty-six7300 at about the 7 minute mark, where Robert is talking about the nails holes - read what he typed under the photo lol.
@@lueysixty-six7300 "Used to hold the body up", I think, which is what he says @7:13
Just asking/suggesting he might have meant the screen that read tunners and not tuners?
The Strat-Talk forum is another good place to research. Those guys hawkeye many a detail that I never could when it comes to authenticating strats.
Haven’t played guitar in quite a few years. Your Strat videos got me back into it. Bought my first Strat a few days ago and would like to own a vintage at some point . Thank you sir
WHY??? Whats wrong with a shiny new one with 'vintage' sounding pickups? You sir have MUG written on your forehead with money to waste in your pocket too like so many people seem to. Buy a nice antique sideboard instead!
if you have not played for a few years why the craving for an 'vintage' one. You are obviously not really interested in playing guitar very much, just someone looking for a dinner party 'ornament' to tell your chummies about that you own...
Beautiful 63' Robert. I really like that you restored period correct pots and the 3-way, love it.
I'm new to the channel and really enjoying it so far. Keep up the great content.
Hi Jerry thank you and welcome :)
Well...my favorite part of this video is your musical introduction of this guitar...I could listen to that all day
That's one of the best covers of Rivera Paradise I've ever heard.Good job
You don’t get out much do you. 😂
Lol
The sniff test, if it smells like gramas attic, chances are it's old🤪 . Btw, I have a nice 1963 Princeton Brownface amp that would pair up nicely with that babe.
Interested if Robert dont want it. Where are you located?
@@ThePinkguns look in offerup Orlando, fl.
JukeBoxHero 's I bought a 60’s roadworn strat a couple years ago, it was brand new and it had the smell, sort of aged, moldy wood smell. I don’t know if Fender actually replicates the smell, but it is very convincing if they do.
@@RyanSnyder1232 I wouldn't be surprised that deep down in some secret basement they have concocted a paint scent with rat droppings mixed in with mothballs and a touch of basil sprayed onto the bodies. So when they "relic" the gits, out comes gramas essence🤪
Subtle flex
The circular marks, or “circle routs”, are where the machinist touched off the cavity floor with most likely a different size end mill cutter. He sets his depth at zero and makes the required pocket route. I often see these “touch off” marks under the pick-guard on the neck tenon of vintage Les Paul DC Juniors & Specials
Just watching you play in this makes me want to go back and learn all my chords again. Always had an interest in self accompaniment.
Thank you for the Riviera Paradise intro Robert. In bad times, it made my day :) wish you the best
So jazzy too
One of the best guitar sound playing teaching youtube channel around!!!!!!!
If/when I were to buy a pre-CBS strat...I would ONLY buy from Norman's Rare Guitars, Carters, or similar. You're gonna pay top dollar, but it's pretty much guaranteed authentic. I would NEVER buy one from Reverb.
That is a very nice ‘63 strat! It’s been restored to it’s original condition in a wonderful way. Nice plastic parts, good repro headstock decal. Your guitar has got the best looking fingerboard I’ve ever seen on a strat. It’s kinda unique too because it’s the only pre L-series guitar with the later style pickguard I know of. I think they moved one of the screws a bit further down by the end of summer in ‘63. A very cool strat. Congrats!
Greetings from Holland.
its fake but he blocks everyone that tells him that.
@@ogopogo1397 im curious are you joking because i always thought the finish and decal look all wrong. Way too shiny with dark clay dots black fingerboard when it should be brazilian. It might be legit but id never buy one so new looking imo
Riviera Paradise!! Very well done sir.
I use a handheld router to build my guitars, and my pickup cavities, control cavities, etc. are always flawless and CNC-like. Maybe I should work for Fender. lol A router and a jig go a long ways, and make for a process just about as fast as a CNC. Just more "hand-made".
I love love love your videos man. You are very talented, down to earth, and knowledgeable. Happy new year to you and your wife Robert !
Thank you dude happy new year
Blown away by the tone on your 63’. She is a work of art! The hype is well deserved!!
