Rare '61 model with blonde ash & slab board finish!! From mid-1959, the rosewood fingerboard first introduced on the previous year's ('58) Jazzmaster became standard. A defining feature of this period is the "slab board" construction, where the neck and fingerboard are joined with a flat surface.Alder was adopted for the body wood starting mid-1956, but ash continued to be used specifically for the blond finish, which allowed the wood grain to show through. Blond finishes from the 1960s are rare, with few produced.
FENDER 1961 STRATOCASTER
The basic control cavity from the '60s. From mid-1959, the pickguard changed from a single-ply white model with 8 mounting points to a three-ply model with 11 mounting points. Due to this pickguard change, the screw hole area of the control cavity protrudes slightly, resulting in a slightly narrower shape.
The wiring groove in the rear pickup assembly varies by individual unit, but starting around 1957, it is freehand-cut with a rounded bottom and consistent depth.
Features a jack manufactured by SwitchCraft. The cavity edges are shaved and finished after painting, but the final result may vary slightly between individual units. The pin holes for jig mounting are clearly visible.
The date stamp on the spring cavity on the back of the body can be confirmed as September 1961.
By 1965, the area of contour machining had become smaller, and changes such as extreme inclination occurred, so the shape varies slightly from year to year.
The neck pocket is fully painted. The lacquer peeling at the neck joint and the neck-body dating of "9/61" match, confirming this is an original set. Starting around '62, hangers were attached to the neck pocket before painting, so the paint only covers half the area.
The so-called "Black Bobbin" uses black fiber paper on both the top and bottom. By '64, this black fiber paper was changed to gray fiber paper, known as the "Grey Bobbin." The masking tape used to bundle the wiring remains in its original, unmodified state.The pickups use cylindrical Alnico Type V magnets and "AWG (American Wire Gauge) #42" wire for the coils. The pole pieces are staggered, varying in height for each string to achieve volume balance, a design used until the mid-1970s.
※Alnico Type V: An alloy consisting of approximately 50% iron with added aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). Incidentally, the name "Alnico" simply comes from stringing together the element symbols.
For your reference
＜Pickup DC Resistance Value＞
(F) 6.03 kΩ (M) 5.98 kΩ (R) 5.82 kΩ
Serial numbers are fundamentally one of the key elements for identifying the year of manufacture. However, discrepancies can occur due to variations in the production system, including the manufacturing process itself. Furthermore, there are instances where the serial number and the actual manufacturing date are significantly different for various reasons. Therefore, they do not always correspond exactly. Since parts can also be easily replaced, determining the actual year of manufacture requires a comprehensive assessment, including all components.
The potentiometer is a round-groove type manufactured by Stackpole, adopted around 1957. The pot date code "304-6134" identifies it as week 34 of 1961. Capacitors were changed to orange ceramic types starting this year, featuring distinctive yellow insulation tubing.Unfortunately, the selector switch has been replaced with a CRL 5-position unit. However, this can be considered a minimal modification prioritizing usability, such as for half-tone settings.
From the middle of 1959, the design changed from a single layer of vinyl chloride to three layers of celluloid in white/black/white.The celluloid yellowed with age and mixed with the dark navy blue (which looks black but is actually navy blue) in the center, giving it a greenish appearance, which is why it is commonly known as the "Green Guard". At the same time as the change to three layers, the aluminum shield plate on the back, which had only covered the control section, was changed to cover the entire body.
Like the body, the September '61 date can be confirmed. The rosewood fingerboard, adopted from mid-'59 onward. Early models featured a flat-laminated board, commonly called a "slab board," while from mid-'62 onward, a curved-laminated board, commonly called a "round board," was used. The slab board uses thicker rosewood for lamination, resulting in differences in tonal thickness and attack response, which can be a matter of personal preference.
Following the V-neck (triangular neck) design used until 1957, the transition to a thinner, flatter grip began in 1958. This thinner neck shape remained a characteristic feature until the early 1960s, after which the shape gradually became thicker. With rosewood fingerboards becoming standard in 1959, the walnut skunk stripe on the one-piece maple neck was discontinued.
For your reference
＜Neck Size＞
Nut width: 43mm, 12th fret: 52mm
Neck thickness: 22mm (at the 1st fret), 26mm (at the 12th fret)
The pegs are Kluson-made covered types. They are single-line Kluson pegs stamped "KLUSON DELUXE," used until around 1963.
The so-called "spaghetti logo" with gold lettering and black outlines. A headstock with minimal chamfering, giving it a distinctly angular appearance. Until 1960, it still lacked a patent number, bearing only "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO" on the lower section.
Starting in late '59, spacers were added beneath the string guides. This reduces the load on the strings, resulting in softer string tension. It's a subtle detail, but surprisingly important. Around '64, these spacers were changed to nylon ones.
The "Clay Dot" position markers used from 1959 to 1964. A key distinguishing feature for dating them is that until 1963, the dot marker above the 12th fret was positioned roughly midway between the 5th and 2nd strings. From 1963 onward, the spacing between the two dots narrowed, and in 1965, the material changed to pearl-patterned celluloid.
A separate-type tremolo block that integrates the "bridge" and the "inertia block" that functions as the tailpiece.
The name "Synchronized Tremolo" was given to this innovative design because the bridge plate and inertia block move in sync (synchronized) when the arm is engaged. The saddle set screws have already been replaced, likely due to rust or deterioration.
The serial number engraved on the upper part of the joint plate is a fundamental element for dating. From around 1962, the screws for the neck joint and the tremolo spring hanger changed from wood screws to self-tapping screws. However, since this instrument already uses self-tapping screws, it is presumed to be from the transitional period of this change.