WIRES
Until 1967 the electrical wires were coated with a black and white cloth (since 1965 it has sometimes been replaced by a yellow one).
Since 1967 wires coated with a black or white PVC plastic have gradually replaced the previous ones; at first of identical section, they were replaced by smaller ones around 1970.
The 1982 Vintage reissues used a plastic coating on the red and gray bottom pickups, and the old canvas coating on the black bottoms.
Since 1967 wires coated with a black or white PVC plastic have gradually replaced the previous ones; at first of identical section, they were replaced by smaller ones around 1970.
The 1982 Vintage reissues used a plastic coating on the red and gray bottom pickups, and the old canvas coating on the black bottoms.
Jack Plate
Fender usually used, on vintage Stratocaster, Switchcraft jack plates. As you see in the pictures, they had some slots (green arrows) and "SWITCHCRAFT" engraved (red arrow) in the inner metal rings, and a dot at the end of the contact plate (blue arrow). Usually the older ones has a darker brown fiberboard panel, later has a lighter brown one.
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BACK PLATE
The first back plates used on the Stratocasters were monolayer, .060 ″ high, and characterized by the presence of circular holes to pass the strings.
In early 1955 these holes became oval to facilitate the change of strings without removing the back plate.
In 1976 Fender started to equip the Stratocasters with three layer back plates (black/white/black).
In the 1987 American Standard and in the Plus Series the holes were replaced by a single large horizontal hole.
In early 1955 these holes became oval to facilitate the change of strings without removing the back plate.
In 1976 Fender started to equip the Stratocasters with three layer back plates (black/white/black).
In the 1987 American Standard and in the Plus Series the holes were replaced by a single large horizontal hole.
HARDWARE
Golden hardware on request between 1960 and 1967.
Masking Tapes
In addition to the dates on the body and on the neck, there are other writings that can help in dating a Stratocaster. Sometimes, at the bottom of the pickguard or in the cavities inside the body of the 1954 and 1955 Stratocasters you could find a masking tape on which the name of the worker - always a woman: for example Mary, Gloria, Virginia - who had wounded the guitar pickups or had taken care of the electronics assembly and the exact day she had done it were handwritten.
Screws
Typically the screws used for the Stratocasters were, initially, half-threaded screws with a cross section with a camber. Fender started to use full thread screws for the pickguard around 1958 and in about 1962 for the neck plate too.
Half-threaded screws were used on the neck plate until 1962 circa
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Original 1964 screw - the "Philips" cavity (cross hole on the head) had a particular shape
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Vintage Stratocaster screw repro
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