It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:39 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:11 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:42 am
Posts: 20
Location: Indiana US
Hello all,
Has anyone seen a 1985 Vintage Series (v serial number) Stratocaster sell? An acquaintance has asked me to find some information on the value. It is a V serial number. The date on the heel of the neck is November 1985. Yes, that is the month Fender began production at the Corona plant. The guitar is pristine. It is surf green. It is the 62 reissue. It has the original tweed case (also pristine). I am sick with envy. That is my dream guitar. Anyway, does anyone have a clue on how to value this one. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
Talk to you later,
Norm


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:16 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:00 am
Posts: 5
Hi Norm! We have awesome timing! I just thought to come post here too! Thank you for going above and beyond, to anyone who may wonder, this is a TOTAL coincidence!(Firefaerie20)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:43 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
MinnietheMoocher wrote:
Hi Norm! We have awesome timing! I just thought to come post here too! Thank you for going above and beyond, to anyone who may wonder, this is a TOTAL coincidence!(Firefaerie20)

The Gilmour white and red are from that vintage. Hope you two aren't eyeballing the same offer. What's number being asked?

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:03 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:42 am
Posts: 20
Location: Indiana US
ZZ Doc,

No, she and I are not looking to buy the same guitar. Sort of the other way around. She received it from her father and has had it in a closet for many years. I was just doing some searching for her as to what it might be worth. She has no plans about selling it immediately. She did not know I was a member here and going to ask the guys here. By pure coincidence we posted inquires almost simulaneously. I apologize for the double posting. She and I got our signals crossed about posting here.

I am just looking to see if anyone here has seen a 1985 US made Strat sell. After the buyout, the new Corona plant was opened in November, 1985. There were not too many guitars made that first month. This guitar was one of those. A true closest classic.

There were US made Strats in 1985 up until sometime about February at Fullerton (the last of the CBS era). Then none through October. That was because of the buyout. In November, the new plant in Corona. You sometimes see a 1986 Strat. By then they were in production. This guitar was made during those initial weeks at the new Corona plant.

A Vintage Series, 1962 reissue in surf green complete with the original tweed case. It is a thing of beauty.

Talk to you later,
Norm


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:22 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
normj wrote:
ZZ Doc,A Vintage Series, 1962 reissue in surf green complete with the original tweed case. It is a thing of beauty.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Make her an offer she can't refuse. :idea: :wink:

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:46 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:00 am
Posts: 5
Doc, Norm has been such a help, I would love to do what I could to put it into his hands!
I honestly never thought this was going to be that special. I just thought it was a well cared for 80's reissue. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be so special. ALthough I knew there had to be a reason it was so well cared for. The problem is price. How do you put a price on something when you can't find a similar sale? I had put an ad on Craigslist just saying 'reasonable offers considered' but no one is throwing numbers out. I wasn't really going to sell it at that point (Unless it was unreal) just wanting to see if people would give me an idea of what they'd be willing to pay. I can't say I blame them for not throwing numbers out, it's just difficult. I've had similar problems with some other vintage specialty items I've had. If they're too special there's no precedence to go off of. Again, any and all help is much appreciated.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:37 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
MinnietheMoocher wrote:
Doc, Norm has been such a help, I would love to do what I could to put it into his hands!
I honestly never thought this was going to be that special. I just thought it was a well cared for 80's reissue. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be so special. ALthough I knew there had to be a reason it was so well cared for. The problem is price. How do you put a price on something when you can't find a similar sale? I had put an ad on Craigslist just saying 'reasonable offers considered' but no one is throwing numbers out. I wasn't really going to sell it at that point (Unless it was unreal) just wanting to see if people would give me an idea of what they'd be willing to pay. I can't say I blame them for not throwing numbers out, it's just difficult. I've had similar problems with some other vintage specialty items I've had. If they're too special there's no precedence to go off of. Again, any and all help is much appreciated.

Hang in there and on it. I've put an email in to alainlafrance. Perhaps he has a resource for us. If it is what it what Norm believes it to be, it should be appraised by a realiable vintage dealer such as Mandolin Brothers, Gruhn Guitars, or their equivalent. Vintage Guitar Magazine also comes to mind.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:53 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:42 am
Posts: 20
Location: Indiana US
Doc,
An excellent idea. Vintage Guitar Magazine. I am kicking myself for not thinking of that one. Thanks for the suggestion.

Later,
Norm


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:34 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:00 am
Posts: 5
So I have an update! I have been wrong! She isn't seafoam or surf! She's possibly Daphne or Sonic Blue as I'm being told. I didn't even think about the top coat yellowing and making the blue look green. Her's my album if anyone wants to see her. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v333/firefaerie20/Strat/


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:43 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
MinnietheMoocher wrote:
So I have an update! I have been wrong! She isn't seafoam or surf! She's possibly Daphne or Sonic Blue as I'm being told. I didn't even think about the top coat yellowing and making the blue look green. Her's my album if anyone wants to see her. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v333/firefaerie20/Strat/

Someone of honorable repute and know is going to have to take that guitar apart and do a numbers check on everything in the build that normally carries on and correlate that with production dates. That's the way its done.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:20 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
Hmm, this one is hard to figure out a pricing on. I know that the CBS-era/Fullerton-made reissues (made 1982-January 1985) have sometimes commanded high prices depending on the guitar market; in fact there is one on gBase right now with a dealer asking price of almost $3,700. There is a 1986 FMIC/Corona '57 Reissue on gBase for just under $2,700.

However, I have no idea if these are really selling at these prices or if they have just been hanging around for years. They are very nice guitars but these prices just seem kind of crazy to me. I guess because these are so scarce; very few were made by either CBS/Fender before the sale and by FMIC/Fender after the sale - until about maybe 1988 or so when production really went up.

I'll echo ZZDoc's suggestion to have someone reputable check the guitar out; maybe someone like Gruhn in Nashville. Being as this has to be one of the first ones out of FMIC's factory it could well carry a high price for a Fender historian/collector.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:46 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:42 am
Posts: 20
Location: Indiana US
John & Doc,

Yes, I am aware that the guitar will have to be checked completely to date it properly. The fact that the heel is dated November 1985 is not conclusive that the guitar was assembled then There are instances where the heel date is a year earlier than other parts. Excess necks would sit until they were needed. Howevever, with only 10 people working at the plant in November 1985 and with a output of 5 guitars per day, I suspect they did not make excess necks that month.

As for the color that will be tough. I would guess an inspection under the pickguard will help determine if the paint was surf green or sonic blue. The clear coat may have yellowed with age. That does happen. However, both are popular colors. So I don't see a down side no matter which color it is.

What is the earliest manufactured FMIC Strat that anyone has seen sold in the past few years? I saw website dealing in vintage guitars that sold a March 1986, but they did not disclose the seller price. Anyone seen any early FMIC Strats sell recently.

Thanks again, guys.

Talk to you later,
Norm


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 1985 V series Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 5:39 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 5:34 am
Posts: 1
FYI: The Corona Plant started producing in October 1985, not November.

I have a '57 reissue dated 10/7/1985.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: