FENDER 1956 STRATOCASTER

1956 was the year when the specifications for body wood were changed, so it's a distinctive year in which instruments made of both ash and alder wood coexist.
Naturally, different core materials will greatly affect the sound, but there's no doubt that both have their own unique and appealing tones.
This instrument responds well to picking, and the harmonics when playing chords are quite pleasing. There isn't much trebly, and it gives a soft impression while still being crisp.

This is a basic cavity from the 1950s. The control area changed in mid-1959 when the pickguard was changed from an 8-screw white single-ply to a 3-ply 11-screw design, resulting in a protruding shape around the screw holes. In addition to the screw holes, there are three jig pin holes (one of which seems to have disappeared around 1958, leaving two) and one hole in the jack cavity, for a total of four holes hidden by the pickguard. The body date is inscribed in the spring cavity on the back.

The groove for the rear pickup wiring is finished quite roughly. Although there are individual differences, from around 1957 onwards, it was possible to finish it to a certain depth even freehand.

Jack made by "SwitchCraft"RecruitYou can see another small hole next to the screw hole; this is a pin hole made when using a jig, and there are three similar holes on the body (hidden by the pickguard), for a total of four holes.

This is the body date inscribed in the spring cavity. It's handwritten and quite roughly, so it's a little hard to read, but it's definitely 1956.

The top and back contours seem to deepen significantly around 1957, but after that, they gradually become narrower and shallower. There were subtle changes, so it's a detail that varies from year to year.

The neck pocket is painted all over. The lacquer peeling is consistent between the body and the neck, so it is almost certainly an original part. From around 1962, a hanger was attached to the neck pocket before painting, so the paint only covered half of it.

This is an original pickup with black fiber paper used on the top and bottom of the bobbin. The masking tape used to bundle the wiring is still intact. The pickup magnet is a cylindrical Alnico Type V with a diameter of just under 5mm, and the coil uses "AWG (American Wire Gauge) #42". The pole pieces are of the "staggered" type, with different heights for each string to balance the volume, as was common in Stratocasters until the mid-'70s.RecruitIt is being done.
*Alnico Type V: An alloy consisting of approximately 50% iron, with the addition of aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). Incidentally, the name Alnico is simply derived from the arrangement of the element symbols.
◎For your reference

(F)5,77kΩ (M)5,67kΩ (R)5,76kΩ

While serial numbers are generally an important factor in determining the year of manufacture, they don't always match. This is because errors can occur due to changes in the manufacturing process and other systems, and for various reasons, some items may have serial numbers and manufacturing dates that are extremely far apart. Since parts can be easily replaced, determining the actual year requires a comprehensive assessment that includes all the parts.

The potentiometer is a grooveless type made by "Stackpole". The potentiometer date is "304633", which indicates it was made in the 33rd week of '56. The capacitor is a potted "Cornel Dubilier" 0.1μF 150VDC, and the switch is also an original 3-way switch made by "CRL". The aluminum shielding plate only covers the control section, but from around '59, it changed to a size that covers the entire back due to a change in the pickguard specifications. Also, from around '57, the potentiometers changed from the type with a flat bottom to the type with a circular groove.

The handwritten date confirms it's from 1956. It's written upside down, so it's hard to read...

It features a distinctive "V-neck." When it first appeared in 1954, it had a thick, somewhat triangular grip, but from around 1956 the grip thickness became slightly thinner and the triangular angle became more pronounced. The angle became even more pronounced the following year, so it can be said that the peak of the so-called "V-neck" specification was in 1957. After that, the neck shape gradually became thinner and transitioned to a flatter grip. Also, in the case of a one-piece neck, a piece of walnut wood is embedded in the groove for the truss rod, which is installed from the back, and is commonly known as the "skunk stripe."

The tuning pegs are covered type made by "Kluson". While the earlier models from previous years did not have an engraving on the top of the cover, from around 1956 they became "single-line Kluson" tuners with the "KLUSON DELUXE" engraving, and this continued until around 1963.RecruitIt will be done.

The so-called "spaghetti logo" is gold with a black border. After 1954, the large beveling disappeared, and the headstock gradually became more angular. Partway through this year, the string guide changed from a round shape to a pressed, wavy shape. The logo remains beautifully intact with no peeling.

A distinctive feature is the steep, downward-sloping curve from the fretboard to the headstock. The rosewood version from 1959 onwards has a much larger and gentler curve.
◎For your reference

1st string side: 14mm, 6th string side: 14mm

From 1956 onwards, the materials used for control knobs and pickup covers changed from Bakelite, which was prone to wear and cracking, to nylon. Although the strength increased, while Bakelite was resistant to discoloration, nylon was characterized by its tendency to yellow with age.

This separate-type tremolo block integrates the "bridge" and the "inertia block," which functions as a tailpiece. The name "Synchronized Tremolo," which realized this innovative idea, comes from the fact that the integrated bridge plate and inertia block move in sync during arming. From around 1957, there were also types with a deeper groove for the "FENDER PAT.PEND." inscription on the saddle.RecruitHowever, it seems that there are quite a few individuals where both are confused.

These are wood screws for the pickguard (8 on top) and the jack (2 on the bottom). From around 1958, they were changed to self-tapping screws with notches extending to the top. Also, in the early 1960s, the wood screws for the neck joint and spring hanger were similarly changed to self-tapping screws. The serial number is engraved on the top of the neck plate.