Hello. I have come across a 1983 Fender the "STRAT" guitar. This guitar has gold appointments, is arctic white (I believe that is the color), a rosewood fretboard, and has STRAT on the color matching headstock. I have heard that these guitars were made when Fender was doing a very good job in paying attention to the details of build quality.

I am looking to find out what a guitar like this might be worth? Can anyone help? Thank you.

Could be worth a lot. It is pretty rare and only made from 80-83. Hard to say though, but a regular strat from the era can bring between 1 and 2 thousand, a 57 or 62 reissue from the era (even a JV), can bring between 2,500 and 3,500.

However, it all depends on what someone will actually pay the determines the value really, not what someone is asking.

If this guitar is original, working and not blemished, I would guesstimate a bit over a thousand would be realistic. Not much to go by really since you don't see these selling often. I believe they are good guitars though, use smaller 60's style headstock with the trussrod adjustment on the bottom like a pre cbs, 4 bolt neck, gold hardware, hotter pups with some kind of special circuitry for more tonal abilities. Probably not the best for a purist, but for a collector it could be a hit. For someone who has the dough and wants a unique strat that should be a excellent guitar, it could be an awesome find if the price is right.

I only found one sold in the USA from 07..owner claimed he paid 700 bucks which is a STEAL for an early 80's USA any Fender.

Fender "The Strat" 1981 - 1983
Price Paid: USD 700 USED
Submitted 01/15/2007

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

It seems that the late John Lennon used one in a CAR finish with matching headstock a couple of months before his death.

I don't like that infamous 'n' weirdo X-1 pickup.

Nice picture, folks, but our friend Kobiman is looking for the rosewood-neck version of this guitar.

I remember seeing these guitars when I bought my first "regular" strat in 1980. They didn't do anything for me. As for the build quality, I don't think Fender did their best work during this period. Nuff said. Mine also has the X-1 bridge pickup. I love it. It's the only thing I like about this guitar nowadays.

I just checked on the value of The Strat 80-83 in The Vintage Guitar Price Guide and in excellent to mint shape the value is between $950-$1,100 in common colours and $1,200-$1,400 in Rare Colours.

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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.

Those weird Stratoburst finishes suck a lot Even on this Custom Shop Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Custom Classic pictured below the three early 1980s samples (all these four guitars are not mine).

More of a fade then a sunburst..but yeah...I think those finishes are an acquired taste..or as stated...suck a lot. But apparently someone at Fender though it didn't suck.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

The "STRAT"'s high-mass die-cast bridge appears to be the precursor to the Freeflyte. I dislike those early 1980s bridges a lot, they really look much like a $@!&#* piece of crap.

Hmmm..I think I detect a Strat "purist". Hate to admit but..., I agree.. only to a point. Sometimes even though our own personal tastes say "fail", to others it is a historic treasure.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.