Were the mid-'60's Strat Pickguards White or Mint Green?

[Digiplay]

When the mid-60's Strats were NEW, were the pickguards white or mint green?

And while I'm at it

What color were the pickup covers, the switch tip, and the tremolo arm tip?

 

[guitarchaeologist]

First off, you're talking about late-50s, early-60s guards that turned green. By mid-1965 they were pure white... different material.
By most reports, the early 3-ply guards ('59-'64) were created white/black/white, but by the time the instruments arrived at the dealers, many had already started to morph (or had fully morphed) to the gray/green color we commonly refer to as mint green.

Many believe that it was the black of the middle layer bleeding through, but that has been shown to be false. It's simply a reaction of the material to outside catalysts: light (or type of light probably), or chemical (nicotine or ??), etc.

Pickups covers, knobs, etc. were also created white, but many darkened, in various shades, over the years.

 

[Wound_Up]

White.

They turned green over time. Same with knobs, covers, etc... They were also white when new.

 

[Digiplay]

White.

They turned green over time. Same with knobs, covers, etc... They were also white when new.

That's interesting!

I hate to ask this question, but I will

So if mint green is meant to be representative of how a white pickguard would have turned green over time, them why does Fender make the knobs, pickup covers. etc. in vintage and aged white when they would have actually turned a green color as well?

 

[guitarchaeologist]

So if mint green is meant to be representative of how a white pickguard would have turned green over time, them why does Fender make the knobs, pickup covers. etc. in vintage and aged white when they would have actually turned a green color as well?

No, knobs didn't turn "green". Different materials.

 

[Digiplay]

No, knobs didn't turn "green". Different materials.

I can live with that

To make sure I understand, you're saying that it was the early 3-ply guards ('59-'64) that were the ones that turned from white to gray/green, but by mid-1965 they were made from a different material that was pure white, and those guards didn't turn gray/green.

 

[stratman323]

That's interesting!

I hate to ask this question, but I will

So if mint green is meant to be representative of how a white pickguard would have turned green over time, them why does Fender make the knobs, pickup covers. etc. in vintage and aged white when they would have actually turned a green color as well?

People obsess about snot green because they think it looks good. It doesn't look good but it makes them happy to waste money trying to get the most accurate shade of a truly horrible colour. If I get a guitar with snot green plastic on it, I replace it with white.

 

[Bazz Jass]

I can live with that

To make sure I understand, you're saying that it was the early 3-ply guards ('59-'64) that were the ones that turned from white to gray/green, but by mid-1965 they were made from a different material that was pure white, and those guards didn't turn gray/green.

Correct. The material they made the earlier ones from was highly flammable which is why they changed.

 

[SpeedKing]

The original '59-'65 guards were slightly off white even when new (due to their chemical constitution which itself was the reason they were eventually dropped due to the fire risk and shrinkage issues) and then as has been already detailed gradually changed grayer and greener and yellower as time and various contaminants passed over them.

Covers and knobs remain 'whiter' much longer since they're different materials but even so they do age. It's really only the original single ply guards (up to '59) and the very early (pre'56) plastics that don't discolour at all.

 

[SD74]

So what colour will the current new mint green plastics go after many years?

 

[Intune]

So what colour will the current new mint green plastics go after many years?

Yeah only time will tell. I find it really odd that a brand new fender that’s sold as new old stock, shiny new but has a orange neck and aged/cream knobs. So in 20 years when it actually ages, what’s it’s going to look like? You’ll have what looks like a 20 year old finish/metal bits but 60 year old plastics and neck. Will the orange neck turn dark brown like the knobs?

The relic stuff is all artificially aged so I understand that. In 20 years it will look 20 years older. Not mismatched of different aged parts. Will be interesting to see how dark these aged parts get.

 

[Bazz Jass]

So what colour will the current new mint green plastics go after many years?

Plastics won't change. The 59 to 64 nitrate guards are the only ones that discernibly changed - because of their composition. Earlier 50s ones didn't change, neither did later ones. Google 50s strats - lots of bright white guards. Same with 80s.

Fender invented modern "green" guards for this reason. They have to tint the colour to (only averagely in my opinion) mimic the aging of a nitrate guard.

 

[Nick L Plate]

People obsess about snot green because they think it looks good. It doesn't look good

I think you mean, "I think it doesn't look good," unless you really do intend to disparage the preferences of so many other people. Personally, I think the off-white we call "mint" green offers a good way to tone down the synthetic brightness of pure white plastic without getting into other methods that make it look dirty. Admittedly, some makers overdo the green by far, which looks fake. I like parchment and vintage white as well.

 

[Bazz Jass]

I think you mean, "I think it doesn't look good," unless you really do intend to disparage the preferences of so many other people. Personally, I think the off-white we call "mint" green offers a good way to tone down the synthetic brightness of pure white plastic without getting into other methods that make it look dirty. Admittedly, some makers overdo the green by far, which looks fake. I like parchment and vintage white as well.

You need to realise that @stratman323 speaks for everyone. Everyone thinks it doesn't look good, whether they know it or not

 

[stratman323]

So what colour will the current new mint green plastics go after many years?

It would be very funny & somehow appropriate if daylight bleached it white, wouldn't it?

 

[Bazz Jass]

It would be very funny & somehow appropriate if daylight bleached it white, wouldn't it?

Nah, let's go somewhere else. Like mauve...

 

[stratman323]

Nah, let's go somewhere else. Like mauve...

Mauve on an Antigua finished Strat.....

 

[Bazz Jass]

Mauve on an Antigua finished Strat.....

"Mauve it on over....Rock it on over"

 

[stratman323]

"Mauve it on over....Rock it on over"

You don't hear much from ol' George these days, do you? Wonder what he's doing?

 

[Bazz Jass]

You don't hear much from ol' George these days, do you? Wonder what he's doing?

Played here in my home town October just past. Probably should have gone to that....