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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:44 am
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53magnatone wrote:
Voodoo Blues wrote:
No serial number under the logo is a red flag to me. The serial number would have been applied under the finish IIRC so it's not like it could have been scratched off. Maybe the neck was refinished? If certainly wouldn't have left the factory like that.
Robinstrat wrote:
This guitar has to have a serial under the logo.
No serial, no deal (maybe scraped off ?).
The neck and body stamps are matching.
If it´s a fake it´s very well done. It looks sooo clean. I saw one white 72 some years ago, it looked even cleaner though (never(!) put out of the case. The 72 had some color changes (dust etc.)

Robin


This guitar did have a serial and it looks like it is ( is that you covering it up or is it the seller :?: ). Anyway late 70's, not all Trats had the serial number there, so that is not a reliable indication, the rest of the codes on the neck match up as to where they should be.
The pic of the neck plate is not a serial number, that is a patent number, which does not change from guitar to guitar.

A lot of Strats slipped thru final inspect at the factory with different specs then what is unfortunately thought to be written in stone.
It is unlikely this is a fake simply because of a lot of little details that look correct.
I would have bid for this but never at a high bid, just because I think there are so many nice strats out there that it is a buyers market and if one goes, there are others.


The seller mentioned there is no serial number. At first I thought there was simply nothing under the logo. But as in those pictures I just posted, I noticed that it looks like there is a blurred patch. I'm not sure if it was scratched off, covered up, or blurred in the picture. I'm waiting for his response.

I'd really like to know what you guys think. At this point, I think a guitar of this quality is not for me. I do not keep immaculate condition of my guitars.. and if it really hasn't been played since '79 like he said, I wouldn't feel right playing a guitar like that. However I've been so deep in negotiation with him that I want to get the guitar and play it for a week or so and then just sell or trade for something else. So I'm really anxious to hear what you guys say about this serial number issue.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:56 am
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Did he replace the bridge pickup? Ask the seller to remove the pickguard and see if there's a S/N there.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:57 am
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Look up The fender Stratocaster book by A.R. Duchossoir.
There is a lot of great info on various years from the 50's thru the 80's and the particular idyosincracies of Stratocasters.

If you can buy it for a great price... Do It...

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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:04 am
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cedarblues wrote:
Did he replace the bridge pickup? Ask the seller to remove the pickguard and see if there's a S/N there.



he said he knows nothing about the guitar other than what his local music store told him. he doesn't even play guitar.. he had them play it for him so he knew it worked. he said its original, but that's about it.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:07 am
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Well it's not all original if the pickup was replaced... everything else looks right IMO, but why is the bridge pickup cover not black like the others? Is he the original owner?


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:09 am
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cedarblues wrote:
Well it's not all original if the pickup was replaced... everything else looks right IMO, but why is the bridge pickup cover not black like the others? Is he the original owner?


he said he bought it from the original owner in '79. is it possible that pickup came like that from the factory? or would it hurt the value if its still a '78 pickup?


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:19 am
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Doubt it came that way from Fender... the only way to tell is to remove the pickguard and take a look under there, you can use the pic I posted for reference. If he bothered to take the neck off for pics he should have some pics of the pickups as well.

Those 70's pickups can sound pretty sweet after all these years, I'd want the originals in there if I was buying it.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:58 am
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cedarblues wrote:
Doubt it came that way from Fender... the only way to tell is to remove the pickguard and take a look under there, you can use the pic I posted for reference. If he bothered to take the neck off for pics he should have some pics of the pickups as well.

Those 70's pickups can sound pretty sweet after all these years, I'd want the originals in there if I was buying it.


Well he said its been in the case since '79. so unless this whole thing is a scam, the pickup is from '78. i'm waiting to see if he has pics of the guts.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:03 pm
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As far as consistency in late 70's, CBS made sure that wasn't going to cut into their profits, so anything is possible as far as pups being different colors why not :?:
They often just grabbed what was avalaible at the moment to complete the item...

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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:28 pm
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I saw at least two guitars back then that came with mixec pickup colors from Fender. Both came with a white pickup in the bridge position. All other plastic parts were black. That were the first 70s Strats that I personally saw coming with the black pickguard.

If the serial is scratched off, the guitar could have been stolen.

Robin

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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:59 pm
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Robinstrat wrote:
I saw at least two guitars back then that came with mixec pickup colors from Fender. Both came with a white pickup in the bridge position. All other plastic parts were black. That were the first 70s Strats that I personally saw coming with the black pickguard.

If the serial is scratched off, the guitar could have been stolen.

Robin



If the guitar was stolen.. I'd think this guy is being legit and it was maybe stolen when he bought it 30 years ago. I wouldn't think a guy would take an absolutely mint '78 and scratch off the headstock. A smart man would just sell it across the country.

So I dunno.. what should I do about this? He said he doesn't know what a pickguard is. I tried to explain to him how to take off the strings and the guard, but I'm not sure if he will. I'm also hoping he can provide a better pic of the headstock so I can see what's up with the s/n. If it is indeed a scratched off number.. what should I do? Just leave him to it for someone else to buy? Buy it and resell? I'd imagine if it were stolen recently and locally, someone would've found that immediately. Not exactly a common guitar.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:19 pm
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It is a crime in most states (a felony, in fact, in California) to deliberately remove, deface, or alter in any manner a serial number on any item so marked when sold new from the manufacturer.

This smells wonky to me.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:26 pm
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2 years ago I sold my 1977 Hardtail natural finish in a 9.8 condition with OHSC for $2750
It was 100% original and a one piece ash body. We did not bond. I owned it for 2 years.
Mine had a very distinct and clear serial number.


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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:36 pm
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He took the neck off and can´t take off the pickguard ?
For me it would be no serial no deal.
The hardtail Strats go for less money than the trem ones anyway. It´s a clean guitar and maybe a good player but something is strange about the guitar.
Just my opinion.
I would offer him 1200$ max just to see what he´s doing.
I wouldn´t pay more than 1300$ for a clean hardtail 78, they aren´t rare and the 78 Strats aren´t very famous for being great (I know there are really great sounding ones out there).

Robin

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Post subject: Re: 1978 fender strat hardtail
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:46 pm
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Robinstrat wrote:
He took the neck off and can´t take off the pickguard ?
For me it would be no serial no deal.
The hardtail Strats go for less money than the trem ones anyway. It´s a clean guitar and maybe a good player but something is strange about the guitar.
Just my opinion.
I would offer him 1200$ max just to see what he´s doing.
I wouldn´t pay more than 1300$ for a clean hardtail 78, they aren´t rare and the 78 Strats aren´t very famous for being great (I know there are really great sounding ones out there).

Robin


To above^^ he didn't take off the neck. He had some store do it that also appraised it (said 1500-1600). He's not a guitar player and knows nothing about the guitar.

To Robin.. He said he'll take $1100. That was before this serial number thing. If I can talk him down even further because of the number, is it worth it? I don't want this guitar for myself anymore, like I said. My only interest would be flipping it back around. I'm broke, in college, and without a job. Making a few bucks would go a long way. Losing a few bucks would as well..


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