For sale is my genuine 1962 Fender Stratocaster, featuring an original January 1962 neck (pencil dated 1/62), serial number 91975. Very similar history to Chris Buck's '62 Strat (videos available on YouTube).

This is a genuine pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, not a reissue or replica. It has undergone an extensive, nearly two-year professional restoration led by vintage specialist Joe Dobson (Joseph Kaye Guitars), with refinishing work carried out by Brian Eastwood Guitars.

Originally finished in Fiesta Red, the guitar had been refinished in Dakota Red before I acquired it. It had also undergone various modifications and repairs throughout its life. The restoration was a substantial project, returning the guitar to its original Fiesta Red appearance while preserving as many original components as possible.

The result is a beautiful, genuinely vintage Stratocaster that plays exceptionally well. The neck is particularly comfortable, and the guitar has been regularly played and enjoyed rather than kept as a collector’s piece.

Original Components

The guitar retains a significant number of its original 1962 components:

• Original 1962 Fender body
• Original maple neck, pencil dated January 1962 (1/62)
• Original Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, professionally restored
• Original vintage Fender pickups, with rewinding work carried out during restoration on the middle and bridge pickups (see below)
• Original tone potentiometers, dated to the 23rd week of 1961
• Original pickup selector switch
• Original nitrate pickguard, professionally repaired
• Original volume control knob
• Original output jack
• Original 1962 neck plate, retained and included separately

The original neck plate is not currently installed. A specially made reproduction plate is fitted to the guitar.

Professional Restoration

The restoration was undertaken by Joe Kaye Guitars, with specialist refinishing work by Brian Eastwood Guitars. The work included:

Body and finish

• Complete body refinish in its original Fiesta Red colour.
• Restoration of the body and neck lacquer.
• Professional wood repair to an additional body cavity that had been routed for a switch modification during the 1960s.
• Careful attention to the original finish construction and underlying coats.
• Repair of the original nitrate pickguard, including the previous switch modification.

Neck and fingerboard

• Restoration of the original Brazilian rosewood fingerboard.
• Repairs to areas of the fingerboard previously damaged or modified.
• Replacement/restoration of the clay fingerboard dots.
• Complete refret.
• New bone nut.
• Replacement vintage-correct headstock decal.
• Replacement Japanese Gotoh vintage-style tuning machines.

Electronics

• Original vintage Fender pickups retained, with rewinding work undertaken as part of the restoration.
• Joe’s restoration records identify the middle and bridge pickups as rewound, although an earlier component list contains conflicting information.
• Original 1961 tone potentiometers retained.
• NOS (new old stock) replacement volume potentiometer sourced and installed.
• Original selector switch and output jack retained.

Pickup resistance readings recorded during restoration:

• Neck: 5.7 kΩ
• Middle: 5.8 kΩ
• Bridge: 6.3 kΩ

Hardware

• Replacement aged, vintage-style patent-pending bridge saddles.
• Specially manufactured reproduction neck plate, professionally vapour-etched.
• Original 1962 neck plate retained and included separately.
• Replacement 1973/74-era tone control knobs.
• Replacement pickguard screws and various other small hardware components.
• Vintage-correct replacement tuners.

Joe also spent considerable time refining the setup following the restoration. The work was extensive, with the aim of preserving the instrument’s original character while restoring its appearance, playability and reliability.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Fender
• Model: Stratocaster
• Year: 1962
• Neck date: January 1962 (1/62)
• Serial number: 91975
• Original colour: Fiesta Red
• Current finish: Professionally refinished Fiesta Red
• Body: Original 1962 Fender body
• Neck: Original 1962 maple neck, restored
• Fingerboard: Original Brazilian rosewood, restored
• Pickups: Three vintage Fender single-coils, with documented rewinding work
• Electronics: Original 1961 tone pots, original selector switch, NOS replacement volume pot
• Frets: Professionally refretted
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Japanese Gotoh vintage-style replacements
• Weight: 3.392 kg (approximately 7 lb 7.7 oz)
• Case: Later Fender hard case (not original/vintage)

Documentation and Included Items

The guitar comes with:

• Fender hard case (non-vintage).
• Original 1962 Fender neck plate, supplied separately.
• CITES Article 10 certificate (digital as this is non transferable)
• Restoration information and documentation detailing the work undertaken.

Condition and Originality

This is a genuine, professionally restored 1962 Fender Stratocaster, not an all-original collector-grade instrument.

This is very much a player’s vintage Stratocaster: an authentic early-1962 Fender that can be enjoyed and played regularly without the concerns associated with an untouched collector-grade example.

It has been a much-loved part of my collection, and I’m only considering selling as I reassess my guitar collection. I will deliver in person within reasonable distance from my home.

Happy to discuss its history, restoration and originality in further detail.