custom shop 56 NOS strat.

[John M]

Looks like I got mine just in time.
According to Fenders new catalog and web site this guitar is now discontinued.
Wonder if it will make the resale value any better.

[JimN]

The Custom Shop will make anything to order; yea, even unto a 1966 Electric XII or a 1962 Bass VI.

They will certainly do a 1956 FR Strat, though maybe not "on spec".

JN

[keithmantle]

I asked a similar question last year and was told a 56 NOS could be ordered as a customer order (not time machine series) as previously sold.But was still approx same price

[abstamaria]

Quite by coincidence, we just took delivery of a new NOS 1956 “teambuilt” Customshop Stratocaster. From the certificate, it was built in 2010. It is finished in three-tone sunburst, with a soft V neck and 3-way switch. We asked the dealer (Music Gallery in Chicago) to fit it with fat Thomastic-Infield flatwounds with a wound third.



As I understand it, the guitar is representative of the 1956 – 59 model run, rather than a straight ’56 model. It has the alder body introduced in 1956, rather than the ash of the previous (the first) model, plus the flat string tree, correct pickguard, oval back-plate holes, etc. The 3-tone sunburst was introduced in mid-1958, so this guitar is representative of a late model of that series. Hank’s (Cliff’s) first Strat would have been to this spec, I think, except for the Fiesta red, gold hardware, and fancy neck.

In mid-1959, Fender of course changed over to the rosewood fretboards.

This is a light guitar and noticeable lighter than the clear-coated, natural-finish American Series Strat workhorse that I use for practice and jams. I understand unpainted guitars, where the grain shows through, are usually made of ash, but understand also that ash and alder can weigh the same or be lighter than the other, depending on the wood itself.

Anyway, we bought this for the Ventures’ section of a planned show. We already have a masterbuilt sunburst ’59 Jazzmaster and our bassist Anna Treichler has a sunburst Precision bass, a 60th anniversary model, shown on her avatar, so not quite period, but it sounds the part.

Don Wilson’s first Stratocaster, which he traded in later, must have looked like this, with an all-maple neck. We hope it nails the sound. At least our guitars will look the part.

The trouble with covering the Ventures is that our guitar combination will probably be correct only for perhaps not more than 15 Ventures pieces, the earliest ones where Bob Bogle played lead. Anyway, we have yet to practice with this Stratocaster and can't wait to hear how it sounds in the mix.

Andy

[abstamaria]

Please pardon me while I show off the guitars the new Stratocaster is intended to match: a 1959 “Walk Don’t Run” Jazzmaster and Anna’s 60th Anniversary Precision (this has a diamond stud on the headstock!). I’m not very good at covering the Ventures (nor for that matter the Shadows), but the matching guitars will look the part. We are hopeful we can do the show this year.


This guitar was built by Fender’s Dennis Galuzca.





And, finally, Anna with her sunburst PBass; she’s rehearsing here with her daughter’s prom tiara to keep her hair in place! (it just occurred to me the tiara matched the diamond on the headstock):



I’m sorry for the digression and showing off. I am quite excited with the new Strat completing the matched set.

Andy

[noelford]

Andy, your choice of words intrigues me. You say, 'We' took delivery... Is you band a cooperative by any chance, with all the gear jointly owned?

Cheers

Noel

[abstamaria]

Hello, Noel. The guitars and other gear are individually owned, but are dedicated to the Madeleine Cookie Company shows and the occasional “guest” appearance. There is some effort at the Mad Cookie Co shows to present a period appearance, and that is why the guitars and amps have to look the part. As a thirteen-year-old in the early 60s, my dream (never attained) was a shiny, new Jazzmaster that one of the better-heeled bands used. Accordingly, the guitars, amps, etc. must look “period,” but at the same time shiny and new, at the shows. It’s to bring back memories.

Our bass guitarist plays with other bands sometimes, but uses her Hofner violin bass, not her Shadows and Ventures Precision basses. I tend to use “we” because the guitars are really for the company’s shows. Our rhythm guitarist will be using that '56 Stratocaster. As I mentioned elsewhere, we hope to put a show together for November or so. The shows take some doing and sometimes work gets in the way.

Andy

[noelford]

Thanks Andy. Sounds like a show you could tour a few venues with (work permitting!)

[RUSSET]

Hi Andy,
Just looking at my 'Ventures' book, strictly speaking Anna needs a sunburst P. Bass with the gold anodised pickguard & a Maple board to be strictly early Ventures, but, that's not a complaint. Bravo to you for getting out there & playing some Ventures music. My band always starts our first set with 'Walk dont run' & 'Perfidia'. No Jazzmaster though. A Strat going through a Roland GR55 which gives all sorts of guitar & pickup simulations. I think we us a P90 pickup sim. for these tunes.

Tony.

[abstamaria]

Thanks Andy. Sounds like a show you could tour a few venues with (work permitting!)

Thanks, Noel. The full-blown Madeleine Cookie Company show, which has about 60% vocals and 40% instrumentals) would be the show that we can tour with. With such a big cast and varied repertoire, it is very difficult to put together (but fun). I thought a smaller show, dedicated to Ventures/Shadows pieces but addressed to a general audience, would be good to do for posterity, while our generation still remembers the music. We'll try to do a better job filming it this time. Wish us luck!

Andy