The evolution of Leo’s Stratocaster

[Andy N]

Here’s something for Strat aficionados to fill a quiet half hour during the holidays.

What year would be your perfect vintage Strat?

[Richard G]

I certainly filled a quiet 30mins watching the history of the Strat. I’m certainly no expert here but I thought the later models sounded a tad more mellow, whether that was down to wood or pick-ups, I’m not sure.
Back in 1960 my fellow band member and I thought we would update our guitars, I bought a Gibson 335 and he bought a Stratocaster, they were definitely head-turners in those days in Oxford UK.

Thanks for the post Andy,

Richard

[charjo]

That must have been one of the earliest stratocasters in the UK at the time. I hope you still have the 335, Richard.
John

[Richard G]

Unfortunately not John, much later another pal owned a Gretsch 6120 but hankered after my Gibson 335. At that time I’d played enough Chuck Berry and was intrigued by Chet Atkins, so we did a swap.

Richard

[Andy N]

Turned heads in Oxfordshire? I reckon that’s an understatement and a half 😂.
They’d have wondered what the heck they were! As John said, that’s early days for a Strat in the uk. There can’t have been that many around.
Is the Gretsch 6120 the same model as the one Steve Howe used to play?

[Richard G]

Not sure about Steve Howe but Eddie Cochran played a Gretsch 6120. We bought the Strat and Gibson 335 in Shaftesbury Ave and Selmers in Tottenham Court Rd. London. No musical instrument shop in Oxford stocked those brands.

If you’ll excuse the quality, this is me in 1960 with the Gibson 335 after I fitted a Bigsby Arm to it.

Richard

[charjo]

Thanks, Andy. Of course I watched start to finish over breakfast.
I have a fondness for those ’60-61 strats with the slab rosewood and thinner necks like my blue custom shop.
My first strat was a Fiesta red built in Corona but painted in Mexico and, therefore considered a Mexican strat. This was before my AM membership and the explosion of internet guitar instruction when I had no idea what to do with it.
It had a beautiful rosewood slab fretboard but was a bit of a Frankenstein with DeMarzio pick ups, a piezo bridge pick up and wasn’t set up well. I eventually sold it to a friend who set it up properly, replaced the pick ups and had it refretted. I only realized later what a beauty it was and have very much regretted selling it.

John

[Andy N]

I reckon we could have another whole thread on the guitars that we’ve let get away!
In the past I had a big twitch to own a fiesta red Strat too, after watching the likes of Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler. It never happened but maybe it will at some point though there’s so many other tempting examples.
I was surprised by the difference in tone of the rosewood fretboard models. It’s made me think that if I do ever get a strat it will have to have a rosewood fretboard.

[Author]

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