Custom Colour '60 With Soul
This particular 1960 Fender Stratocaster stands as a testament to a rich musical history, having been owned and extensively played by the notable Australian jazz musician, Don Andrews. Hailing from New South Wales, Andrews carved out an illustrious career in the Australian music scene for over 50 years, showcasing his versatility across jazz and various other musical styles.
Don Andrews' contribution to music in Australia extended beyond performance. He was a respected figure in music education, founding the Bondi Guitar School in the 1990s. Furthermore, his expertise led him to head the Conservatorium of Music in Gosford, cementing his legacy as both a performer and an educator who influenced many aspiring musicians.
One of the most striking features of this guitar is its original Dakota Red finish. This colour was a custom order back in 1960, making it quite rare, as Fender didn't officially add Dakota Red to their standard catalogue until the 1961-1962 period. This custom specification highlights the guitar's unique origins.
Key Features
- Model: 1960 Fender Stratocaster
- Original Owner: Don Andrews (Australian jazz musician and educator)
- Finish: Original Custom Order Dakota Red (pre-catalogue availability)
- Finish History: Was oversprayed black at one point, later removed.
- Fretboard: Slab Brazilian Rosewood
- Fretboard Radius: 10 inches (indicating significant play and multiple re-frets)
- Original Components: Pencil body date, tuners, knobs, pickup covers, bridge assembly, saddles.
- Replaced Components: Clay dots, bone nut, current pickguard, vibrato springs, pots, neck pickup (replaced with a later L-series pickup).
- Included Extras: Original pickguard (cracked near neck pickup screw) in the case.
Interestingly, the guitar's journey didn't end with its original custom colour. At some point during its life, the Dakota Red finish was obscured by a layer of black paint. This black overspray was later meticulously removed, revealing the original custom colour underneath, now bearing the authentic patina and character marks accumulated over decades of use and modification.
The neck of the Stratocaster plays amazingly well as expected. The slab Brazilian Rosewood fretboard features a 10" radius up from 7.25" radius. This measurement, similar to that found on the famed 1961 Stratocaster owned by Gary Moore, is indicative of the considerable playing time.
Despite its long playing career and necessary maintenance and refrets, the guitar retains several key original components. Authenticity is confirmed by the original pencil body date marking inside. The original Kluson tuners, control knobs, pickup covers, and the complete bridge assembly, including the saddles, have survived, preserving much of the instrument's vintage integrity.
However, as is common with instruments that have been played professionally for decades, some parts have been replaced to keep it in optimal playing condition. The replacements include the clay dot fretboard markers, the bone nut, the pickguard currently fitted to the guitar, the vibrato springs, and the period-correct potentiometers (pots). Notably, the neck pickup is also a replacement, specifically a later Fender L-series pickup, known for its quality tone from a slightly later vintage period.
Adding to its completeness, the original pickguard, though replaced on the guitar itself, is still included in the case. This original guard exhibits a crack near the neck pickup area, a common point of failure for Stratocaster pickguards from this specific era due to shrinkage.
Comes with an original American 1960 Fender hard case and an Australian import Stamford case.
| Year: | 1960 |
| Brand: | Fender |
| Model: | Stratocaster |
| Body: | Dakota Red on Alder |
| Neck: | One Piece Maple |
| Fretboard: | Slab Brazilian Rosewood Radius 10" |
| Modifications & Repairs: | Clay dots, refretted, bone nut, pickguard, vibrato springs, pots, neck pickup |
| Case: | Original US Tolex Case plus Australian Import Stamford Case |
