Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). SOLD: 1977/8 STRAT price drop to £1500 - Guitars £ Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

SOLD: 1977/8 STRAT price drop to £1500

phase3phase3 Frets: 41
edited September 2023 in Guitars £
I’ve seen something so need this gone … reduced from £1750 for a week or so … before considering eBay ( argh!)

I've had this a few years now and bought it through a friend from the widow of a local player who sadly passed away. He kept it in its case and was convinced it was totally original. However, that's not really the case and there's little history with the guitar.
I've stripped it to bare bones and spoken to a few knowledgable folk and here's what i know for certain.
Neck:
All original 77/78 with markings to confirm. In remarkable condition for year. Very minor fret wear and just the od varnish mark here and there. It's a typically skinny neck of the period and very nice to play. The string trees have been upgraded to roller ( i think) the type used on japan strats
Body:
This has been completely stripped of poly and refinished in nitro - a long time ago i think. All but the faintest markings are gone BUT it has the period correct pin router/dowel marks and everything looks correct. Apart from , at some stage the bridge pocket was re-routed for HB. This was a pro job and some folk think that fender themselves did some of those retro routes.  It's ash ( of course) and now very light and resonant without the poly finish and having had a few decades to dry out
Hardware:
All appears to be correct for year, trem, block, saddles, tuners etc.
Pickups:
Bearing in mind that the guitar was clearly fitted with a bridge humbucker at some stage , it's no surprise that the pickup assembly including pick guard are unlikely to be original. The 3 single coils appear to be early 80's and are correct for that period. The pots too indicate very early 80's .. dan smith era i guess and of course it's now a 5 way selector.
Case:
3 latch molded with black plush lining. I think these were the transition case around 79/80 introduction so could be the original or not.

As a guitar:
It's good ... really good. The first thing that strikes you is how light it is compared with other 70's strats.  It weighs in at 7.2lbs and is nice and resonant. Plays really well and the action can be set low. Everything works and adjust as it should. Sound wise ... it's very 70's strat - even though the p/ups are a bit later. Probably a bit more grunt than the early 70's models.

I've got dozens of photos so feel free to ask for what ever you need.  I'm just putting a few up here.


Price? ... how the hell does one price these things. They're clearly appreciating as guitars and/or parts.

So i'm going to try £175O - NOW £1500
Trades? ... no more strats! ...( i've got 10). So i'd consider Tele's  cash either way, maybe an SG or something interesting - no pointy's.

https://imgur.com/a/FNWSuVS
https://imgur.com/BmwyadG
https://imgur.com/OFkvo6B
https://imgur.com/sN8GYsZ
https://imgur.com/zrUe61v
https://imgur.com/SfQKEkq


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