White Stratocaster

[Teflon]

A quick question for the experts here:

I know Cliff had 34346 refinished in white at some point in the mid to late 60's, but I have just seen a photo taken during Cliff & The Shad first African tour in 1960 (poss '61) which shows the 5 of them sitting waiting for a plane. In the photo, Cliff is holding a white Fender Strat. Any ideas where this would have come from?

Cliff (no, not THAT one!)

[RUSSET]

Hi Cliff,
If the White Strat had Maple fingerboard, it was probably the famous one. But the Shads did briefly use a set of White Fenders, with White scratchplates & Rosewood fingerboards, giving up the Red set, in those early days. Quite quickly, they also then appeared with White ones with Tortoiseshell scratchplates. So, it depends on whether you can identify which White model it was. This was just before the Shads acquired the famous White Burns 'Marvin' guitars.

regards Tony.

[Iain Purdon]

The white Fenders that succeeded the reds were introduced in 1963, IIRC, so any white Fender seen in 1960/61 will have been something else.

[Teflon]

The white Fenders that succeeded the reds were introduced in 1963, IIRC, so any white Fender seen in 1960/61 will have been something else.

Yup, that was my thoughts and why I'm so curious. The strat in question has a white scratch plate and maple neck and looks just like the original strat after its re-spray. However the photo was taken in 60 or early 61, so it can't be the same one (The photo appears in a book published in '61, so it can't be later than that).

If I get a chance later this evening I'll see if I can scan the photo.

Cheers,

Cliff

I

[Teflon]

Here's the photo. Not the greatest quality I'm afraid. Its taken from the Daily Mirror book "Me & My Shadows" published in 1961.



I guess the neck could be rosewood, but looking at the original photo I'm more inclined to think maple as it seems to be the same shade as the headstock. Could be wrong though.

Thoughts gentlemen (and ladies)?

Cliff

Edit: from a quick web search, it seems Cliff & the Shads played Johannesburg in March '61, which at least helps date the photo.

[bor64]

Hi Cliff

It's a one layer pick guard and the pic is pre- 62 so it's the famous 34346!

Cheers Rob

[chas]

Two thoughts - they're wearing stage suits & ties, so presumably in a dressing room - clothes hanging above, radiator on the back wall. I'm thinking the the Strat could be fiesta red, but looking white with glare from flash?

Chas.

[Teflon]

Hi Cliff

It's a one layer pick guard and the pic is pre- 62 so it's the famous 34346!

Cheers Rob

It certainly looks like it, but surely in '61 it should still be red. I wonder if Chas is right and it's a camera flash making a red guitar appear white? I think he could be on to something.

Cliff

[dave robinson]

Well look at the shade of Tony's face and hand, Cliff's Jacket and it is feasible that it's a trick of light.

[dave robinson]

This was dated 1961 also . . . .