For Sale , original 1963 Stratocaster Now SOLD

richardhomer

I bought this one from Manchester Richard! Could it possibly be the same one ( probably not!)

Mine was fiesta red and an original finish. Apparently it went to Japan....

thebreeze

richardhomer said:

I bought this one from Manchester Richard! Could it possibly be the same one ( probably not!)

Mine was fiesta red and an original finish. Apparently it went to Japan....

I kind of feel your pain every time you mention this guitar Richard.

TeleMaster

I mean, I have got this 58 Special refin with all original parts and case. 

Schmo

I'm drooling...that Strat, then that LP Special !

fendergibson

richardhomer said:

I used to own a ‘63 - my main gigging guitar for many years. Hands down the best sounding Strat I’ve ever played - I’d love to get it back. The trick would probably not to have parted with it in the first place. A wise move on your part @Paul111s....

As a massive Strat fan myself and seeker of the holy grail I’ve been pondering on your comment for ages @richardhomer ;

Was it the really the sound, or the playability, or the mojo/mystique or a.n.other, or all of the above ? 

Youve probably played many Strats through many different amps/pedals etc but how can you be assured that one was the best sounding ?

Was it best sounding live or in your practice room ?

Genuine question mate, why was it the best ?

Don’t say ‘colour’ lol 

richardhomer

fendergibson said:

richardhomer said:

I used to own a ‘63 - my main gigging guitar for many years. Hands down the best sounding Strat I’ve ever played - I’d love to get it back. The trick would probably not to have parted with it in the first place. A wise move on your part @Paul111s....

As a massive Strat fan myself and seeker of the holy grail I’ve been pondering on your comment for ages @richardhomer ;;

Was it the really the sound, or the playability, or the mojo/mystique or a.n.other, or all of the above ? 

Youve probably played many Strats through many different amps/pedals etc but how can you be assured that one was the best sounding ?

Was it best sounding live or in your practice room ?

Genuine question mate, why was it the best ?

Don’t say ‘colour’ lol 

I bought it in 1983 - having owned a late period CBS Strat for a while and a ‘65 for two years. The 65 was miles better than the CBS one - but the 63 was miles better than the 65. A friend owned a vintage guitar shop and I A/Bd mine with virtually every old Strat that passed through the place.

It sounded great played clean at bedroom volumes - and astonishing when cranked at stage levels. 

Perhaps the best compliment it got was when our band acted as Arlen Roth’s backing band in 1984 for a gig in Rochdale. We rehearsed the night before with him at my friend’s shop where he played my Strat and said if I ever wanted to sell it, he’d like to buy it. At the time there was no chance I’d have sold it.

Many years later when I did (but still pre-internet) I had no way of contacting him.

There is of course a possibility if I played it now that I wouldn’t feel the same about it - but I loved it as much as it’s possible to love anything that isn’t alive....

scalino65

Just out of interest, is there any sort of marking,etc under the pickguard perhaps, that gives it away that this is a refin? Didnt CB start putting his initials in the cavity or something?

fendergibson

Wow @richardhomer, ;why did u sell it ? Can u remember it’s weight/neck shape ? Has any guitar come close since ? What was your band called ? What amps were you using at that time ?

Sorry to be a pain, genuinely interested - cheers

richardhomer

fendergibson said:

Wow @richardhomer, ;;;why did u sell it ? Can u remember it’s weight/neck shape ? Has any guitar come close since ? What was your band called ? What amps were you using at that time ?

Sorry to be a pain, genuinely interested - cheers

I sold it as I moved in with my girlfriend and there were almost endless attempts to burgle her house - so I decided to part with it on my terms, rather than risk having it taken. I saw it as ‘growing up’ in a sense too - for many years after I barely played at all.

The neck was fairly thin in the lower positions but thicker by the octave. Weight-wise probably 8lbs - not exceptionally light - though my experience is that ‘very’ light pre-CBS Strats are ‘very’ rare.

My 2006 56 Relic CS Strat is the best Strat I’ve had since - and in terms of feel - probably better (I tend to like fatter necks).

ellangus

@richardhomer The Arlen Roth gig wasn't anything to do with "The Guitar Player" shop in Rochdale owned by Arthur and Peter Bird was it by any chance?

richardhomer

ellangus said:

@richardhomer The Arlen Roth gig wasn't anything to do with "The Guitar Player" shop in Rochdale owned by Arthur and Peter Bird was it by any chance?

Yes it was. Arthur played drums in the band and guitar repairer Ted Lee played bass.

ellangus

Thought so, I remember going to a slide guitar workshop with Arlen Roth in Rochdale.

Bought quite a lot of gear of Arthur through Rock Island in Oldham and The Guitar Player in particular a Maui Blue Telecaster (ex Bobby Ball no less) sold it back to them. Wish I hadn't now.

Talking of '63 Strats, my mate bought an immaculate '63 sunburst with tweed case from them in the early to mid 80's for something daft like £500 and sold it a couple of years later for the same. I saw one at the Manchester guitar show a few years back, the seller was asking princely sum of £17,000 - D'oh!!

richardhomer

ellangus said:

Thought so, I remember going to a slide guitar workshop with Arlen Roth in Rochdale.

Bought quite a lot of gear of Arthur through Rock Island in Oldham and The Guitar Player in particular a Maui Blue Telecaster (ex Bobby Ball no less) sold it back to them. Wish I hadn't now

Arthur remains a good friend - he’s a great drummer and is playing with a band called Bite the Dust these days. 

ellangus

Yeah, good bloke, He always looked after us when we were at art college in Oldham and used to spend too much time in Rock Island and coming out with an E string or a plectrum after an hour or more trying out guitars - patience of a saint ;-) Not seen him for years but he's friends on Facebook 

gibbo666

Hi, Paul,

Lovely looking guitar.  I know you said you weren't interested in trades, but added that you were now a Les Paul strummer. I have a 1977 Les Paul Deluxe, which I've converted to a Standard.  I might get interested in trading the Les Paul and cash for your Strat.  Do you live anywhere near Oxfordshire?

Cheers!

Clive.

paul111s

Hi Clive,

sorry as previous comment ive now removed this from sale. thanks anyway 

gibbo666

Hi, Paul,

Sorry, scrolling back I do now see you've removed it from sale,

Cheers!

Clive.

paul111s

Back up for sale, way too much of a guitar not to get used like is currently happening. She who must be obeyed has spoken!

maw4neu

ellangus said:

@richardhomer The Arlen Roth gig wasn't anything to do with "The Guitar Player" shop in Rochdale owned by Arthur and Peter Bird was it by any chance?

I remember that Shop - - - They had a Dan Armstrong Plexi at one point that I raved about at the time -)

Sharkey335

Oh my word that is perfection