One of these Strats is leaving in the next several month

[burntfrijoles]

As soon as I can determine which one. They both have their charms and neither has any deficits. The 57 NOS has a clarity and chime that is wonderful and I think it better looking. The neck has aged is darker now. The neck is a mid 60s C, same as the 61 Relic but it feels slightly thinner. The 61 has more growl. I'm so so, on it's particular relic treatment but it's still a great guitar. I vacillate on which one I like more. I'm just at the point where I'm tired of maintaining multiple instruments. I'll still have a Strat, Tele and LP. (I'm also getting down to one acoustic).

 

[hnryclay]

Im personally a fan of maple fingerboard on Fender guitars. They just bend easier and play better for me. Love rosewood on a Gibson, but really cant beat maple on a Fender.

 

[john_cribbin]

Tele's have a maple neck and three saddles. Strat's have rosewood necks and six saddles. That's my standpoint and I'm sticking to it!

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

I like the larger head on the maple neck one but after that I like the other one everywhere else. It seems to have more character; more of an aged look. The depth of the color of the body and that mint pickguard. The other one seems crisp out of the box and almost 'looks' cheaper. My apologies, just giving my opinion.

That said, I don't get a chance to play them and that would matter more to me if there was enough of a difference between them.

 

[Greggorios]

Hard decision for sure. As far as looks goes I'm good with both (50s vs. 60s). Just for curiosity sake:

-Are they both Custom Shop?
-57 is ash and 61 alder?
-Weight?

 

[bgmacaw]

My reaction to selling nice guitars...

 

[AAT65]

Sell 'em both and buy one which isn't a sunburst.

 

[burntfrijoles]

-Are they both Custom Shop?
-57 is ash and 61 alder?
-Weight?

Yes, both custom shops. Both Wildwood 10s (10” radius).
The 57 is NOS with ash body, John Cruz pickups.
The 61 is a relic, alder body, beefier John Cruz pickups.
The are both pretty light weight, less than 7.5 lb

 

[NTC]

Keep the 57.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

As soon as I can determine which one. They both have their charms and neither has any deficits. The 57 NOS has a clarity and chime that is wonderful and I think it better looking. The neck has aged is darker now. The neck is a mid 60s C, same as the 61 Relic but it feels slightly thinner. The 61 has more growl. I'm so so, on it's particular relic treatment but it's still a great guitar. I vacillate on which one I like more. I'm just at the point where I'm tired of maintaining multiple instruments. I'll still have a Strat, Tele and LP. (I'm also getting down to one acoustic).
View attachment 997816

Is the '57/ maple neck, a 2-Tone SB or 3-Tone here?

This one looks like I see a thin red ribbon, but not sure. Sometimes 2-Tones still look red to me...

( I don't have one, but I love an early '50's style 2-tone SB, where there is a black/brown edge that gets really light/ yellow in the center)

 

[burntfrijoles]

Keep the 57.

That’s my most recent inclination.

Is the '57/ maple neck, a 2-Tone SB or 3-Tone here?

2 Tone.

 

[whoanelly15]

Sell 'em both and buy one which isn't a sunburst.

This gave me the giggles.

But the final ruling on this and any similar question is: keep the rosewood.

 

[RobRiggs]

I know it shouldn’t be a factor in your decision, but the body grain on the maple fretboard guitar is exceptionally beautiful.

 

[ahiddentableau]

They both look like fantastic guitars to me, but I think I'd lean towards the 57. I like bright and chimey on strats. I find I can go in the more growl/power direction with pedals/amp settings but it's very hard to go in the other direction.

 

[Masmus]

Normally I like maple necks and ash bodies but I like the look of that 61 better and I'll always pick a guitar that growls.

 

[Winky]

Keep the maple neck one.

 

[Tarkus60]

Rosewood sir.....

 

[Dan German]

Maple, ash, and chime? 57 sir.

 

[hopdybob]

you can't insert clarity, but you can ad growl.
so i would keep the 57 NOS

 

[burntfrijoles]

I know it shouldn’t be a factor in your decision, but the body grain on the maple fretboard guitar is exceptionally beautiful.

Actually, I think psychologically it does factor. It's really a lovely guitar and I like the looks better than the 61 Relic.
As I said, in my OP, the neck tint is not as white as it was when I took the picture in the OP. It's by no means "vintage" tint but it may be one day.