Hi, nice video but the picture of slab board is not from pre CBS neck... I mean the neck with Slab board from Pre CBS always have truss rod adjustment screw into rosewood a bit. The picture you used in the video is appearently separated between rosewood and the screw. anyway I love the story you got the 63 strat!
The screw placed between the middle and the neck pickup, not a biggie I would say but something that could tell if it would lineup as a 62 or 63. It's moved closer to the middle pickup on 63s
DAMN! Every time I hear you play that '63 it sounds sooooooo good. Cool video BTW. Great info and incite into your research and the world of vintage Strats.
Bass player with almost thirty years playing experience here. Vintage instruments are great. They track well, they sound good. No one is debating that, however, they are not worth the cost. Repairs can be costly, ESPECIALLY if you have to replace parts and want to keep it original, and necks can be finicky. If you can afford one, be my guest. But with all the options anymore you can get a modern instrument that’ll play better and survive the beating that constant gigging will put on it.
Beautifully done. I loved the way you interspaced the playing segments between talking.
Tunners? :D that's fake
hahaha
Happy new year! Looking forward to hearing that guitar more this year. One day I will own a vintage strat but for now it's my squier standard
Great video... learned a ton about my strat. Not to be nit picky or a dick but you wrote “tunners” instead of Tuners. You still rock bro.
First typo of the year :)
How is very handy because I've owned a strat for about 25never knew what build date was and now I know how to find out cuz it was used when I got it and I worked on it for quite a while to get it to play absolutely great
I knew I was at the right place when you started the video with Riviera paradise. Instant thumbs up!
Pre-Covid videos always make me laugh. We had no idea! Great video, btw.
Don,t buy a vintage strat unless you are buying it for its antique value . They newer ones play and sound better Even some of the partscastrers are tweeked to make a better instrument . Bottom line is the vintage fender is not the holy grail.
Can't wait to see what videos you make this year
This information is fairly spot on, web info is sketchy at best, if you're into vintage fender you need to speak with dealers that are high-end vintage instruments , people who have studied the History of Fender SINUFICANTLY...two books that are VITAL by Fender Historians The Soul of Tone Fender Amps and Fender Guitars, the books are not inexpensive, ESET right now especially if you get the first printing of either book they can be $150 or more find them used on eBay for the first addition 2006/2007, there are new sets at 360 dollars, I was gifted mine by an Engineer from FMIC back when it first came out...this is as valuable as my L.D. Heater 1968 Hard Bound Gibson Catalogue
Thank you for this. I am about to send money for a replica Strat made in Corona. 2019 manufacture, and your decal pictures showing the Emblem and patent numbers showed it is a 1963-64 replication, with US S/N. I know there are Chinese fakes of even the US manufactured replicas. This vid assured me this guitar was almost assuredly made in CA. Thanks again.
R. Paridise sounded velvety smooth! Like butta!
NAMM - can’t wait!!!
It's a good thing if you know someone who knows these things before shelling out. I bought a '63 strat and everything was original according to my man but then as we were looking at the neck the truss rod screw, the phillips shape nut at the base of the neck just fell out!! It wouldn't screw back in. I guess the rod thread had been so cross threaded there was no way of adjusting the neck. That was a deal breaker for me. I suppose if you have enough money you can fix anything. but replacing a truss rod looked to me like major heart surgery on these old guitars. Previously, I'd spent £30 giving it to a guitar shop to check it out and they hadn't seen this major issue. What I'm saying is there are loads of dodgy guitars but plenty of books out there so it's worth cramming it all yourself so you don't waste £20,000 or so. That could really hurt.
What size frets are using now and how to avoid hitting the volume pot when palm muting?
I'm late discovering this but great video. I have a 65 Strat that I bought in 75. It had already been modified, and I had some further mods (refret, rewire, tuners) done in the 70s. It was already refinished and had a single ply pick guard. I still have 2 original pots which appear to be Stackpole 1957, so I'm wondering if the pickups are also from the late 50s? 2 black bottom and 1 grey bottom. I assume at least one was replaced. Is there a way to determine what the pickups are?
Thanks for taking the time to inform us.
That's a dead ringer for a refin 1964 I had until a few years ago. Sweet guitar.
My go to 4th position strat test songs are Slow Dancing and Riviera Paradise ;) awesome video man!
