Help with a Stratocaster restoration

[Severen]

Hi

My father's #1 Stratocaster has been sitting in it's case in need of some TLC. I am putting on a new bone nut. I am looking for advice on a new pick guard color scheme. I am using left handed area 58, 67, and 54 pro. Here are some pictures of it in it's current state. I am looking for some quick advice since my father is terminally I'll and I want to restore it while he is still alive. Thank you so much for the help on this time sensitive matter.

I am leaning toward mint guard, creme pickup covers, and black dice knobs or original guard with black or creme covers and original knobs.

Forgot to say it is a early 70's strat that is all original except custom 5 bolt neck plate.

Thanks again.

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[The Dali]

I wouldn't touch a thing!

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

that is all original except custom 5 bolt neck plate

And the tuners, plus bridge....
Tends to agree with The Dali...
Looks nice already.
And sorry about your father....never is nice when one parents go away!
All the best with the project.

[ErikH]

I agree, it's looks cool as it is. String it up with a new set of strings, clean it up a bit, lube the nut, get a good setup on it and play the hell out of it.

Sorry about your dad.

[bluesbend]

Leave it as it is.

[phred]

+1 to set up and leave as is.

[ItsaBass]

It's fine. Just do what you need to do to get it playable.

[Chris of Arabia]

Same advice here. Clean her up, only fix what you have to and play it.

[Edgecrusher]

Restoration would imply putting it back to original condition. Which i could get on board with. Get the correct tuners and bridge. Figure out whats the deal with the neck plate and fix it.

If you want go ahead and get a new complete pickguard and pickup set up. Then just set the original aside that way it can be replaced in the future if you want and the original electronics are all there unmolested. Doing that wouldnt hurt and is easily reversible.

But really i think the best tribute would be to keep as original as possible and just setting it up to play as best it can.

[Butch Snyder]

I wouldn't touch a thing!

Agree 100%....

[Chris of Arabia]

But really i think the best tribute would be to keep as original as possible and just setting it up to play as best it can.

For me, that would mean keeping it as your Dad remembers it, unless he himself would like to see it as it came out of the Fender factory.

[Severen]

Thank you for the advice guys. Really appreciate it and all the best wishes from everyone. Tough days ahead. Thanks again.

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[gibson175]

get it playable, change the strings and keep the rest of it the same way your dad liked it.

[Bludave]

That guitar deserves to be left alone. Have a really good tech do a proper setup on it & present to your father and jam with him....

[BunnyGuitarShredder]

Leave it alone and just fix up the playing parts, if you really wanted to switch pickguards, pearloid-white, or pearl black, or just normal black/white suit the burst the best

[Jocelyn]

I agree with everyone just leave it as it is . Just get it setup. If any pots are scratchy then get those replaced. The guitar looks well worn.

[jalguitarman]

I would say do with it whatever would make your Dad the happiest. I have to say I love seeing a strat that old that shows a little wear. Sorry to hear about your Dad. Best wishes and welcome to the forum.