Hi there,

I had the joy to set up a fender strat of a friend 2 days ago. He bought it 1972. The serial number is 355195. I think it is made in America.

Here are some photos.

http://s1157.photobucket.com/albums/p59 ... trat%2072/

What do you think it is worth?

Many thanks

Joe

Well without seeing it taken apart to check dates, wiring, etc. it looks like one of the most pristine early 70s USA Strats that I've seen. If there wasn't some patina on the neck bolts (and of course the original serial number instead of a "Vxxxxx" serial number) you would think that was a reissue from the condition.

Curiosity question - when you restrung the guitar why didn't you put the string ends into the hole in the tuner instead of tying them off? That's the easiest way to restring a split-post tuner.

These have really been creeping up in value and a quick look at gbase.com shows the asking price for a circa 1972-1974 Strat is anywhere from $2,000 to $6,500 depending on condition and color - white maple board Strats (Jimi-style) go for more than sunburst rosewood board Strats. One pretty well-known vintage dealer has a '72 that they claim has a factory candy tangerine finish that they are asking almost $10K for - again, these are their listed prices; who knows what any of these actually sell for.

That is good to know, thank you very much for your reply. But do you know it is genuine. I am only asking because I bought a similar one once (luckily very cheap) and it turned out to be a fake.

Everything was the same. I am just asking, because for some reasons the headstock locks strange to me. But: I am not a fender expert at all, I come more from the gibson site of life....

I guess I have to take the guitar apart the next time I am in germany to see what it says inside.

Regarding your re-stringing question: I am just very much just to do it like that. but you are right, that would have been the better way of doing it..... next time. It still plays beautiful....

Joe - I'm certainly not a true vintage authority like George Gruhn or someone like that but I've seen enough to think that at first pass it's genuine. Let me put it to you this way - it looks genuine enough to be worth taking apart to check on body routing, neck codes, pickup codes, etc.; it's not a guitar that you could easily dismiss as being a fake or a forgery.

In looking at 3-4 other '72 Strats on-line your headstock photos of this guitar look pretty close to the others that are posted. What does look a bit odd about this one is that most of the others have a more yellowed finish on the headstock. However, if this guitar has lived its 40 years in its case then it wouldn't have yellowed as much.

If it is a fake, it would be more like someone putting a '72 neck plate on a recent USA reissue (the American Vintage '70s Strat).

The problem with that is, the '70s AVRI's and MIM Classic Series models have ash bodies. The guitar as posted by the OP seems to be alder -- which is consistent for 1972 when Strats were made using either wood.

I think it's the real McCoy.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Ever informative, thanks for yet another lesson Arjay.

Thanks Toronado, I do what I can.

But that info came straight from A.R. Duchossoir's book, "The Fender Stratocaster".

Thus in this case, I'm merely a "parrot".



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I had a 1969-1970-1971 that had a 1969 Serial number, a 1970 body and a 1975 neck.
You'll never know until you take it apart.

It is worth what it sells for.
Tons of guitars are listed on EBay, that never sell.
Therefore "Perceived" prices are not nearly accurate.

If 100% unmodified original, and in near mint shape, could find a buyer for $4000 plus.
Never know.

Could lose money listing it for $5000 and keep paying listing fees as it never sells.
Never know.

Toppscore

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It's got a tremolo system = good
a bridge cover = good
a three bolt neck = bad
looks real shiny & new & unmarked = raises flags if it is touched up or restored.

Personally, I am think it looks like a 1972 or 1973.
So, I checked some number charts which are indicators, not 100% accurate

100000 to 110000 = late 1965
110000 to 200000 = 1966
180000 to 210000 = 1967
210000 to 250000 = 1968
250000 to 280000 = 1969
280000 to 300000 = 1970
300000 to 330000 = 1971
330000 to 370000 = 1972
370000 to 520000 = 1973
500000 to 580000 = 1974
580000 to 690000 = 1975
690000 to 750000 = 1976

Take it apart. Take photos. Prove it has not been repaired or refinished.
Prove is is original. Then you will better know.

Hope this helps. Toppscore *)

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Oops - I completely forgot that the AVs only came in ash; to me it looked real enough that putting an old neck plate on a reissue would have been the only way to fake it.

Of course the OP does really should take the guitar apart to check all the dates, codes, etc.

+1

Merely removing the pickguard would reveal a trove of useful data, assuming the owner gives his assent to such an inspection.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Very nice example of a very clean 1972. In Germany I would think it´s about 4000€ if anybody would pay that price.
It´s one of the last ones with 1 string tree and it is in an awesome clean condition.

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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That's got to be one of the cleanest 72 strats I've seen in a while, fantastic to think these are still around in this sort of condition .. what a find.
The patent number on the headstock is correct for a 72 as well.
Hope it all turns out well and thanks for sharing.

Many thanks for all your answers. I think it should be no problem to take the guitar apart. Unfortunately I won't see the guitar again for the next few months. It belongs to a friend of my parents and he actually had the original receipt when he bought it on 13/12/72. He paid 1280 german marks for the guitar and 100 DM for the case. Everything is still in original condition and he did not play it since 20 years or so.

I will see what I can find out the next time I see him.

Again, many thanks for all your effort.

Joe

It was roughly four deutschmarks to the dollar back then......about $345, including the case.

Eat your hearts out, guys!



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY