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Post subject: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:06 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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So there's a dead mint... and it appears to be 100% legit, 1981 Fender Strat (pre-Smith) for sale on my local CraigsList for $1800. Now, I know it's not a steal, but it does seem like a "better?" deal than some I've seen. Original case, all paperwork, hang tags, unopened trem spring pouch, even the original silica package. It's natural with black all black plastic... says there's not even a scratch on the guard and that it's spent it's whole life in the case. Just curious what you all think...

Here's a look at it and how the ad reads...

This is the nicest of the vintage large headstock CBS strats in the entire state, maybe even the country, period!! This is a true 32 year old time-capsule in NOS (New Old Stock) condition. The last of the Vintage CBS 70's Large Headstock, Large Logo, 3-Bolt Neck Stratocasters. This gem is a 1981 CBS American Standard Stratocaster in all it's glory. This has been kept in the case since new, and is in New Old Stock condition, showing no real wear of any kind. The stunning high-gloss natural ash finish retains all of it's original factory gloss, as well as the nitro finished maple fingerboard and headstock. The chrome and plastic looks like new, and even the pickguard shows no wear? This is near showroom condition, as well as its original factory Fender Case. This true closet classic is complete with it's perfect condition Fender manual/ hangtag, Rare Fender "Bullet Strings" ad/hangtag, trem arm, un-opned factory trem springs packet, and even the original vapor pack from the factory. This guitar is superb in every way and as nice or nicer than any new guitar currently hanging in your local guitar store? Don't miss your chance to own this gem, a class act collector guitar of investment quality.. A brand new American 70's re-issue Stratocaster sells for the same price.. Why not have the real deal, as nothng captures the sound, the feel and the quality.. In superb condition New Old Stock Conditon with Original Case Candy.. $1800

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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:21 pm
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Wow! Superb! :D

Seems well worth the price to me, considering the condition, accessories and case. You might want to act fast, as I'm sure that others (like me) are scrambling to find the ad now that you've brought it to our attention. :o

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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:33 pm
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I like those natural ash Strats with a maple board.
My preference runs to the toroise shell scratch-plate over the black one on those ones, though.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:17 am
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Wow...... Minty fresh!


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:28 am
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Offer him $1,400 and see what happens. Gorgeous fiddle!


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:50 pm
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oh my !!!
GET IT NOW !!!


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:18 pm
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The dude was firm on the price and it's no wonder... it's pretty much like new. I met him this afternoon and pulled the trigger. All the paperwork, even more than shown, was included. The warrantee card, the bag the trem arm came in... all of it, and all of it in time capsule shape. The warrantee card said the guitar was purchased 12-25-81... perhaps gifted on that date would be more accurate. The product manual had a copyright of 1980. The proof would be on the pots and perhaps a neck stamp... the serial dates it 78-81 so no help there. I know these early 80's strats are hard to date but I'd have to say 80/81 for sure given the manual inside the case.

So... there is the characteristic 70's lack of QC gap around the neck on one side in the pocket but it isn't that bad... and the neck is snug on the upper bout (in relation to playing it) so it's stable and not wiggling around. I got it in tune fast and the tuners are oddly smooth for 70's style. The pickups sound great and there's not a lick of scratchiness. It's not super heavy, but it's no featherweight either. The bathroom scale (which always lies :lol: ) claims it's 9.2 lbs. Frankly, it seemed comfy playing it. Not too much else to report... I'll get a video up toon so you can all see/hear her in action.

The only downside is that either the guy who sold it to me, or the guitar case, is/was covered in a male fragrance which very much captures the era of the guitar... it falls somewhere between pimp and hair club for men (please, take no offense... I'm losing my hair too :) )...... perhaps a dryer sheet in the case pouch will cure it. There's also a strange finish/overspray thing going on on the 12th fret... looks like it got the nitro treatment like the headstock... hard telling. No big deal and is a unique identifier. Here are a couple of pics... Now, what to get rid of... I was planning on the GAS!

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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:47 pm
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Here's the little lady in action... must say, I'm impressed. To be honest, I was going to tuck this one away for a number of years and unload her, given that she's in pristine condition, but I may have a hard time keeping my hands off her! 8) Shady, I know....





The rest of the harem is going to get jealous...


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:14 pm
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Thanks for sharing! A good score.
Some don't like the big headstocks but I do. I see another sitting on your stand as well.....


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:31 pm
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Oh, they're both big headstocks... American Special necks. I love the vintage ones too but I've always been a sucker for the big 'ol headstocks. The guitars hanging out are ones I put together from scraps. Oddly, the '81 is very similar in size to the American Special... maybe a bit more girth but not like some 70's necks. Nothing like my baseball bat of a neck I used to have. I once had a '75 neck that was something like a half-circle... HUGE!!! It was mounted to a beat to heck MIM body. Someone had drilled it for 4 holes but it wasn't very well done so I let it go, the action on that guitar was a mess and I could never keep it in tune. In any event, the neck on the '81 is comfy... like a fatter modern C shape. Not what I was expecting... I thought all the necks from that era were giants.


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:07 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Very nice....that thing with the 12th fret is certainly, shall I say, different. A cool looker.


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:27 pm
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yeah, it is a bit odd... who knows what the root cause of it is. It's never had as refret so it's really a mystery.


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:58 pm
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A week or so after my purchase I just thought I'd check in and give you all a report. I'm happy as a clam! :mrgreen: Of my four strats this one sounds the most stratty... the stock pickups sound great... a little brighter & thinner but but easily fixed with some EQ. The neck pickup has plenty of low end thump. I'm looking forward to string change so I can pop the top. I know that occasionally these had the grey bottom pickups, but mostly the black plastic bobbins. I'm just curious. The neck is super comfortable and despite all the horror stories I've heard about late CBS strats, this one stays in tune like a champ. What else can I see... I think I scored!

I've been looking around the web for info on all things '81... pickups, serial numbers, etc. There isn't much to go on. A lot of the chatter seems to be about "The Strat," not this model. I'd love a little extra history if anyone has it. The serial number starts S993.... so it's gotta be towards the end of the line as far as the big headstock strats... anyone know how high these serial numbers went? S999999 perhaps? I've also seen some interesting transition models where these necks have ended up on strats as late as 82/83... any info on that? I'm a total nerd for oddball transition guitar details and history!


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:37 pm
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I sheepishly admit that I think of my guitars as having little personalities of their own! I can see how you could find that gem of a vintage strat in time capsule condition and feel compelled to continue to "time capsulize" it... but think of the decades that it went through longing to be plugged in and played rather than being packed up in a case in a closet!

She wants to be stroked a bit! I say start putting some miles on her!

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my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: This one's really giving me the GAS!
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:10 pm
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Tiger J wrote:
I sheepishly admit that I think of my guitars as having little personalities of their own! I can see how you could find that gem of a vintage strat in time capsule condition and feel compelled to continue to "time capsulize" it... but think of the decades that it went through longing to be plugged in and played rather than being packed up in a case in a closet!

She wants to be stroked a bit! I say start putting some miles on her!


:lol: Funny, that's what I've been thinking too. It's been getting plenty of love the past few days. It's not like it's a "real" vintage strat, like a '59 or '62 or somethinglike that, that I could put a down payment on a house with. It's probably not going to hurt the value much (if at all) to play it. I'm careful to wipe this one down when I'm finished to keep the hardware clean. It's a guitar after all, and guitars are meant to be played!


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