Vintage 1957 FENDER USA STRATOCASTER Guitar w/HSC Strat Super-Duper-Freakin-RARE and Becoming RARER! NoRESERVE Start Price USD 17,999.00 Current Price USD 17,999.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, October 02, 2008 End Time Sunday, October 12, 2008 Location Beltsville See more about 'Vintage 1957 FENDER USA STRATOCASTER Guitar w/HSC Strat' Description Vintage 1957 Fender USA Stratocaster Guitarwith Non-Original Late 1970's Hardshell Case Please note that over one hundred photos of this guitar are available -- click the yellow button displayed above to view them all. Available for your consideration is this '57 Fender player's strat. As you can see, this is an instrument that has been used/played throughout its life thus far. As such, it has acquired its share of dings, dents, and other cosmetic surface marks consistent with its age and the amount of play it has seen.Even so, THIS GUITAR HAS JUST ABOUT THE COOLEST VIBE I'VE SEEN!  The neck just feels amazing! It's that beautiful broken-in feeling that no relic shop could possibly duplicate! Those of you who've played vintage strats know what I'm talking about AND it screams! It still retains many of its original features which I have listed a few paragraphs down. Here's your chance to own one of the originals! Please be sure to ask any questions you may have before placing your bid. I've done my best to cover every facet of this instrument in the next few paragraphs -- but if I've missed something, please do not hesitate to ask. INFO:The tremolo cavity date marking reads "12 / 56" -- some black print is somewhat visible in there, but illegible.The marks at the heel of the neck match the neck pocket indicating that this neck and body were originally sold together. The original finish was likely sunburst. The body's shape does not seem to have been over-sanded. Its cutaways/contours are consistent with the year ('56 on up) shaping. There's very minimal edge loss due to the sanding for the body's re-fin job, as a result,  there are no nail holes visible in the body.Has bridge pickup wire rout "TRENCH"; control cavity has router bit "START/END" mark consistent with early bodies.The neck date reads "1 / 57" -- be sure to see the pix I've made available!The neck was re-fretted with jumbo frets some time ago, but there's plenty of life left in them. Frets 1 through 6 show visible fretwear, but no trenching or divots and certainly no deadspots. Unfortunately, the addition of larger frets meant that the original bone nut isn't quite tall enough to allow the strings their needed clearance -- so I will have a black graphite nut (pictured) put on in place of the bone nut to ensure smooth playability and low action -- no worries, though -- the original bone nut will be included for the winning bidder.The neck's shape is not the hardest V I've ever felt, but not the softest -- would have to say it's a medium-hard V shape.The truss rod does turn and has plenty of life left to it.POTS:1) Volume: unreadable date code; most likely original2) Middle:  push/pull of some sort (non-original, to get tele tones)3) Lower (tone): code reads 137-81xx PICKUPS:1) Neck:  appears to be original2) Middle:  has a green bottom with plastic wiring re-wound for reverse polarity by L. Fralin3) Bridge:  black bottom  - appears original, but with plastic leads instead of clothThe good: original Alder body -- date consistent with neck date and plate serial number original neck and neck finish -- neck date consistent with neck plate serial date original neck pickup original bridge pickup some original wiring original early-style string retainer original strap buttons original plastic knobs, pick up covers jack plate appears to be original original neck plate -- consistent with year original decal original complete tremolo assembly (though the original tremolo bar is not available) original bone nut included (though a black graphite nut has/ will be placed on the guitar to improve play before shipment)The not-so-good: neck has been re-fretted, but the finish on the neck and fretboard is original- and the fret job makes it play like butter!- body has been re-finished to make it a yellowed/aged Olympic White cavities have been coated with conductive paint small bit of wood missing out of neck at rear of nut over walnut plug pickguard appears to be a non-original reproduction with foil shielding non-original reproduction tuners/tuning machinesnon-original 5-way pickup selector switch (though its tip appears as original) non-original late 1970s hardshell case with plastic Fender logo jack cavity coated with conductive paintSerial Number: 14584 (neck plate)Weight: approximately 7.4 lbs. Best of luck to all bidders!!! SHIPPING: LOCAL PICK-UP IS PREFERRED FOR THIS GUITAR!** Flat-rate shipping available to folks in the contiguous USA ONLY! ** Serious lower 48 USA buyers/bidders ONLY, please!This item will ship via FedEx's Standard Overnight shipping service. (FYI: Insurance charges, alone, will cost around $150 which accounts for the rather steep shipping expense.) I will need your telephone number for this service -- please provide it when you make your payment!!PAYMENT:I can accept a certified Cashier's Check ONLY as payment for this guitar. The guitar will be packaged professionally and will ship as soon as the payment clears into my account. _________________________________________________________________________________ Want to see this item in person? Have a question?If so, click the "Ask seller a question" link under the "Meet the seller" heading in the upper right corner of this page to contact me.  Please do not call either store as this ebay account is handled separately from the Atomic Music storefronts. All pictures are of the actual listed item unless otherwise noted. Items may not ship with power supplies, cables/cords, software, tremolo bars, cases, gig bags, etc. unless clearly stated in the description above. Your question and my response regarding this listing may be posted at my discretion for the benefit of others. I reserve the right to re-list this item if you do not contact me about how/when you plan to pay within 24 hours of the auction's end. PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING/BUYING!Thank you for checking out Atomic Music's ebay items!! I accept PayPal and US Postal Service Money Order payments ONLY. Credit card payments are okay If you pick up and pay for this item in person at my Beltsville, Maryland storefront.Address/remit USPS money orders to:Atomic Music10111 A Bacon DrBeltsville MD 20705  _gsrx_vers_236 (GS 5.0.3 (236)) Place a Bid!