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Post subject: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:31 am
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Hi to all,

I'm new to Fender, Stratocaster and to the forum and need help to identify my recent purchase.

I've edited my original post after receiving some additional information, it appears that the guitar is from the mid 80s, the serial number is suggesting 1983 but the guitar may be from the cross over period looking at some of the components, I guess this is as far as I have got. If you can help it's very much appreciated.

The details are as follows;

Made in USA Stratocaster
Serial number E 344401
Freeflyte tremolo, all steel trem arm
1 volume nob plus 2 tone nobs
Vintage blonde ?
Maple neck

Images provided on the following links.

https://db.tt/r0OxaBmA

https://db.tt/901bRhLm

https://db.tt/pVPyaFw4

Thank you in advance.

Wayne.


Last edited by wano182 on Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:47 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:44 am
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I'm far from authority on old guitars, but that looks like an 'E' at the start of the serial number to me, which would make more sense as that's not a 70's decal, and I think by the late 60's big headstocks were in. That looks like an 80's strat to me. I think a 70s one would also have the 3 bolt neck?


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:13 am
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Hi,

Thanks for your time on this, how embarrassing for me, I've just taken a closer look and it is an E (I guess I need glasses).

So 1983/1984? The ones I can see from that period (searching Google images that is) have 1 volume + 1 tone, any idea if this is a standard or not, what's the your thoughts.

Thanks

Wayne.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:45 am
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Hi wano182

Have a look at this topic

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=90119

Thats looking very much like a strat from the rebirth era aka 1986/87 on see what you think. Pic of mine at the end of the thread.

... Al


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:22 am
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Hi Al,

Thanks for your time, I've just had a look at the thread (nice guitar by the way) and can see the similar features, I'm pleased to see other guitars with the two string T's on the headstock, mine has different saddles to yours (I'm thinking Dan Smith era saddles).

I've done a little more research and it seams the serial numbers may have carried over to a later period, which may take my guitar in to 1985+, not sure though.

Wikipedia note that the guitars produced 1982/83/84 had the 1 tone nob, so maybe the one I have falls around the change over period.....

Wayne.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:39 am
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Hi Wayne

Yeah your right im struggling to see details like string trees and saddles on my computer lol.
The string trees on yours are similar to a Smith era strat i used to have (1982)
but the headstock shape/decal are different to my (ex) 82 guitar
and if the saddles are bent steel type rather than block type that might indicate a earlier type too.
Hopefully someone else will chime in, theres always a chance its a partscaster?

..Al


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:09 am
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It looks real to me.

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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:30 am
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I took a look at your photos.

The Strat is a 1983/84 CBS Standard. It has been modded with the addition of the second tone control and an angled jack plate. Not a common mod but not unheard of either.

Hope that helps.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:01 pm
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Hi John C,

Yes that is a big help and makes perfect sence, thanks for your time. I guess it's not great news but I'm happy with it, I got three to try, a mim standard 2007 with Japanese pickups, a 1998 USA standard deluxe and the one in this discussion. On paper which would be the keeper?

Thanks

Wayne.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:07 pm
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wano182 wrote:
Hi John C,

Yes that is a big help and makes perfect sence, thanks for your time. I guess it's not great news but I'm happy with it, I got three to try, a mim standard 2007 with Japanese pickups, a 1998 USA standard deluxe and the one in this discussion. On paper which would be the keeper?

Thanks

Wayne.


On paper? All of them.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:21 pm
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Excellent answer, thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:24 pm
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It's a 1983 (approximately) two-knob Strat, I have the exact same guitar in black with an E serial number. These crop up on ebay quite regularly and are often billed as "Dan Smith Strats" ... which they are absolutely NOT.

Unfortunately this one seems to have replacement pickups. That's bad because the pickups in the originals were the greatest Strat pickups ever made but those were non-staggered X1 pickups and these appear to be staggered pole pieces, possibly recent CS pickups. The pickguard has also been replaced, the original would have been white single ply without the chamfered edge.

Output jack has been moved, body routed for the recessed jack. It's also missing the trem arm for the Freeflyte tremolo, those are non-standard and absolutely impossible to replace. As it stands, any minimal value that the guitar had as a "vintage" instrument has been pretty much destroyed by the modifications and missing trem arm.

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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:14 pm
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Obviously this is not great news regarding the modifications but at least I know what the guitar should be, I do have the original trem arm so it's not all bad.

To be honest the guitar feels great, it's got an awesome tone and I'm happy, even in the knowledge of the modifications.

Thanks for your time in providing the information.

Enjoyed listing to your sound cloud, got me listening to neutral milk hotel.

Cheers,

Wayne.


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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:04 pm
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As long as you like the guitar and enjoy playing it then you have made a good purchase. I've never been one to buy guitars as investments, I buy guitars that I like and I don't sell them.

At least now if you do decide to sell it you can give potential buyers an honest description of the instrument.

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Post subject: Re: Help please to identify 70s/80s stratocaster
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:33 pm
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That is a revised Standard Strat that was phased in 1983 and lasted until 85 one tone one volume and jack thru guard came with the freeflyte no back cavity. The Elite's of 84-85 also had Freeflyte. The revised Standards were junk!

Smith Strats 81 into 83 had two tones one volume no freeflyte and were good guitars.

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