This was the first guitar I ever bought and have had it for a good 15 years.

A couple things always bugged me about it. The headstock doesn't have a serial number... Way back then I remember being told take the neck off to find the serial number. My recollection is that I eventually pulled a number off the guitar (don't really remember where I found the number - I think it was where neck bolted to body). I also remember being able to use that number and date it as an '83. I don't remember if the numbers were on the neck piece or body and wish I had the photos from doing that. I guess I could disassemble it again but hate to go to that extreme again... It is unusual to not have a serial number at the top of the headstock? Do you think this is a different neck than what originally came of the guitar?

The other thing I was never crazy about was the fixed tremolo. Is that usual for this particular model too?

As you can see it has very minimal wear as I never really played it that much over the years. I'm not really interested in selling it as it means a lot to me and I do break it out every now and then to enjoy it.

What do you guys think about it? Since this model only has two knobs and I guess not popular back it it was first issued that some folks tend to think of it as somewhat more scarce model than others from this time in history.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you all think about it. Thanks for taking the time to read my info and giving me feedback.

Welcome.

Actually, what WE think about it is irrelevant. If YOU are happy with it and it meets all YOUR requirements, that's ALL that matters.

Having said that, if someone wanted to give me one, I'd graciously and rather quickly accept it as it is a good, well made, dependable guitar.

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You dig?

That's a post-Dan Smith standard right? I think those were the only other model being offered besides the re-issues. I don't know what their reputation is, I've never heard anyone actually talk about one. The trem and knob configuration looks weird but Fender was tying new things to update the Strat.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

The knob configuration is due to budget cuts Fender had to make back then. All the ones I have ever seen like this had a large print logo. Are you 100% sure it is all original? Like that is the original neck or even the decal?

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

That is exactly what I was hoping some folks here could help me determine (if my guitar is 100% original).

I always thought it weird that the logo info at top of the neck didn't have serial number there. So I always wondered if the original owner had replaced the neck at some point. As we know, the '83 models has some weird changes to it... was hoping some experts here could help assist me with information about it.

I guess one thing I could try to do would be to track down the original owner... I've had this thing a good 15 years and have no idea how to locate him unless I dug through old KC Star classified ads and try to figure out what his name was!

I went ahead and took the neck off this morning. Here are some more photos. Looks like the neck has a date stamped of "Jun 7 1983" at the butt of it. (Which confirms how I originally thought it was from '83). I can't really make out the lettering on the topside. (Please see photos below).

I took pick guard off too and didn't see a serial number there... Is there anywhere else I could look for a serial number?

Thanks for the replies and any any other opinions/help would be much appreciated.

Thanks again,

Brian

That neck looks like it came from that body ... but that headstock decal was not original, IMO.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

For the first time, I'm stumped. The decal SHOULD have the large print "STRATOCASTER" and E 3##### right underneath it. As far as I know, all MIA Fenders should have the serial # either on the neck plate or on the headstock under the logo. I think they switched to the back of the headstock in 1994. It might just be a replacement decal.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

All I can say is that I have never seen a model like this but everything seems right to me. I would try and find out as much as I could about it which should not be that hard as it seems to be a unique strat.

here is a link below with basic info from stratcollector.com
i do know that back in the early 80's fender was going through real hard times and alot of weird things were going on with the strat.
this was only a year or two before fender the company was sold, ending the infamous CBS era.i dont think any strtats were even made in the USA by 84. even though they said made in USA on the headstock. even the new fender company was makin so called us strats in japan because all they owned was the name and had no factory to make them in...
strange but true!

http://www.stratcollector.com/scn/base/83.html

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life is too short to have only one guitar

it actually looks like that is a 57 neck (or at least the logo is) on a regular strat body.go look on ebay and see the 83 strats and 1983- 57 reissues on there and compare.back at that point in fenders history anything could have happened.its still a cool vintage strat worth somewhere in the 1500+ dollar range.

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life is too short to have only one guitar

here,join the 83 stratocaster club.....!
google is a good thing ...

http://www.geocities.com/lshane96/83club.html

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life is too short to have only one guitar

I was looking at an 82 Strat with the same specs nearly, someone said this is the Stratocaster "Second Series" that was produced from 81-84, but I can't confirm that. Nice guitar though, I'll take it if you dont want it

Ya... I saw that website when I was doing my initial research. Thanks for taking the time to google and search for information for me. I really do apprecate that! I did in fact email him with the same questions and pictures that I posted here. Who knows... maybe he'll post my pictures there too! lol

Also thanks to everyone who took the time to post and give me their thoughts on my questions.

For those asking if I want to sell... not really at this time. I still enjoy it even though I'm not any good!

If anyone else has comments, please do continue to post them as I will read all future posts.

Thanks again,

Brian

If your guitar is from '83, it must have been made in Japan I guess. Why don't you ask you question there: http://www.21frets.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl? ?

If your guitar is from '83, it must have been made in Japan I guess. Why don't you ask you question on www.21frets.com 's forum?