I appreciate this video, but pictures are better than words when you are trying to describe "imperfect router marks" vs. perfect CNC routing. The two examples on the inside of your guitar weren't really sufficient to demonstrate the comparison. More still pictures with arrows and explanations of the routing errors vs.CNC routes would have been helpful.
you havent mentioned the dowel marks on the body front and back (2x per side) these are very important to know whether is a real or a fake body, the fendar decal in that guitar isnt original way too white and the "patent pend" name is missing under the contour body. we call it clay dots but arent made of clay it was a kind of fiber material and the name clay was adopted. I really dont think you are quite known with pre cbs strats, the L came later and stood for Leo (Fender) not just 1 as u try to explain, the tuners had also differences to recognize whether were relic or originals....
Other thing to look for is the size of the shielding on the back of the pickguard over the pots circuit
Good info.! Hey I ran into you at NAMM last year Just wondering if your playing again this year ? (and what booth) LMK , if so, see you next week.
Yeah man i'll be there and playign at Vola Thursday and Sat
Hey Robert what the the amplifier you playing through? Mw
That Riviera Paradise intro was top notch. 🙌
Im a beginner and this kind of information makes me alittle more confident on how to purchase my first guitar in the future.This is my favorite video so far thank you robert.\m/stay rock'n!\m/ and i'll cya in the next 1 peace and guitar arm grease
Just a note on the patent #. If it was for the trem, they couldn't have put that on a hardtail without exposing themselves to significant liability. If you mark your product, it better be a commercial embodiment of the patent. If not, you are subject to false marking claims, which, I think used to be qui tam (that is, anyone could sue), and you would have to pay damages for EVERY instance of the false marking. With a lot of hardtails, that could end up being a lot of money. Pro tip from your friendly neighborhood patent attorney and former student.
Hey buddy thank you man I should have messaged you about that now that I think about it :)
@@RobertBakerGuitar No sweat! I saw the vid, and you got the info, anyway! Let me know if something else needs an answer.
Happy New Year to the Baker clan and to my fellow subscribers!
So, what if I have a 63 Strat body, 71 tone pots, 68 volume pot, 67 blade switch and 61 Neck? Ohh I have got myself a Cluster F**k of a geetar lololol. I think that's one area that Les Paul really has it over the Strat, it's much harder to fake a vintage Les Paul because of everything you mentioned Robert, not that it isn't frequently tried though!! I saw one awhile ago and the guy was trying to say it was a 1965 Gibson Les Paul - he told me that date because I was talking about wanting to buy a Les Paul for my birth year but darn it I was born in 1965 - in case someone isn't aware, they stopped making the Les Paul in 1959 and didn't make them again until 1968 (67?). So right off the bat I knew this guy was trying to pull a fast one, that and his $1500 price tag lol. It was a beautiful guitar though and I might have given him $250 for it lol. Oh I heard that missed harmonic there Mr. Baker!! Lol, I can't get those to play consistently if my life depended on it! I see Tyler over there on Music is Win doing it like it's nothing and I get so envious lol.
Yeah it's often overlooked that Gibson was just way more experienced in the world of documenting and like you said the construction process is so different.
Really appreciated the Riviera Paradise intro !🤘
The problem is that anything made. Can be remade!! Some of these "Fakes" are extremely difficult to check out. Even with dated pots, you can source originals/wiring looms on E bay (even though expensive) all the routing and nail holes etc etc can easily be duplicated. When original early Strats are going for a fortune the Fakers have plently of money available to make their Fakes look right!
Robert , I was just watching a video by Mike @CGS about the company in Spain are making pre CBS strats that are almost impossible to prove that it's not a true pre CBS strat . So nowadays you never really know .
Man, that mid-range response is just perfect from that guitar. And it has a wonderful balance of full-note and spank, ya know? You made a really sound purchase there, Robert. I have to wonder if you find yourself gravitating to it more often than your others? I have recently become this way with all of my other guitars, following purchase of two Eastman LPs. Once you find a guitar or two that outshine the others, it becomes difficult to pick the others up. I am selling off a bunch of mine because I know that they will now stay on the bench in the dugout. lol
I just love watching every videos of you using that strat, I really love how it sounds
Very interesting. One of the things I like about guitars and gear is you learn something new everyday. Happy New year to you!
