Hey there everyone. There's a fellow in my area selling a 1975 strat, and I'd like to know what kind of price a strat in this age/condition commands. I'm suspicious that the body has been refinished, though, and he hasn't told me anything regarding how original it is. Can anyone point out anything wrong with it?

But here are some pictures. Hopefully someone here might be able to put an accurate price on it for me :






















Many thanks for your help

It's hard to say about that body. In a couple of the pictures, the finish looks too dark to be the factory natural of that time.

The case doesn't look like an original from that time, either.

Without knowing what else might be "up" with it, it's hard to put a price. Search gbase.com to get some idea of "retail" price.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Personally I would want to see under the pickguard, in the neck pocket, and on the end of the neck.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

wow its nice to see a real strat. no s-1 switch or any other of that
useless stuff they come with today. very very nice!

+1

The natural finishes on the ones that I recall from that timeframe were lighter than what the picture shows.

I also recall the G&G case to have a reddish orange interior rather than what the picture shows (black).

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Don't leave home without it!

I'll have to ask him to send those.

Finish is very dark. They did natural finish in 75 but as mentioned earlier, it is a couple shades lighter than this example. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I agree with everyone's opinions concerning the finish... The wood itself looks more like alder than ash to me (though I'm no expert), which suggests that it could have been stripped back... whether or not it was an attempt to mimic the popular "natural" finish of the day or someone was going to refinish it another colour and then decided they liked it that way, I couldn't say. Also, if the pickguard is original it would have been more standard to have black fittings with an original natural finish... but that sort of thing is easily changed.

If that's not the original finish, it'll be worth about half what you'd pay for a natural '75 in peak condition.

That finish looks mottled when you zoom in not evenly applied. Could be the way the PC zooms. Also the tummy cut looks to be too a bit wrong. That also could be down to the zoom though.

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No no and no

+1

The body bothers me too much. Gah where are those pictures?!

It could be the photos are not giving true tone, its hard to tell from them. Like chet said i would want to see the neck pocket and under the pick guard before I would jump. To be honest I would not buy a 1975 guitar site unseen ( not in person ) unless it was coming from one of the many reputable dealers that are around. You are talking about a 2300. to 2600. dollar guitar if in excelent condition. They should have no problem getting you the info you want when that kind of money is involved. Its sad but these days you have to watch out people with knowledge could make some relistic looking gear. I have three bolt neck in my closet and I have no doubt I could put it on a body and pass it off as a 75 guitar to many people just by putting together things that I have on hand now but for the body which a copy could be had easy enough. With knoweledge of the correct markings realy helps but can also be duplicated.

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Thomas Jefferson

I was a Fender player in the 70's, saw hundreds of these natural ash Strats when they were new and I don't need more pictures: I'll tell you right now that is not an original finish. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that wood is either screwed up by bad sanding or that it may not be an original body.

What's up with the uneven aging of the pickups? Is that really a "realic cigarette burn" on the headstock? What's that odd smudge on the headstock face?

Too many stories. And I dont think buying a 70's Strat - which is very likely going to be one of the worst guitars you ever played - at a premium because it's "vintage" just barely makes any sense even when the thing is 100%. Why buy one with issues?

That is a very good question.

Here's a 1975 sitting in a nice 1975 case.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

O.O.
Is that bullet correct. Your picture is quite small but it doesnt lool the same as the op's bullet?

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No no and no