Reissued 63 swamp ash body

[Ferrell Rooster]

Hello all. Yes Im new here. Glad you would have me.
Ive been playing guitar for many years and I'm old ....48. With all that said I'm not a professional player, I will play at open mic nights etc. Ive owned a many guitars and still have a few.
An older gentleman than I, will be passing away in the near future and offered me one of his guitars. He has been playing in New Orleans bars for the past 45 years or so and has set in with many big names, at least they are big names to me like Duane Allman, Charlie Daniels and many locals like Fats and others.
He used to own a guitar shop from mid 70's to late 80's in New Orleans. He told me that he had all kind of parts but he really wished he had all those 57's he once had...approximately 40 some odd through the years. Said he could had retired years ago..LOL...
But to get back to this guitar....he had an 82 neck and pickups and somehow obtained a reissued 63 swamp ash body and put it together. He changed the keys, screws and all to gold to match the yellow color of the body, which is really trying to duplicate an aged white when it turns yellow over the years. Anyway...that's what I have and was wondering if anyone knows how worthless a Frankenstein like this would be. I know there isn't much of a way to appraise something like this but if anyone has a clue, any and all replies would be greatly appreciated.
82 neck and pups.
reissued 63 ash body. Reissued around 82-83ish???
Not original keys. They are "Shallers." They are a lot better quality but of course not original.
Gold colored bridge/tremolo
Not sure about pick guard.
Respectfully,
Ferrell Rooster

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

I guess no one knows were to go on price with this unit. Ive been playing it for the past few days from the time I posted this thread and let me tell you this is one fine instrument. Now with the man I have been taking lessons from, the one that gave me this 63 reissued/82 Frankenstein, we have made several upgrades to the 99 squire. Yes its a squire, but he even said its the finest dam squire in the city, and laughs. We changed the tuner keys/ machines to MIA fenders machines, the neck he did a little filing the edges of the frets making them slick, he made a nut for it out of bone, I bought "Dragon fire Texas vintage blues" loaded pick guard. They are wound 90 and added a 7 way switch that can play the usual 5 settings or bridge and neck or all three at one time. Thats the sound, for looks we changed the color of PG from white to the blue pearl, and chrome knobs and covers etc.
After playing the Squire and then immediately picking up the MIA, there is an obvious difference in sound and feel. I can play with just the bridge on both and they DO NOT sound the same AT ALL or any pup selection for that matter.
The action is set so low on the MIA, tuned E, but has no buzz which I am not used to with the beefy #11 I use on the Blue Squire tuned Eb. It has some buzz but not much but I had to lift the strings a bit to get some of the buzz out of it. On the Yellow Strat with the 63 body and the 82 neck and pups, once again I tune E and I have #10's on it and there is no buzz and they are really low. It takes absolutely no effort in pushing the string down. It lightened my touch tremendously and I can actually feel, hear, and see the speed I have picked up because of it.
By the way....It still smells like an old New Orleans Jazz barroom. Stale whiskey and cigars. True story.

 

[Guy Named Sue]

Depends what those pickups came from, what model so to speak from 82/83. If they were early avri or something else.

I think overall around 500-600 US $ depending it's a partcaster but I would rely on that you've played it and it plays fine and has a good quality.

Still a partcaster though so there isn't a specific one piece value anymore cause now the value relies on how well it plays, it's condition and the quality and originality of the parts.

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

Depends what those pickups came from, what model so to speak from 82/83. If they were early avri or something else.

I think overall around 500-600 US $ depending it's a partcaster but I would rely on that you've played it and it plays fine and has a good quality.

Still a partcaster though so there isn't a specific one piece value anymore cause now the value relies on how well it plays, it's condition and the quality and originality of the parts.

Thank you for the honest reply.
It really plays well. I ask the guy that built it and I hate to say it but he is losing his memory. He is almost 80. Anyway, like I stated he had a shop for years and what he did say is that he had a 63 reissued body.....and had a 82 neck and pups and put that together. Why he did it I have know idea. I want to say he said it was a left over body he got separate that didn't come off a complete guitar. I wish I had more info.
I also hate to take the neck off and risk knocking anything out of wack as Im sure it was fitted and maybe shimmed. Either way I wouldnt have known the body difference if he had not told me. Thanks again

 

[Guy Named Sue]

Well I assume he put it together during the 80's then, correct? Cause Fender never produce a 63 reissue stratocaster which he says the bodies comes from during that time.

Fender started doing 63 reissues starting at 2000 or 2002, I have one 2003 CS Telecaster in blonde.

