Hey,

I'm thinking of getting a USA Vintage 70's reissue, but as there don't seem to be any in the country I'm living in, I'm going to have to take a chance and order online!

I just have a question that I'm hoping people here can give me a little more info on.

I'm wondering about the pickups. Are they custom shop '69s or something different. The reason I ask is because of this thread, the last post in particular:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hlight=70s

If they are different, how do they compare? If different are they the same as the ones in the Classic player 70's strat?

All info is very much appreciated.

The specs state, "Vintage Style, Single Coil". Obviously, this is quite an ambiguously named, generic model set, found in in certain model Strats. IMO, though, they do have a nice vibe to them. I like to say that they have a vintage sound arrived at by modern, construction techniques.

Regardless of what the set is in the Strat you are contemplating buying, you're not going to know whether you like them or not until you hear them in that particular guitar which arrives at your door. So, keep an open mind and hopefully, you will indeed like them.

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Thanks for the response Martian. I had assumed they were some sort of regular factory spec until I saw that other forum post. I love the CS '69s and have them in another guitar. I really don't like buying a new guitar and ripping stuff out right away, so if the pups in the 70s reissue are close to that sound, I'll be happy.

On saying that if I could find somewhere in the UK that stocks the Custom Shop NOS '69 in Olympic White with a maple neck, I'd go for that. Sadly I've only be able to find relic'd ones.

I just googled the net for the 70's strat, there seems to be confusion as to which model everyone is describing.

I downloaded Fender's specs on (1) American vintage 70's Strat. Reissue
(2) Classic Series 70's Strat.

I would infer that the American Vintage version (1) is made state side and it lists for $2,099.99 - $2,199.99, included is a black hardshell/orange interior, Strap, Cable and 5 position switch kit.(3 way switch installed).

But the Classic series (2) is made in mexico, lists for $1,049.99, included is a gig bag, not a hardshell case and is set up with a 5 way switch.

There does not seem to be much of a difference between the two, other than the MIM has 2 string trees, But I suspect that the (1) is the better representation as far as vintage pickup sound.
For myself, I have played the MIM version, it's nice BUT !! I would buy the American Reissue, on a resale basis, the value would hold up as well as when it comes to reissues it has to be american made, that is part of the appeal of this version.

Any one have any info on this confusing issue, I would also add that the MIM is named " Classic Series 70's Strat " whereas the MIA is "American Vintage 70's Strat Reissue.
This distinction could very well be critical in your selection. My 56 NOS reissue is exactly like a mid 50's strat, tuners that are a bit vague, a little quirky at times, but it plays and sounds like a great original.
So the 70's had their idiosyncracies also, I hope you can try both out, I believe that in this choice virtual info will not suffice...

Have you done a search on the Custom Shop You-Tube Video's with Mike Eldred ?? There is a 69 vid. I could not find a 70's unfortunately, You might want to try Mike Eldred's forum thread and post him questions on the two strats.

It's the regular factory issue american vintage 70's reissue that I'm looking at primarily, and thats the one I have the pickup question about.

Also, how does the 3 bolt micro tilt adjust hold up on this model, I remember reading that the ones on the original 70's strats were unpopular?

The 3 bolt systems on the RIs are light years better than those of the real 70's Strats. The dimensions of these new ones are all CNC controlled where the tolerances are MUCH tighter which means the fittings are much tighter. The old ones were the luck of the draw and even at that, the deck was severely stacked against you.

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That's good to know, thanks for you input Martian.

Any time!

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I was wondering, are the pickups in the American Vintage '70s strat reissue, the 'vintage style single coil strat pickup with alnico 5 magnet', the same as the vintage style single coil pups in the mexican made classic series guitars?

If they are the same pups, I'm wondering is it really worth paying the extra money for the made in USA vintage reissue...

thanks again for all the assistance:)

Hammer

I see so many pickups but if I remember correctly, yes they are essentially the same pickup with the American versions having more windings: 5.9K vs. 5.5K which really doesn't amount to anything in terms of model superiority.

Frankly, I'd go with the MIM as I personally don't think the huge money difference for the US model is worth it at all. I'm sure others will disagree.

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Personally, I don't like MIMs. And even if they were equal in quality with the MIAs, I would still get the American Vintage 70's if only for the one string post and 3-way switch.

And I would install CS '69 pickups regardless of the guitar.

I can’t stand anymore; I just have to chime in on this one. First of all in my younger day I had a 1958, and a 1971 Strat. In 2006 I ran upon a MIM 3-tone 70s Strat.After I got it home and plugged in that baby it blew me away! Not only did it play better than my old 1958 and 1971 but it also sounded better.
The MIA Vintage only comes in ash if you cough up $100 + U.S Dollars and then not much of a choice of colors. The MIM only has ash in all colors (if you buy from fender you now can only get Black and Natural –BUMMER)
Pickups for the MIM is vintage alnico threes and the MIA is vintage alnico fives, the fives are suppose to have a little more bottom end (use your tone knob on your amp!) All of the other specks are the same except there are two vintage string trees on the MIM and the MIA has only one new age sting tree. javascript:emoticon(':?')
Now! You can pay $749.99 U.S dollars At M.F. for the MIM or pay out $1,499.99 up to $1,599.99U.S. Dollars for the MIA. javascript:emoticon(':shock:')
Like my old man us to say “Speed is money-How fast do you want to go?"
Just a little something for the BOOK OF DUH! javascript:emoticon(':roll:')


Fender 70s Stratocaster Electric Guitar Features:

* Ash body (polyester finish)
* Maple U-shaped neck
* (gloss urethane finish) 25-1/2" scale length
* Rosewood or maple fingerboard
* 7.25" radius
* 21 vintage-style frets
* 1.650" nut width
* 3 vintage-style single-coil pickups with alnico magnets
* 5-position pickup switch
* Vintage-style synchronized tremolo
* Master volume, neck pickup tone control, middle pickup tone control
* Fender Schaller F-style tuners
* Chrome hardware
* 3-ply white pickguard
* Aged knobs and switch tip
* Large headstock
* '70s style decal
* Bullet truss rod adjustment nut
* 3-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt neck adjustment
* Synthetic bone nut

Fender 70s Stratocaster Electric Guitar Includes:

* Fender gig bag


Fender USA 70s Stratocaster Electric Guitar Features:

* Ash or alder body
* Maple U-shaped neck
* Rosewood or maple fretboard
* 21 vintage-style frets
* 3 vintage-style single-coil Strat pickups with Alnico V magnets
* Volume/tone/tone controls
* 3-position pickup switch
* Vintage-style synchronized tremolo
* Fender/Schaller F-style tuners
* Chrome hardware
Includes a deluxe black hardshell case with vintage orange interior.

Indeed, this is the crux of it.

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Why can't these decisions ever be simple!

I've wanted to get a Woodstock style strat for a long time now, but am pretty paralysed with decision making disorder now!

If the pups were clearly of a better grade in the MIA vintage reissue, ie, with CS '69s as standard, I think the choice would be easier, but I'm just struggling to see where the extra $1000 dollars difference between the MIA and MIM guitars is. Particularly if the first thing I end up having to do when I get it is spend another $150 on CS '69s!

I could be wrong but I've never heard of the CS 69s coming standard in the MIA guitar. Rather (like I said earlier), it is some nondescript set. FWIW though, to my ear they sound reasonably close to the CS69s but with a tiny bit more midrange. YMMV.

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