While all ’57 Strats we see at CME are special, this one is a standout in a number of ways, making it a must for any serious player looking to add a maple-board Strat to a collection.  

The light maple wood color gives this Strat a unique appearance among more common darker, sweat-stained examples.  The guitar is very clean overall.  Even though it’s missing a backplate, the rest of the wear suggests a guitar that has been taken good care of throughout its lifetime.  Clearly, the work that was done had the guitar’s playability in mind, and it’s definitely benefited from the care.

A major area where this Strat is ahead of the pack is in its electric sound—the strength and clarity of the pickups only seems to show up in the best Strats we get.  Which is to say that, if you’re a player looking for a truly standout piece in the Strat world, this one needs to be on your radar.

Summary

Body:  Alder.  Dates to 8-57.

Neck:  Light-colored one-piece maple neck.  Dates to 9-57.

Pickups:  All three pickups, particularly the neck, are very strong, with a lot of presence and shimmer.  Pots date to '57.

Setup/Playability:  Plays smoothly, with a soft-V neck that's not too thick.  Frets have a lot of life left in them.

Cosmetic Condition:  Light to moderate neck and body wear--some dents and finish worn away, but light compared to most we've seen.

Modifications:  Modifications have been done professionally—has had a very clean refret and has repro strap buttons.  The screw holes under the neck plate have been plugged and redrilled, and there are a couple of tiny finish touch-ups near the jack plate.  Missing back plate.

Weight:  7lbs 9 oz

Case:  Original hardshell.