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(I don't know for a fact they weren't and am happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.)
I would probably leave the middle tone pot if it cleans up - it's not original, but looks fairly decent quality. The volume pot is crap and needs to go. Definitely change the jack if it's corroded - you'll never get it clean in any long-lasting way once the nickel plating has come off the inside of the barrel. Use only a proper Switchcraft replacement.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
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Thanks for that.. I will have a closer look at the switch and connections tomorrow.. I did notice that the ground on the back of the volume pot was a bit loose.. So it may very well be some of the connections have got corrosion and that could be the main issue.
And yes... Switchcraft all the way.. Really no point in cheaping out on the electrics side just for a few quid... And the same for pots... CTS all the way for me
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
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I think they're therefore orig.
If it says Fender Fender then they're reissues, as the 71 onward were block.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Yeah.. they are probably original then
http://i.imgur.com/CCcxnGo.jpg
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
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Yup, and the bottom E has been re-screwed at some point, so safe to say originals (unless you've just replaced them!?)
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Lol no.. that's how I got it.. I wouldn't dare do such a thing
Ohh and one more bit of info I forgot to mention.. The owner did also tell me the switch was replaced from a 3 to a 5 way one.. But the one that's on there is also pretty old from what I can see so was done a while back...
So yeah, this guitar is very cool but as you mentioned its no collectors guitar as its already had some non original mods... and the condition is not great (proper road worn ).....Still.. id imagine theres lots of players whod love id regardless
Once I finish with it I will hopefully get a good play on it before it goes back... (even though im really not a strat sort of guy)
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
My Youtube page
You will be gobsmacked by this, but Fender didn't deem the 5 way switch very important and they used a 3 way up until mid 76.
I'm very relaxed about 'players' guitars. I much prefer them, I believe if everything is mint on a 60 year old guitar then it cant have been very good to begin with as nobody's bonded with it.
Both of my vintage Strats have little issues but they're tonal gods and I don't care about cork sniffing.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Swap the outer low E height screw with the inner high E one - it will be less prone to rip up your/his hand.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
63 L's went up to about 20,000 or so.. and 64's up to 59000 ish.
My P is very early 59000, and the various dated bits are second half 64. The neck is Oct 64, pots Nov 64 and I reckon mine was assembled Dec 64, plated and went out the door around new year.
In all probability I reckon the parts are early-mid 63 on this one where original, and it was assembled and plated mid-late 63. 64 seems too late for this one.
Havin said all that Fenders L series numbers are notorious for inaccuracy.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
My pots are Nov 64 on an L59xxx
I know the number is very low for a '64, but the thing with the plates is that they were stamped and then stored in a bin in the factory, which was refilled before it ran out, so occasionally down at the bottom there would be ones that were much older than the current production run should have been using. (According to Forrest White's book, if I remember rightly.)
The pot cannot have been made before the first week of December 1963, assuming the last digit is an 8 (I think it is, Rabs may be able to confirm). Even if it's a 3 it's still November '63 which is still too late for that serial number normally.
Of course it's also possible that the whole thing is a partscaster - people were doing that as long ago as the early 70s at least… Clapton and Dave Gilmour among others.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
My Youtube page
I think I was the first person to take the neck off my P (one owner) and the Oct 64 date confirmed for me it was late 64 early 65 more than the neck plate.
Plus the pickup was clearly hanging around for a while as that's dated like March 64..