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Post by denzil on Aug 26, 2011 2:46:34 GMT
Hello.
Just had my 50s series MIM fitted with gold hardware including Gotoh tuners and vintage trem (the arm is far to long and high off the guitar, ordered another), and BK Apache pups. Am well pleased but was wondering if Hanks original had gold frets, pickup poles and selector switch stem, I assume it did but its hard to tell from all the different pics off the net?
Cheers Dennis
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Post by 26rednef on Aug 26, 2011 11:38:26 GMT
Hi. I don't believe there was gold frets on any guitar from Fender at that time. No body especially not Cliff or Hank had any money to pay for such a thing at that time. If the PU poles was gold plated, probably. But if the switch metal parts was is more questionable and I don't think it was, and will not affect the sound any way what ever it was.  Maybe you can find information on it here. home.provide.net/~cfh/feature.htmlKind Regards, 26rednef |
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Post by denzil on Aug 27, 2011 0:41:53 GMT
Am happy with my new look but was just curious that's all. Its just that the cover to the "Shads to the Fore EP looks like gold frets?
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Post by sheendigs on Aug 27, 2011 1:23:02 GMT
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Post by denzil on Aug 27, 2011 2:55:12 GMT
I've not got it either, just looking at web pics. Just thought the details would have been documented somewhere (sure they are), with it being the first strat in the UK.
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Post by denzil on Aug 27, 2011 3:00:57 GMT
Can't see anything on 26rednef's link either....I'm sure someone will know.
Cheers all
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Post by sheendigs on Aug 27, 2011 10:57:29 GMT
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Post by bor64 on Sept 22, 2011 9:00:30 GMT
Denzil,
Hank's first strat the 34346 didn't have golden frets,pick up poles and switch shaft for sure!
How do i know?
That's easy, Fender didn't supplied such options on a guitar back then, only golden hardware at 5% more.
I hold and played that first original guitar a few times and there wasn't a trace of gold on the parts you named...
I know the gold fredwire as mentioned above,but that didn't exist back then..
There were Fender custom shop replica's build just recently and the original guitar was used as a template and studied by knowledgeable people from Fender etc, Bruce was involved too....and guess what, no gold on the parts you mentioned....
I guess the lights in the studio's when the pic's are made played a trick with the eyes...
BTW why order a new tremarm ,just bend the thing in a vise and saw off the length ....easy as pie, i did that multiple times.
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Post by neil2726 on Sept 27, 2011 12:42:40 GMT
Theres a good pic of Hanks original Strat on the cover of Mo Foster's book "British Rock Guitar" It doesnt have gold frets and the p/u swith is plastic. Also note the gold plating has worn off the trem arm by the plastic tip!
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Post by mikehustler on Nov 12, 2012 20:44:33 GMT
Sorry chaps but gold fretwire !!! , it would need a refret after a couple of days playing gold is far too soft.
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Post by somebodyelseuk on Nov 13, 2012 10:02:57 GMT
No, is the simple answer.
Gold plating on fret wire would last about five minutes, in fact it wouldn't survive being fitted to the neck. Magnets are notoriously difficult to plate even now, back in the 50s - no chance. Other than the trem plate, arm & bridges, the jack plate and the machines, everything else would have been standard nickel or chrome plating.
The gold coloured fret wire, by the way, is probably regular wire plated with bronze. Over the last few years, this has replaced nickel plating in the jewellery and clothing industry - buttons. buckles etc - as it isn't allergenic and the colour of the finish can be varied depending on plating conditions between colourless (like silver) to a convincing gold colour and it has very good wear resistance - wouldn't be surprised if most 'gold' plating on guitars has been replaced by this already.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2012 11:07:26 GMT
Hi,
Anyone interested in the specification of Hank's original Stratocaster 34346 would find this information on my Hank Marvin & The Shadows Custom Shop Stratocasters PDF sheet (available at Post 22 on my pinned thread on this site).
The original Stratocaster was copied in minute detail to produce the Oasis 50th Edition Shadows' Stratocaster. The original guitar was lent by Bruce to Fender in order to enable them to take it apart and examine and measure every detail of the instrument in order to reproduce the 'identical' replica.
The information and specification I have produced on my PDF was kindly supplied to me by Howard Gillespie at Oasis Musical Instruments who actually commissioned and supervised the entire build of the 50th edition instrument. I also own one of these instruments, so I can also confirm first hand every detail that I have written on the PDF.
I would add, finally, that the only detail of the instrument that might be in doubt is the body colour !! Obviously, no-one will ever know what the original colour of Hank's guitar was so the 50th was produced in a colour which both Bruce and Jet considered to be as near to the original as they could remember. Fender called that colour 'Custom Red'. The neck, the colour of the neck and (as far as practically possible by careful selection of the woods used) the configuration of the bird's eye pattern was also replicated on each of the 50 instruments to match the original as close as possible.
The images of the 50th on my PDF (apart probably for body colour) are as close as you are likely to get to detailed images of the original guitar.
The PDF should give you all the information you need about Hank's first Stratocaster, but if anyone has any queries not covered by the PDF then just ask. There is no need to make any assumptions - accurate information is available !
Best,
Ian
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Post by georgeboy on Oct 24, 2013 15:08:20 GMT
Hi Ian,
I have searched for this PDF file you mentioned concerning HB strat information and specs but cant find it .... can you help me on where to look.
Thanks
George
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Post by somebodyelseuk on Oct 24, 2013 15:29:04 GMT
Hiya.
I think I have the pdf on my laptop. If Ian's okay with it, PM me your email and I'll send it over.
Cheers, Julian
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2013 17:29:19 GMT
Hi,
No problem with anyone passing on the fact sheet - fee free - that's what it's there for.
Post 22 in the Hank Marvin & Shadows CS Stratocasters thread in the FAQ about Hank and The Shadows section is where you will find it.
Cheers,
Ian
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