So someone must've told them that and he thought of it as truth. Fender did introduce the American Vintage series during early 80's and offered, 1952 Telecaster, 1957 Stratocaster and a 1962 Stratocaster with rosewood neck.

But also did a few other series as Deluxe and etc. I don't think this body is from the AV reissues cause of it's colour which wasn't an option for that series. If it's a real 80s Fender it must've come from a different series.

Picture of any writing on the neck heel, neck pocket and pictures of the body routing and pictures of the pickup without the covers on them and from behind them too and a picture of the electronics pots etc. That way we can asses what this partcaster has for parts

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

Well I assume he put it together during the 80's then, correct? Cause Fender never produce a 63 reissue stratocaster which he says the bodies comes from during that time.

Fender started doing 63 reissues starting at 2000 or 2002, I have one 2003 CS Telecaster in blonde.

So someone must've told them that and he thought of it as truth. Fender did introduce the American Vintage series during early 80's and offered, 1952 Telecaster, 1957 Stratocaster and a 1962 Stratocaster with rosewood neck.

But also did a few other series as Deluxe and etc. I don't think this body is from the AV reissues cause of it's colour which wasn't an option for that series. If it's a real 80s Fender it must've come from a different series.

Picture of any writing on the neck heel, neck pocket and pictures of the body routing and pictures of the pickup without the covers on them and from behind them too and a picture of the electronics pots etc. That way we can asses what this partcaster has for parts

sounds good. Thanks for the help. I will take the guard off in the next day or so and get some pics. This friend of mine that I got it from, Im sure forgot what he thinks he is telling me. That was a long time ago that he built this. Really it doesnt matter about this parts monster but its more curiosity than anything thats killing me.

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

here are a few picks of inside the body. Once I took the PG off it looks like it had a 22 fret neck on it at once time according to the paint.
I found no numbers or writing at all inside. I went over it with e magnifying glass. I guess maybe it was painted over?

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

Well I assume he put it together during the 80's then, correct? Cause Fender never produce a 63 reissue stratocaster which he says the bodies comes from during that time.

Fender started doing 63 reissues starting at 2000 or 2002, I have one 2003 CS Telecaster in blonde.

So someone must've told them that and he thought of it as truth. Fender did introduce the American Vintage series during early 80's and offered, 1952 Telecaster, 1957 Stratocaster and a 1962 Stratocaster with rosewood neck.

But also did a few other series as Deluxe and etc. I don't think this body is from the AV reissues cause of it's colour which wasn't an option for that series. If it's a real 80s Fender it must've come from a different series.

Picture of any writing on the neck heel, neck pocket and pictures of the body routing and pictures of the pickup without the covers on them and from behind them too and a picture of the electronics pots etc. That way we can asses what this partcaster has for parts

Here are the pots pups wiring etc. The inside of the body is below as well. I found no writing stamping or anything inside the body.

 

[Guy Named Sue]

The pots read R1379611 which means 11th week of 1996. The pickups have plastic bobbin instead of vulcanized fiber, the wires red, blue, black and white match the pickups Fender used on their Standard lines.

So there is nothing expensive there, but it's not cheap chinese either, it's the good standard stuff Fender used on their standard US lines back in 90's.

Was there no writing or stamp on the neck heel? Neck pocket? You need to unscrew the neck to see

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

I think this is a MIJ neck, Maybe it isnt even a strat neck, I dont know. It only has numbers on the head stock that I looked up and they seem to be legit as a 83. But what kinda of fender I have no idea.
At the heal it only has a strange word. "J. Amezquita." and nothing else.
In the neck cavity it has STR or it may be something else. You can definitely make out the "TR." The letter before it looks like an S to me. It also looks like there may be something else before the S that I cant make out. Like a 9 or an * or maybe even another top of an S, then a space then the STR. Its just really ugly in there. LOL
Below the STR there is what looks like to me a date stamp. I was looking at it upside down I think and it looks like "3 1 1081" or "1981" or 1991" or 1881" but when I turn it the other way it could be "1881 1 E" or whatever the first 4 are, then 1 E, so I cant make it out. It looks like if I look at it as "1881 1 E" that the one's look correctly turned. I can definitely make the "1" out this way.
I don't know what the heck I have. Not really concerned about what the thing is worth because obviously once I cracked it open its a monstrosity and probably aint worth much as money is concerned. Its worth a lot to as for the man that gave it to me is a dear friend and one hell of a musician. I was really wondering what parts I have. It sure does play good and sounds great. I cant complain about the performance whatsoever. I just thought this would be a good subject for people to talk about. Thanks!!

