You definitely think the body and neck have been stripped?.. I'll ask for an internal photo of the pots and wiring in case there is any evidence in there.
Further research has found Deluxe are also sometime 3 piece bodies so that checks out, just not sure if they ever did them in natural as opposed to potentially stripped.. I'd also need to source a Deluxe pickguard, or at least get one made
Anyway thanks for the info.. very much appreciated
Mike