Can you help identify this body?

[joshigh]

I'm stumped. My research points to a '62 RI but I'm not 100% sure.

Not sure if the trem/bridge has been messed with or not.

Thanks!

[NastyMojo]

Look to be legit Fender American made.. I'd say its a 62 RI from the looks of the pickguard screw holes.

[Stratified]

What you have is a 57 American Vintage Strat body, which was originally drilled as an 8-hole body which someone drilled additional holes for an 11 hole pickguard.

First, see pdf doc here for the 0053806 code on the neck pocket tag:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/8324467/...CASTER-0100102

Also, notice the shape of the control route is the 50s shape, doesn't have the notch for the new screw location. That's why that screw hole is hanging off the edge of the route. Notice also the 2 holes close to each other opposite the middle pickup on the control side of the guitar; neither 8/11 hole pickguards used both holes

You can check Warmoth for pdf's on the location of 8 hole vs 11 hole strat pickguards; in fact, there is a pdf of a "conversion" pickguard that Warmoth makes to use one of the 8 hole pickguard screw locations rather than adding a new one, like you have. I've annotated your photo:

The red holes are 8 hole only, the green are 11 hole only, the brown are common holes. Add up the brown and red hole = 8. Add up the brown and green = 11.

I've also added a pic from the Vintage Guitar Info guy that has the control cavity "shoulder" labeled, that was added for the new screw location that your body doesn't have.