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Post subject: New Toy
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:51 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I was on a road trip for work this past week and came across a guitar I fell in love with - So, I went back down and picked it up over the weekend - its a great playing guitar - There has been several posts recently about CBS strats and how they arent known as good playing guitars - they must have messed this one up at the factory, because it plays GREAT!! It has some wear on it - I am not an expert by any means on the CBS stuff - so, if anyone has any info they can share with me about this guitar, id greatly appreciate it

Image

Image

Image



Going by the serial # on this guitar, which starts out S 9, which would cause one to think it would be a '79? Well, its one of the "International Colors" models - which from research I have found, these were only made in '81? I did read that those guitars were made by a run of parts from '79-'81? This one in particular is the "Cathay Ebony" color. The "International Colors" models were released with the white pickguards and black accessories, which I do have - however, the guy I got the guitar from had changed all the black stuff to white - I would have done the same thing, as I dont care for the black against white - One thing I dont like about the guitar, is that during these years, they went to the injected molded Fender case, that is HUGE, and ugly!

This guitar plays awesome, has great tone - and to my surprise, has very little hum from the P/U'S - Has some wear on it, major character - I was so excited to find this guitar - its gonna get played, not "collected"


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Post subject: Re: New Toy
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:35 am
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asg wrote:
There has been several posts recently about CBS strats and how they arent known as good playing guitars - they must have messed this one up at the factory, because it plays GREAT!!


That's a grand generalization, but if they were all garbage, Fender would have went out of business in the late '70s. Instead, they sold more guitars than they ever did ... increased production rates did increase the "less than perfect" guitars that escaped the factory ... and quality hit a LOW point in early 1981, but the new management team then took action ... and look where we are today!

As for dating that guitar (because the S9 serial numbers were used for a long time), you'll have to check the pots' date codes and neck codes ...
come back here with the numbers and we'll decode 'em for ya.

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My other guitar is a Strat.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:17 am
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Location: In a galaxy far far away
high production = high no' of baddies escaping.
That theory works for me. Theres horror periods for every manufacturer fenders only bad decision for the strat of that time for me was the thick skin finish even the 3 bolt neck was a matter of personal preference.

That guitar doesnt look to be thick skinned.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:38 am
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Location: Ontario, Canada
Nice Strat! Have from playing 'er!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:52 am
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EddieVanHelen wrote:
Nice Strat! Have from playing 'er!


Thanks Eddie! I definitely will - I have played this thing all morning, just enjoying it - its a player!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 1:01 pm
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Very nice! How does she play?


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 1:27 pm
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very nice!! congrats!!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:16 pm
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Location: Southeast Missouri.
Beautiful guitar! :D


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:28 pm
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Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:31 am
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Location: Montreal, Canada
Beautiful strat, you're right about it having character, love the small knicks and black finish.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:06 am
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Very sweet, and a nice find! My buddy has a 79 he bought new back in the day. Black body, black knobs and black pickguard, maple neck. Plays and sounds wonderful, but that thing's a boat anchor. Holy hell!


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Post subject: Re: New Toy
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:31 am
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asg wrote:
I was on a road trip for work this past week and came across a guitar I fell in love with - So, I went back down and picked it up over the weekend - its a great playing guitar - There has been several posts recently about CBS strats and how they arent known as good playing guitars - they must have messed this one up at the factory, because it plays GREAT!! It has some wear on it - I am not an expert by any means on the CBS stuff - so, if anyone has any info they can share with me about this guitar, id greatly appreciate it

Image

Image

Image



Going by the serial # on this guitar, which starts out S 9, which would cause one to think it would be a '79? Well, its one of the "International Colors" models - which from research I have found, these were only made in '81? I did read that those guitars were made by a run of parts from '79-'81? This one in particular is the "Cathay Ebony" color. The "International Colors" models were released with the white pickguards and black accessories, which I do have - however, the guy I got the guitar from had changed all the black stuff to white - I would have done the same thing, as I dont care for the black against white - One thing I dont like about the guitar, is that during these years, they went to the injected molded Fender case, that is HUGE, and ugly!

This guitar plays awesome, has great tone - and to my surprise, has very little hum from the P/U'S - Has some wear on it, major character - I was so excited to find this guitar - its gonna get played, not "collected"

BeeeeeeeeeeeeeA-U-tiful.
mind if i ask you how much that piece of art set you back?
just wondering, looks expensive.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:10 pm
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Yes, this thing is HEAVY! Much heavier than my other strats - My '75 is VERY light in comparison to this one!

I got a good deal on it, and ill leave it at that

I bought it from a buddy that is a vintage dealer - It was cool, while he was putting it in the case for me and all that, I was playing around with an old telecaster he handed me - natural finish, I wasnt sure what it was, other than an old tele - My gf asked him how much that guitar was worth, being sarcastic - because he had shown us some nice stuff - He said, umm, $65k or so, it was a completely original 1952 Tele - I slowly handed it back to him!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:09 pm
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Location: Magnolia, Texas (just north of Houston)
Nice Guitar

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Post subject: Re: New Toy
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:26 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
asg wrote:
There has been several posts recently about CBS strats and how they arent known as good playing guitars - they must have messed this one up at the factory, because it plays GREAT!!


That's a grand generalization, but if they were all garbage, Fender would have went out of business in the late '70s. Instead, they sold more guitars than they ever did ... increased production rates did increase the "less than perfect" guitars that escaped the factory ... and quality hit a LOW point in early 1981, but the new management team then took action ... and look where we are today!

As for dating that guitar (because the S9 serial numbers were used for a long time), you'll have to check the pots' date codes and neck codes ...
come back here with the numbers and we'll decode 'em for ya.

There was a period in the early to mid-70's, where the quality of Fender guitars hit an all time low. Sales reps were coming back to the factory with guitars that were shipped out, that you could rock the neck in the heel joint. Of course these guitars were corrected before being shipped out again. and I have two CBS guitars that I would trade the world for. My '78 Tele, and my '80 X-1 "Strat" both of which are monster guitars. The X-1 can best be described as a Strat with an ATTITUDE! :D

-Harley 8)

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Post subject: Re: New Toy
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:09 am
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HarleyHexxe wrote:
There was a period in the early to mid-70's, where the quality of Fender guitars hit an all time low.


I don't see it that way. I still stand by 1981 being the absolute low point where it finally got low enough that they virtually shut down the factory to "relearn how to make Fender guitars." Check out the Duchossoir book for the gory details.

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