CS Strat ruined?

fretfinder

You might disagree but I can't believe what's been done to this beautiful CS Strat. To think that someone actually paid money to have the headstock painted and thereby ruin and devalue their Hank-o-caster! IMO of course and ymmv etc...

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/fender-usa-custom-shop-1956-relic-stratocaster-with-flame-maple-neck-and-gold-hardware-made-in-2000/1193422548

guitars4you

I sell a lot of 56 based CS Strats to Hank customers and they all want NOS shiny gloss not aged relic - that headstock just looks 'orrible - doesn't look the nicest CS Strat does it - not sure who its going to appeal to and a refin as well

octatonic

Well, I wouldn't buy it.

SidNewton

The relicing hasn't spoilt the guitar. The gold hardware and matching headstock on the other hand are just horrible.

guitars4you

SidNewton said:

The relicing hasn't spoilt the guitar. The gold hardware and matching headstock on the other hand are just horrible.

I think it is the MHS that looks worse - Gold on a fiesta red Strat is institutionalized amongst Hank fans so I accept that and aged on a white blonde always look okay - But MHS and the anodized plate just look wrong

MHS on 60's cool coloured Jazz and jags ok

richardhomer

guitars4you said:

I sell a lot of 56 based CS Strats to Hank customers and they all want NOS shiny gloss not aged relic - that headstock just looks 'orrible - doesn't look the nicest CS Strat does it - not sure who its going to appeal to and a refin as well

Funnily enough someone I knew well who used be in MI retail said pretty much exactly the same thing to me about Hank Marvin fans - a mint Fiesta Red CS 56 Strat and they'll snatch your hand off. Anything less than perfect - forget it.

Don't get where the seller got his inspiration from - anodised guards were never fitted to Fiesta Red guitars, as far as I know - and matching headstocks were only available in the '60s iirc.

I agree it looks awful....

capo4th

Yep ruined 

Philly_Q

From the comments I was expecting a real monstrosity, but I don't think it looks awful.

Gold hardware only works on some Strats, but it looks OK here and is suitably Hank-ish, I think.  The anodised scratchplate I'm not keen on but it's easily replaced.  As for the matching headstock, normally I'm a fan but only with rosewood boards on 60s style Strats... however in this colour, in combination with the gold parts and the tinted maple, it really doesn't look bad at all, IMO.  I think the colours blend quite well.

Maybe it's because it reminds me of "The Strat" from 1980, not a well-regarded guitar but I remember admiring one in a shop window when I was a kid.

Actually I think the most jarring colour clash here is the dirty yellowed knobs against the white pickup covers.

Lebarque

The Huggy Bear of strats!

CloudNine

I think a relic job a bit more like this one I just spotted on ebay would have been perfect:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Roadworn-Stratocaster-MIM-/201688881596?hash=item2ef59819bc:g:70YAAOSwCGVX~i4j

musicman100

It makes me laugh. He messes about with it n then he is still asking strong money for it. 

CHRISB50

It's not the monstrosity I expected from the comments. Relicing doesn't really suit such a blingy guitar as far as I'm concerned. 

Personally i'd id be more bothered by the gold appointments and the coloured headstock. Oh, and the maple board. 

fretfinder

I like relics and I think a Fiesta Red maple board Strat suits gold hardware, a la Hank, but having the headstock painted - epic fail!

Sassafras

Who's Hank Marvin?

richardhomer

Sassafras said:

Who's Hank Marvin?

That bloke who's always hungry....

usedtobe

The whole thing just looks horrific. I'm glad I'm only viewing it on a phone, instead of my computer monitor.