I am the owner of a '69-'70 Stratocaster in Olympic white (S/N 289451). I got it from another friend, who appears to have modified it. I think the mods are well done, and the thing plays well. I think the bridge is not specific to a '69-'70 Stratocaster. Also, the tuners have been changed to Schaller tuners.

Here are some pics:










I've never taken the neck off to check the date. The electronics are original, as far as I know. My question is could I restore the bridge and the tuners and still maintain the value? I once was told that this was a 1971 Stratocaster, but I checked the serial number and it is a '69-'70. Thanks for your answers.

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2007 Classic Player Baja Telecaster
1991 Strat Ultra
1990 Gibson ES-347
1986 Yamaha SBG2100
1980 Gibson L6-S
1971 Stratocaster
Fender Stage Lead Combo
Marshall MOSFET 100 watt Amp

Pity about the pegs that's gonna knock quite a bit off the price plus if you put replacement originals on the screw holes from the Schaller's will still be there.

I think it's more '70 than '69 because of the two string trees.

Has it been re-sprayed because the body looks in really good condition? The volume and tone knobs look new as well.

Very nice guitar all the same and difficult to value whether you put it back to original or not. If you are selling put as high a price as you dare and see how far you get.

Now that's a sweet guitar. I'd be tempted to hunt down some period-correct tuners for it, even though they'd be ridiculously overpriced... it's not as if there's much else you'd have to spend on this instrument. It'd probably cost you about $50 to get some "relic" ones and six times more than that to get some off an actual guitar of the time.

As to value, all I can tell you is what dealers here in Sydney are asking. Funnily enough, a four-bolt '71 would probably be more sought-after than a '69 or '70... but you know how it is, collectors go for anything that increases rarity. An original four-bolt '71 here is about $8.5K-9K if it's in top condition, but that's for a run-of-the-mill sunburst. '69 and '70 I've seen hovering around the $8K mark, but I think more if the condition is excellent. Substantial alterations such as refinishing a body will remove close to half the value of the instrument for collectors. Brings it within reach of actual players, though!

If you can afford to, you should just play that thing and love it. It's a beautiful guitar. I want it.

The body does have imperfections; I think my camera isn't sharp enough to show them. There are a few marks in the finish on the side near the selector switch. But I don't know about a paint job. If I remove the pickguard, maybe that will show a paint job. The volume and tone knobs are not new; they are really beat up.

I agree that changing the Schallers to period specific tuners is pointless, really. But changing the bridge is more in tune with the classic vibe. I saw a '70s bridge on ebay for $300. I have the original tremelo bar, but it is broken. The replacement does not have a white plastic tip, tho.

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2007 Classic Player Baja Telecaster
1991 Strat Ultra
1990 Gibson ES-347
1986 Yamaha SBG2100
1980 Gibson L6-S
1971 Stratocaster
Fender Stage Lead Combo
Marshall MOSFET 100 watt Amp

Nice guitar!

That's a shame about those tuners. Vintage style slotted good enough for Clapton, Vaughan, Johnson, Hendrix, etc but not the original owner...

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Hi qblue: this guitar ain't mint and won't ever attain that price, but it's good enough it is still worth taking trouble over.

Actually, I disagree about the tuners, if only because the replacements are so badly installed. Both Es look badly crooked, and the B tuner as well maybe. That's just horrible.

A set of originals or replicas thereof will I think partially cover the newer screw holes and will go on straight because they'll just screw back into the original holes. There's also a good repair that can be done on the new holes that will much improve the situation. Across two pages of this thread is my own fumbling attempt at that repair:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=13129

It can be done much better by a more experienced repairman, and yours will be smaller and less noticeable because the holes don't need drilling out first.

Regarding the bridge, are you sure the whole thing is a replacement, or could it just be the saddles? If it is a later addition then putting in an original as you are suggesting sounds a good idea to me. Worth the effort.

We'd sure like to see inside the neck pocket and under the pickguard if you feel like showing us...!

Good luck with it: please keep us posted.

Cheers - C

Ceri:

I also thought that those tuners were crooked. If period tuners could cover the holes for the Schallers, I will entertain a change. However, after reading about your troubles, I'll leave it up to a repair shop.

I think the bridge is a newer Fender bridge, not the '69-'70 version. Notes from Vintage guitars collector site:

1968 Stratocaster specs:

* Black Fender peghead decal with 2 patent numbers (2,741,146 & 3,143,028).
* "F" style tuning gears replaces "Kluson-Deluxe" gears.
* Polyester thick finish replaces nitrocellulose lacquer. This transition is slow, and often a 1968 Strat can have a poly finished body with a lacquer neck.
* Fender peghead decal is now under the finish, instead of on top. Because of this, the face only of the peghead stays lacquer, even though the rest of the neck is polyester (was done this way because the poly finish reacted with the decal). This can really be seen on well-used Strats, because the poly finish does not yellow, where the lacquer peghead finish does. Hence the face of the peghead can be a yellowish-brown, and the rest of the neck is not. Also the face of the peghead can finish-check, where the rest of the poly neck generally will not.
* Under the pickguard wiring transitions from cloth-covered wire to plastic (PVC) covered wiring.

1969 Fender Stratocaster specs:

* The one piece maple neck is back with a skunk strip.

1970 Fender Stratocaster specs:

* Peghead decal has 1 patent number (2,741,146).

Late 1971 Fender Stratocaster specs:

* 3 bolt neck with micro-tilt replaces 4 bolt system.
* Die-cast 1 piece chrome Mazac tremolo replaces 2 piece steel unit. Bridge saddles are now cast with no stampings.
* "Bullet" truss rod adjusts at peghead instead of butt-end of neck.
* Contouring of the body is even less dramatic.
* The under the pickguard routes for the pickups now have squared ends.
* The poly body and neck finish seems to get thicker, with a greater film thickness.

Late 1972 Fender Stratocaster specs:

* Second string tree added on peghead to hold G and D strings.


So perhaps I am dealing with a 1971 version, with the original 'Mazac' bridge. The second string tree is a even a greater enigma. I really have to get under the pickguard. I am getting some good feedback, thanks to this board; thanks to everyone!

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2007 Classic Player Baja Telecaster
1991 Strat Ultra
1990 Gibson ES-347
1986 Yamaha SBG2100
1980 Gibson L6-S
1971 Stratocaster
Fender Stage Lead Combo
Marshall MOSFET 100 watt Amp

The body has been refin'd. Arctic white was not offered back then, only Olympic white.

As far as dating it goes, removing the neck is going to tell the true tale.

Year Exc. Low Exc. High
1969 $13,000 $19,000
1970 $11,000 $15,000
1971 (4 bolt) $10,000 $14,000

This is based on an all-original, Olympic White, Rosewood cap.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