Howdy campers!

I'm a newbie to the forums, but thought you all could help me out with a question I have.

I have the option to purchase a strat neck for a project I'm working on (a good price too, if all is ok). The seller says it's a 1975 neck, and everything seems legit from the pics he's sent me, but the headstock decal seems weird to me.

What do you guys think?

http://www.dhfphoto.com/neck1.jpg
http://www.dhfphoto.com/neck2.jpg
http://www.dhfphoto.com/neck3.jpg
http://www.dhfphoto.com/neck4.jpg
http://www.dhfphoto.com/neck5.jpg

Thanks in advance

It looks like a similiar decal from my '73 Strat.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Welcome.

It looks legit to me but I'm sure you are aware that for all intents and purposes, the neck is trashed. Those frets aren't original; they appear to be installed incorrectly and are in need of additional and serious attention from string wear; the nut has been replaced too and doesn't appear to be cut correctly either. It looks like the fingerboard was planed as well. Obviously, the finish in general was positively messed with. Another thing to be MOST careful of with necks of that period is if the truss rod is loose and/or if it works at all.

That neck is going to need some SERIOUS rehabilitation!

You're going to be spending big bucks on it just to get it properly playable. Unless you are getting it DIRT CHEAP, keeping in mind that there is MARGINAL collector's value left to it, I'd pass on that particular specimen if I were you.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

_________________
You dig?

Ha! You are talking about the dots, I presume - or just the general appearance of the wood?

Well spotted on the fret ends, by the way.

In case the OP isn't aware of it, Mr Martian knows whereof he speaks on this stuff - '70s necks most especially...

Cheers - C

Actually, both.

Those fret ends were the first thing that caught my eye after the finish.

And thank you for your compliment!

_________________
You dig?

Unless you have a bunch of cash, or want to spend a lot of time and effort refurbishing that neck follow martians advice. martian knows his stuff.

i would think it will cost you near the value of the neck to get it restored.

If it is super dirt cheap it might make a good platform to teach yourself how to refret, and/or cut a nut, and all those kinds of jobs.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thanks for the advice. Here I am worried about it not being a genuine neck, and I should have been more concerned with it's condition!

(This is why I wanted to post here before I made a mistake I'd regret)

Thanks again for your observations! I think I'll let this one pass and look for something else.

Z

A MOST wise decision!

_________________
You dig?