1972 or 1973 strat?

nordic_light · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 10

Hello everyone!

Just got myself a Stratocaster today! A black one with maple neck.
My question is: the neck is stamped oct 72 but electronics plus neck plate indicate 73.
It is a bit of both I guess, but when it first was sold, was it as a 72 or a 73?
Happy to hear your suggestions!

Voodoo Blues · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:05 am **Posts:** 1333

No answers until you post a pic!

paris · **Posted:** Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:41 am

Parts are made throughout the year and then brought together.

My EC Strat has three dates, Oct '00, Nov '00, and Jan '00. I ordered the guitar from a music store in February of '01.

It's mostlikely a '73.

Miami Mike · **Posted:** Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:55 am

Well then, it's a '72 and a half.

bcarr2323 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:01 am

Look at the serial number
330000 to 370000 = 1972
370000 to 520000 = 1973

orvilleowner · **Posted:** Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:13 am

nordic_light wrote:

My question is: the neck is stamped oct 72 but electronics plus neck plate indicate 73. It is a bit of both I guess, but when it first was sold, was it as a 72 or a 73?

Well, when do you think it left the factory and made it to the store?

Anyway, Fender didn't sell guitars as being "1972" or "1973" -- they aren't automobiles.

Robinstrat · **Posted:** Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:02 am

It´s a 1973 no question.
The pots weren´t mounted before 1973 (because they were made in 73). Guitar was put together in 1973, so it´s a 1973 Stratocaster.
Would love to see some fotos.

Cheers,
Robin

atolleter · **Posted:** Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:27 am

Newest dated component is obviously the manufacturing date. Some years they made millions of pots it seems. I have a 68 Musicmaster according to serial number but neck is dated 66.

63supro · **Joined:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm **Posts:** 8827

Double post sorry.

63supro · **Joined:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm **Posts:** 8827

I mine was a 72 leftover. Bought in 73 but everything dates to 72. :lol:

I wouldn't worry about it. Play it and enjoy it. When people sell them, many people just look at the date on the neck. The parts come out of a bin. Yours may be an early 73. You still have a 72 neck. I don't know how long parts carry over from previous years. Maybe Arjay or Martian have a better handle on it.

Andorra	EN	ES	FR
Belgium	EN	DE	FR
Croatia	EN
Czech Republic	EN
Estonia	EN
France	EN	FR
Germany	EN	DE
Italy	EN	IT
Latvia	EN
Lithuania	EN
Malta	EN
Netherlands	EN
Poland	EN
Romania	EN
Slovakia	EN
Sweden	EN
United Kingdom	EN

Austria	EN	DE
Bulgaria	EN
Cyprus	EN
Denmark	EN
Finland	EN
Greece	EN
Hungary	EN
Ireland	EN
Liechtenstein	EN	DE
Luxembourg	EN	DE	FR
Monaco	EN	FR
Norway	EN
Portugal	EN
Slovenia	EN
Spain	EN	ES
Switzerland	EN	DE	FR	IT

	Page 1 of 1	[ 10 posts ]

Mod Shop

Custom Shop

1972 or 1973 strat?

Who is online