guitslinger thanks your information. i play it with marshall mg10. its neck pickup is too weak on high frequency, however its clean tone is amazing. because it has a heavy body? or strats have good woods in that era?

I saw Fender Japan making 22-fret versions of the Standard and Elite models. These 22-fret guitars were made in 1984, a couple of months after the Fullerton plant closed its doors.

The Japanese Elite Strat was sold only with chrome hardware.

A heavier wood usually helps sustain,I had a 78 Strat that was about 12 lbs that sustained like a Steinway but traded it for a JCM 800 2204 because of back problems.I don't know what woods they used in the 80s but I imagine they were probably ash or poplar,Nikininja would surely have the answer as there is little he doesn't know about Strats.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I have an 83 (two knob) Strat. It looks just like the picture Miami Mike posted, except mine is a “little” more road worn My opinion of this particular guitar has always been biased due to it was the first guitar, and only electric guitar I have ever owned. Over the past year however, I have been experiencing the Strat world, in its entirety, hopefully to purchase a new and second Strat soon. My opinion is now based on comparison to Am Standards, Deluxe, Lonestars, MIM Standards, etc… Now keep in mind I have only played ONE 83, and that is mine, so I can’t speak to the quality of the entire stable of 83’s manufactured. But I’m here to tell ya, I got a good one. The action and playability are sublime and the tone and sustain (unplugged) are as good as any American made Strat I have tested over the past year, including the Deluxe with QMT. I can say honestly, the PUPs could be hotter, but that is my preference, and also speaks to the music I like to play (ehemm… big hair 80’s, Satriani, VH, etc) But I also, play Mayer, SRV, etc, etc. , and my little 83 will pull off blues without breathing hard.
I do not use the Trem mainly b/c I do not have the bar. Found one on Ebay recently for $100, but not gonna happen, I use her as a hard tail. I think that particular trem was considered “bad”; guitar would not stay in tune. Don’t know about that, but, playing Satriani (with all the bends), I never have a problem staying in tune.
Again, all this is more or less, me bragging on my kid (my appoligies for the long-windedness, but you guys know how it is to be a Strat Owner) Rung, I don’t know what you paid for your 83, but if it plays and sounds as good as mine, hang on to it. Did you get the original case with it as well?

Peace
84

hi 84, i paid less than $700 for this guitar w/ original case. i bought it because i thought this price could buy strat made in USA, worth it
it is used and almost as old as me, i guess i am the third owner. some cracks on it but wood is still good. i have its bar (i like this bar so much), the bar has a special design.

There's on here in NY for $500:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/1585340891.html

Mike.....you've got the era, but not the guitar in that photo.

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They sound good. I have a buddy with one I don,t like the fast flyt bridge but its not a bad guitar.

You're right, Doc the pic is a "version 2 standard"

From what I remember the pickups were wound around plastic bobbins; the bridge saddles were odd—sorta thin and from crummy cast metal; the wide, flat necks were especially cool for the time; the bi-flex truss rod worked good.

http://home.earthlink.net/~dalerayj/id4.html

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