Hi, I've just signed up here. Could you please tell me what amp are you using? Thanks! great tone!
Most vintage guitars are really only valuable to a collector who most likely doesn’t even play it. Lol.
I value my ability to play the instrument far more than getting wrapped around the axle about the age or expense of the instrument. There’s tons of modern guitars that play every bit as well and sound every bit as good as any vintage instrument.
Imho, spend your money & time becoming a better musician than geeking out on equipment. 😎
I've always said "No one can hear the name on the headstock of your guitar" Either you can play the damn thing or you can't. Eddie van Halen set the world on fire with a guitar he made with 120 dollars worth of scrap guitar parts. EVH guitars put out an EXACT replica of that guitar and the price was 25,000 dollars!!
Dave Decker exactly. It’s 1% equipment, 99% musician. 😁
Great video. I never knew what to look for in the routing. Thanks for the information. Not that I’ll ever be able to afford one anyway but a guy can dream. Great playing as well
Worth a like just for 'Riviera Paradise'!
The "L Tone." LOVE IT!!! :)))
Rock on!
I still enjoy seeing and hearing this strat
You're correct - Fender ent away from slabboards in in late 62
Sick video, just FYI you have a mistake on the tuner slide card where it says “tunners”. Not sure if you care or want to fix it but I figured if it were my video I’d want someone to tell me. Thanks for the killer vids man!
I’am maybe about to buy a Fender Stratocaster White Mexico from 1992 is That a Vintige guitar? Dose it county If it’s 30 years old? Cheers everyone have a great day!
Stevie once said in an interview that chord @ 0:05 came with a shoulder move!
Love that intro. You have the touch brother.
How about the lack of truss rod access at the headstock?
I only like Strats that have rounded and deep body curves. Classic Vibe Squiers are one of the few still designed this way
Interesting stuff. As with anything worth investing in, it pays to do your homework. Happy New Year Robert and Gaby!
I would put some better quality pots and caps in it and toss the originals in a box or a baggie.
RSguitarworks makes some killer pot upgrade kits for the vintage strat.Seriously if you want that guitar to sound even better get the RS pot upgrade kit.
Happy New Year ROBERT. 🥳⭐️
Thank You for the very informative History Lesson 👍🎸🤘
Happy New Year Robert,very Any Timmons in the intro, great tone.🎸👍
I've always wondered what the obscenity was that was on the neck in '58 that caused them to stop hand dating the necks...
Happy Robert Baker n many more videos we can appreciate from you.play that funky music.i really enjoy your channel.And those super nice guitars you have.peace
i learned many many years ago that if you are not an absolute expert, stay away from vintage instruments. i've seen some incredible fakes and if you don't know what you are looking at you will lose your ass. i even knew a guy that had the tools to stamp saddles.
Happy New Year! Nice video. Do you have a video discussing how you record?
This might be a stupid question but where can I buy vintage strats? Or any vintage guitars in general?
On line or an actual shop
I can go as far back as 1978 when I had a fake unpainted Strat. Nice quality but it WAS not a Fender. Decided to go to our local "respected" guitar store and sold/traded it. About 2 weeks later went back for strings etc and saw a bright red Fender Strat on the wall with some guys oohing and awwing over it as "real Fenders and Gibsons were rare. Well on the guitar was one ding near the jack and when I looked at the Strat guess what??? Yup, the ding was there. Hell I could even smell the spray paint. So a Fender decal and $150 can of paint the guitar went from iirc $50 and a Rat pedal to a Fender for $400.
Problem is Rob could make an egg slicer sound good. Great video dude.
Thanks, Robert! Looking forward to a rockin 2020 brudda-man!!
Happy new year Robert I love your channel thankyou for a great 2019 of guitar videos and I know I’ll have another great 2020 at guitar because of your channel
Beautiful Guitar , And Beautiful Playing , Really Nice Good advice Thanks
DUDE that riviera paradise intro was super clean
You play very nice brother, wonderful beginning
Some exquisite playing Rob!