Hi again,
I continue my hunt for my Stratocaster, came across one today that really caught my eye and played it and felt really nice and played well...but again I'd appreciate your opinons before moving to the next step of negotiating a sale. it is a Fender Stratocaster, Crafted in Japan, a '71 model Re-Issue with Texas Special Custom shop pick ups added instead of original ones as, the owner tells me it has a special wiring for K7 combinations as per Kinman's website explanation. Here are pics I took today for your perusal.

http://s834.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... Strat1.jpg

http://s834.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... strat2.jpg

http://s834.photobucket.com/albums/zz26 ... strat3.jpg

So third time lucky I'm hoping, is this a 1971 reissue? The owner told me its a copy of Jimi Hendrix's guitar? The serial number dates it to around 1994.

Thanks in advance

If it's a '71 reissue it can't be a copy of Jimi's guitar since he died in Sept. '70.I can't recall ever seeing Jimi with a Strat with a natural finish and tortoise shell pickguard and all the Hendrix Strats I've seen had 4 screw neckplates.I believe it was '71 that the 3 screw neck plates became available.

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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.

Well, as usually I'm not an expert here...at least not on this specific model but it's definitely a 70's something reissue...if the seller says '71, I'd go with that. The large headstock and especially the 3 bolt neck are the giveaways here. I can also say that if it's an MIJ (Made/crafted in Japan) then it's probably a pretty good guitar...the Strats from Japan do have a well earned reputation for quality.

Now the pictures aren't that great here so it's a little hard to be definitive but I'd have to say on the little I can see there, that it looks pretty legit....all the hardware looks right from what I can see, decent bridge, correct tuners, "bullet" truss rod, etc.. If it is a fake, then it looks like a -very- good one (most fakes wouldn't go to the trouble of the 3 bolt neck let alone the Bullet truss rod).

Now as far as the "Hendrix" thing, I have to agree with guitslinger...since Jimi died in 1970, it seems highly unlikely that he ever would have played on of those. Now obviously I don't know the person you're buying this from or how much Jimi Hendrix or even Strat experience they have but if I had to make a guess, I would say that the seller was just associating "Strat" with "Hendrix" in that Jimi Hendrix was known for playing Fender Stratocasters....most notably the white one he played at Woodstock. There are after all a lot of knowledgeable people out there who really don't know the differences between specific models, years or vintages and just think that a "Strat is a Strat". It's certainly possible the person could have simply been trying to b.s. you as well. Either way to me that's not really a selling point either way...unless you're buying a specific "signature series" (which this guitar isn't), it's certainly nothing to pay extra for...lot's of famous people have played Strats.

Anyways, you said you've played the guitar so if it otherwise seems decent to you and the price is right, to me it looks like it's a legit 70's reissue...depending on the price, I'd say go for it.

Good luck and let us know if you get it!
Jim

Thanks for this, I think the owner means its similar to Hendrix model, you're right it can't be a reissue of 1971 (though I think its more a '72) because Jimi died in '70. CA feathers can you add to this post please?
And the owner wants $US500, good price?

'72 RI

What happened with that '54 RI? That was a sweet looking guitar.

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

You mean the nice blackie? The guy pulled the sale, as it wasn't a 54' reissue we later found out!

It was a fake?

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

Not really, the owner bought it off the previous owner with the knowledge it was a '54 reissue. We looked at it and with your wonderful info, there were too many descrepencies, bits that didn't really belong and were not part of a reissue...so rather than sell me a guitar that was questionable, he took it off sale and is currently tracking down the previous owner to get authenticity.

Ahh, OK. Sometimes it is really hard to tell with having a hands on experience.
It's good to hear he pulled the sale because of it being questionable.

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

so what do you think of this other?

To me it looks like a '72. I am curious about it only having one string tree.

It is a very nice looking guitar.

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

why is it suppose to have something different?

My '72RI and other I have seen all have had 2 butterfly type string trees.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.blackman4/72.htm

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

CA, I'd like to thank you so much for your help and knowledge. Your knowledge of Fenders is incredible and has been accurate. In fact this Strat after taking note that you mentioned the "string tree" I went and looked at it again and even asked the owner to if we could take it apart. He agreed, but then admitted to me that it was in fact a hybrid guitar! The neck and body are two different guitars and the pickups are different. So in fact it is not an authentic reissue whatsoever let alone the actual advertised guitar. My search continues...

Just for info on Hendrix, there is a recently published book on all or most of his gear titled " Jimmy's Gear" .
There are a few surprises in it but it's quite informative.