WTF is this gold Strat? Totally homemade?

[neandrewthal]

Another one from my father's collection. I am ashamed at how little I know about this one as it was clearly special.

All gold hardware, gold 6-screw vintage bridge, 21 frets, bottom truss adjust. Waterslide decal lettering. No serial (though supposedly there is a hidden "V" somewhere). 1998 neck and body. No microtilt. SSS routing. Dot stickers are painted over in top 2 pickup cavities and it looks like a piece of tape is painted over in the bottom one. All cloth covered wiring. Looks like separate neck/middle tone controls and no bridge.

I have an old appraisal document from when my mom and dad split up and the appraiser listed it as "60 reissue" but I don't know where he got that from.

 

[rolandson]

So, you know someone is going to ask...
What's under the stickers and tape?

 

[Intune]

Looks like a fairly mint 1998 57 avri. Not sure I understand the thread title?

 

[3bolt79]

Yeah man, what is under the stickers?

 

[neandrewthal]

Looks like a fairly mint 1998 57 avri. Not sure I understand the thread title?

Sorry, I thought it might be completely homemade. I couldn't find any 1998s in this color....

So, you know someone is going to ask...
What's under the stickers and tape?

...which could be because it's been resprayed is what you're getting at?

 

[neandrewthal]

https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/did-they-make-a-57-avri-in-aztec-gold.187445/

Found this now. 57 was the keyword to unlock google. I guess I was thrown off track by the 60 label from the appraiser.

It looks like a factory refin, with Burgundy Mist underneath...I want it.

 

[Intune]

Sorry, I thought it might be completely homemade. I couldn't find any 1998s in this color....




...which could be because it's been resprayed is what you're getting at?

It’s a completely stock factory finish 98 57 avri in Aztec gold. Noting homemade about that one. Not really sure on appraisals and such as, nice guitars though.

 

[neandrewthal]

Thanks everyone! That was easier than I thought it would be.

https://www.fuzzfaced.net/american-vintage-57-stratocaster.html

It looks like it was almost from the first month they made them. Body was made in May and was maybe refinished in August. I'll pull of a sticker tomorrow and see what is underneath.

 

[NTC]

It is a beauty!

 

[Impulsive guppy]

Looks cool!

 

[Intune]

I still don’t know why you think it’s been refinished. Late 90’s this was a factory colour. Unless whoever refinished it in gold removed magically every bit of whatever the previous colour was from the neck heel and pocket. Then put it away to keep in absolutely mint condition?

Feel the stickers away, you’ll probably see bare wood.

 

[rolandson]

Sorry, I thought it might be completely homemade. I couldn't find any 1998s in this color....




...which could be because it's been resprayed is what you're getting at?

Safe bet.
You won't know until you pull it off. My experience with fender is extraneous stuff like that usually got removed.

 

[Audiowonderland]

Safe bet.
You won't know until you pull it off. My experience with fender is extraneous stuff like that usually got removed.

I have had more than one strat with those circular stickers in them. They are quite common in my experience.

That looks about as factory stock as it gets

 

[Chipss36]

That’s the nicest strat you have shown so far!

 

[zook]

In the sixties you had the option of gold hardware on new fenders right from the factory.

 

[henderman]

not a fender spec expert but it is gorgeous !

 

[neandrewthal]

I still don’t know why you think it’s been refinished. Late 90’s this was a factory colour. Unless whoever refinished it in gold removed magically every bit of whatever the previous colour was from the neck heel and pocket. Then put it away to keep in absolutely mint condition?

Feel the stickers away, you’ll probably see bare wood.

Because usually the stickers are on top of the paint, the body was made in May but the guitar wasn't finished until at least August and I have heard of them having factory resprays with one person in the thread I dug up saying they had Burgundy Mist under the Aztec Gold.

But....I peeled off one of the stickers and underneath there was.........*drum roll*............more gold!

 

[train]

Your dad had good taste

 

[Intune]

Because usually the stickers are on top of the paint, the body was made in May but the guitar wasn't finished until at least August and I have heard of them having factory resprays with one person in the thread I dug up saying they had Burgundy Mist under the Aztec Gold.

But....I peeled off one of the stickers and underneath there was.........*drum roll*............more gold!

Oh I see. Yeah it’s possible but super rare to see another colour. Those kinds of things happened in the 60’s when someone wanted a custom colour. Still I don’t know if that even happened. You hear of it but I haven’t seen any confirmation from fender that it ever happened.

Yours is a reissue so most likely it’s the stock colour and factory at that. I’ve seen those stickers blue, red and painted over.

 

[jvin248]

.

Those round stickers are usually factory quality sign offs, people or departments. They paint over them. Or sometimes don't paint over them.

.