1957 Strat oddity

[Tim's Guitars]

I wonder if I could ask this group's advise. A very nice, and very mint 1957 strat has come up for sale near me and all checks out apart from this one oddity. The trem cavity has a darker rather than the light shade of paint....has anyone ever seen anything like this before? Everything else on the guitar fully checks out...but never seen anything like this...pictures below...what does everyone think?

 

[agogetr]

i wouldnt sweat it, looks like a factory blooper

 

[Hamerfan]

Looks like the painter checked the paint on a hidden place.

 

[Cogswell]

Looks like the painter checked the paint on a hidden place.

I'd bet this is the case. You can see a tiny bit of overspray on the treble-side of the body & the finish is obviously stock. Who knows? Maybe he had just refilled his gun & was checking the mix.

 

[troyad]

More pics of the whole body/guitar?

 

[S. Weiger]

More pics of the whole body/guitar?

I'll second that. Also high quality close up pics of the spring claw & jack solder joints. I've never seen a sunburst pre-CBS cavity painted like OP's, but if the rest of the guitar really checks out, it must be factory..
And pics please, 'cause you always love to see an old Strat.

 

[S. Weiger]

Tim, here's my all original '58. Your claw solder joint should look similar to this.
(You are probably aware of that..)

 

[NYCBURST]

I wonder if I could ask this group's advise. A very nice, and very mint 1957 strat has come up for sale near me and all checks out apart from this one oddity. The trem cavity has a darker rather than the light shade of paint....has anyone ever seen anything like this before? Everything else on the guitar fully checks out...but never seen anything like this...pictures below...what does everyone think?

View attachment 14428View attachment 14429View attachment 14430

It's not paint, I'm pretty sure it's a reaction from the steel up against lacquer for years. I've seen this before. Not totally positive, but It could be.

 

[Hamerfan]

Pretty cool 58. I do a recreation of that look with aftermarket parts. I like that white 1 ply pickguard with the parchment pickup covers and knobs of the 58 Strats.

 

[NYCBURST]

Tim, here's my all original '58. Your claw solder joint should look similar to this.
(You are probably aware of that..)

View attachment 15014View attachment 15015

if you look at the wood under the springs and on the sides of the cavity on this example, you'll notice the color difference between that and the yellow. It's just a reaction from the metal. You can see it on this one, just not as pronounced. a purple-ish color.

 

[S. Weiger]

if you look at the wood under the springs and on the sides of the cavity on this example, you'll notice the color difference between that and the yellow. It's just a reaction from the metal. You can see it on this one, just not as pronounced. a purple-ish color.

The "color difference" you see in my pic is shadowing from the angle the light is coming in.
Way different than OP's cavity. The purpose of the pic was to clarify how his solder joints should look, if untouched.