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Post subject: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 11:55 am
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I am from the UK and we are going to sell my late father's guitar. However, we don't know the right price to put on it.

It is a fender stratocaster. It is vintage and I believe from the 1970s though what year I don't know exactly. From searching I believe it is American and known as a "blonde" model. (My knowledge of guitars and vintage guitars isn't that good). The serial number is S775799. I saw on one website that the serial number puts it in 1977 or 78. However, I saw an image of a guitar that looked alot like it and that one was from 1976.
My dad kept the original case, and the case also corresponds from those in the 1970s with sort of blondie fur inlay.

Can anyone help with setting a price to my dad's guitar?


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:26 pm
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You get the best and most accurate info on the forum if you post pics. Full shots back and front, details from the headstock both sides, pickups, pickguard, etc. - as many and sharp as you can.
Pic posting is a bit tricky, so here's how: Nutter's Quick Start Guide
On that serial number: it would fit a mid-70's US Strat, but you can't rely on a serial only. Plus, there's big variations between prices on different models, as well as the condition of the guitar.

Sorry about your dad.


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:36 pm
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Thanks.
Ok, I'll get some photos taken and upload them tomorrow.


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:55 pm
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Serial number say 1977

I agree with Jmattis


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:37 pm
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Pictures are a must, but if you can't, check out my videos on identifying 1970s era Stratocasters. Dates and numbers on the back side of the pickups, the pots and espectially the base of the neck. I go over a lot this in the videos.

You can also google, "Dating 1970s Stratocasters."

I hope this helps. By the way, according to my 2014 price guide, there's little diffence in price between a '77 and a '78 Strat. Condition and original parts are going to make the biggest diffence.

Last time I looked, Strats from '77 and '78 were going for $1900 to $2000 on the high end (dealer prices will be on this end or higher). On the low end to a private buyer your looking at about $1400.


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:36 am
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Noting that a good condition 25th Anniversary Strat, with certificates, is around £1500, Paris is dead on regarding his valuation (no surprises there).

While you could dismantle the guitar to get an exact date, a year either way will have no baring on the value.

Even condition could be deceptive. A good, honest, real life relic (something which looks battered and used through real use) might even be more desirable than something which looks mint.

If your father was in a band photos of him playing the guitar all help to tell the story and will provide provenance. It may give the guitar slightly more value now but even more so in 25 years from now.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:48 am
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I abstained from giving any numbers on the serial alone because of that "blonde" description - if "ended" means "sold" in reverb.com lingo, some blondies may rise above the average price level: 1976 Translucent Blonde
And anyways, possible moddings may have a a lot of significance...

BTW, is "Translucent Blonde" just a marketing name for "White Blonde" (as in Mary Kaye Strats)?


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Post subject: Re: Help tracing year of my late dad's guitar.
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:14 am
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John Sims has something there about value. A lot of why people buy guitars has more to do with how it plays, sounds and the emotion it evokes in the buyer. Some of my favorite guitars have been battered beasts.

Also, he is correct that taking the guitar appart will clear this up. The number stamped at the base of the neck is a great date indicator. This information will also tell you what day the guitar was made on.

You can find out if the pickguard has been replaced by looking for a small paper sticker on the pickguard with the headstock serial number on it. There should be one on the neck joint (where the bady and the neck meet) as well.


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