• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

1958 Mary Kaye Stratocaster

Tim's Guitars

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2015
Messages
81
Noticed this Mary Kaye on reverb the other day.

https://reverb.com/item/16842257-vintage-1958-fender-mary-kaye-stratocaster

At first glance all looks ok(with limited blurry photos!), the blonde finish looks correct, however I notice the blue (and if you look very closely red) marks on the neck but, which I can only think would come from those colors being in the neck pocket at one time, unless anyone has any other ideas? Unfortunately no neck pocket photo!

hybzj6d7ocn1salwxqbp.jpg


You can also see in this pic, some faint green marks at the back of the guitar; this could be some staining of course...but anyway would be keen to get everyone's thoughts

km3qv0oqu9gvnwfaxwpx.jpg
 

MeHereNow

Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
677
The faint green specs on the body are from knocking about on to something painted green i guess, could be anything, maybe he had it in the back of his John Deere? ;)
The paint on the back of the neck could come from the metal paintjig (what's it called? ) fender used to mount the body on when spraying laquer and was not cleaned very well.
But i don't know if they used that technique already in 1958.
Early finishing was done with resting the body on screws so then there should be faint plugholes visible.
Just guessing.
 

Tim's Guitars

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2015
Messages
81
The faint green specs on the body are from knocking about on to something painted green i guess, could be anything, maybe he had it in the back of his John Deere? ;)
The paint on the back of the neck could come from the metal paintjig (what's it called? ) fender used to mount the body on when spraying laquer and was not cleaned very well.
But i don't know if they used that technique already in 1958.
Early finishing was done with resting the body on screws so then there should be faint plugholes visible.
Just guessing.

I think that's likely the case for the specs on the body. On the neck; I'm not so sure...the would have been painted in batches, and can't see how a "Daphne Blue" type color would have got on them that way. For the body, it would been painted on a lazy Susan using the nail holes to suspend it. The paint stick didn't appear till early 1963 so would be hard to have a paint transfer or contamination...:hmm

The neck pocket might tell all; but unfortunately no pic...blury pictures from the seller doesn't help! The rest of the finish does look typical for the time, checking is similar to other 1958 guitars etc...but do wonder about that neck butt
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Everything looks legit to me as this is a vintage Mary Kay Strat in all her fine glory .
 

Unbound Dot Neck

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 14, 2004
Messages
1,623
Looks jake to me, I have a blonde 60 tele that has alittle red bleed under the neck plate.
Some kinda reaction perhaps, odd but original

:salude
 

agogetr

Active member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
451
you guys are correct its the real deal. i know the story on this one.
a guy(i know him) bought this out of the back of a loggers pickup in the northwest in 1982. the logger said 'i have the ugliest guitar you have ever seen and its yours for $250. it was in the bed with the chainsaws and beer cans and it was snowing, the tweed case was burried in snow, he told me he had to wrestle it out.
the pickguard had been painted blue. also it had a reaction and warbled the pick guard. years later he found a repro guard that fit.
the guitar other than a few smudges and the pickguard is all straight up.
besides the fact that its a rare guitar i must tell you it is an exceptional instrument, must be the ash body who knows but its an uber great strat. the rythm pickup is outstanding . i love the stories behind these old guitars, wait till you hear the one on my 61 dotneck!
 
Top