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

The pots read R1379611 which means 11th week of 1996. The pickups have plastic bobbin instead of vulcanized fiber, the wires red, blue, black and white match the pickups Fender used on their Standard lines.

So there is nothing expensive there, but it's not cheap chinese either, it's the good standard stuff Fender used on their standard US lines back in 90's.

Was there no writing or stamp on the neck heel? Neck pocket? You need to unscrew the neck to see

I just uploaded the other pics. I couldnt upload but 10 at a time

 

[Guy Named Sue]

My best guess

Body = Japanese
Neck = US Standard
Electronic & pickup = US Standard

I'd say around 400 would be the best reasonable price

 

[tealsixtysix]

Based on what I can see in your photos, it looks like that's a late Fullerton (USA) Fender neck. It probably came off a Smith-Era Strat, the forerunner of the American Standard. A close-up of the front of the headstock, including all of the decal, will help narrow it down.

I agree that the body looks like a Fender Japan reissue.

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

Based on what I can see in your photos, it looks like that's a late Fullerton (USA) Fender neck. It probably came off a Smith-Era Strat, the forerunner of the American Standard. A close-up of the front of the headstock, including all of the decal, will help narrow it down.

I agree that the body looks like a Fender Japan reissue.

on the back of the neck on the bottom, it has what looks like a hand written "S" that is in red ink if that helps. the head stock of the only numbers that were on it were on the front, nothing on the back.
If you guys don't mind me asking, what was the tell tell sign about what the body was or is, and the same about the neck? I'm just trying to learn. Thanks for the reply.

 

[tealsixtysix]

Yep, that's a late Fullerton (USA) neck, 1983.

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

Yep, that's a late Fullerton (USA) neck, 1983.

How can you tell? Man I was just talking to the old man that gave it to me and he thinks, because he is 80 lol, that the neck is from the early 80's. But he said the body he "knows" is a reissued but from what year he doesnt know. That this yellow "aged white" was only available for the reissued 63. How much of that is true I dont know. He also said that he got the 82-83 guitar neck as a complete guitar, but didnt get it until the 90's. Thats when he took the neck and pups and stuff out of it and put it on the body that it has now. But when he bought the 82 that whoever had it may have upgraded the inside pups and pots that is why they are dating mid 90's. Long story I know...sorry. I do know that the feel, action and play-ability of it is just incredible.

 

[tealsixtysix]

How can you tell?

Because the decal looks 100% legit (and the few fake ones I've seen look really, really fake), because the "J. Amezquita" stamp appears on other legit Fender necks from around that same time period, because it looks right in other ways that are hard to quantify beyond "I've seen a bunch of these, and that's what they look like), because I can't believe that anyone would put that much effort into faking a Smith Era Strat neck (so if it looks legit, it's probably legit), and because it fits the story you've told.

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

Because the decal looks 100% legit (and the few fake ones I've seen look really, really fake), because the "J. Amezquita" stamp appears on other legit Fender necks from around that same time period, because it looks right in other ways that are hard to quantify beyond "I've seen a bunch of these, and that's what they look like), because I can't believe that anyone would put that much effort into faking a Smith Era Strat neck (so if it looks legit, it's probably legit), and because it fits the story you've told.

thanks man......thats one heck of a response. Now if I could make out this body as well even if it is a MIJ. It seems to have a date stamp I just cant make it out. One way it looks like it may be "3 1 1981" then again it could be "3 1 1991" Or I may be looking at it upside down. If so that waould be "E 1 1_ _ 1".......I just cant make it out.
Another thing is when you take the pick guard off, were the neck sits.....the paint looks like it had a longer 22 fret neck on it which totally throws me off of it even being a R.I. I may be wrong but thats what Im seeing.

 

[Ferrell Rooster]

I know this doesnt have anything to do with this ancient thread...But..... I Haven't been on here in forever. Got sick and all, work..life lol...But anyway....I kinda put this yellow guitar up because it was my friends and didn't want to mess it up in any way, Put any wear on it. I built a cheap kit guitar, Les Paul style, and played my blue Squire. I knew I could beat them up at no cost. Plus Im not a very good player. lol...But I will have to say, out of all the junk I have, I cant resist playing this yellow strat. It is so smooth, the action is very low it takes absolutely no effort to play. Even with the low action it doesn't even buzz! I mean once you play it, and play the others, it seems like I'm actually working harder playing the others. I have went into several guitar stores playing some more recent instruments, more expensive instruments at that, and I have to tell you that this yellow strat is one of the best I've played. And that also comes from a couple guys that I have also let play it. They were amazed of the feel. Anyway ....for what its worth..I couldn't see myself trying to upgrade a guitar by buying another. Just my 2 cents