Fender mystery color

[Dave Mayes]

I have a Fender Custom 3-neck that's dated early '52. It's not finished in blond and it's not dark. It's finished somewhere between the two - sort of a dark mustard color. More of a stain than a sprayed color. Although it has no decal there is no indication that it has been refinished. Also I think the wood is something other than ash - more grain and harder. Weighs a ton. Are there more of these out there?

[Dana Duplan]

Sounds like it's maybe a blonde one that saw a lot of cig smoke? Have you tried looking under the tuner pan to see if the finish is discolored? Also should be able to tell if it was refinshed that way.
DD

[Dave Mayes]

Thanks for the suggestion Dana.I did that to get it's date. Not a refin and not smoke stained. Guitar has seen very light use.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Dave--I quote from John Tipka's website about Stringmasters that they came in blond (almond), chocolate, walnut, black, and white, which surprised me since I thought blonde and walnut were the only two colors. So maybe the Custom also had this variety?

[Dana Duplan]

Remember too that the earlier Fender blonde color was more of a "Butterscotch" color like on the early 50's Teles. I believe about 1955 the blonde became more "whitish", then later in the early sixties or so got more "yellowish".
DD

[Tele]

Hi Dave,

sounds like a typical Telecaster finish for that period. Butterscotch was followed by blond in 1955 so that mustard finish should be original.
Post a picture here, then it would be easy......
Andy