tried a real 70s Fender strat - it was pretty shocking

[gwEm]

$6k would have got me a 1974 strat with admittedly ok sound (like a cheap USA fender), and mid-end squier like playability. i much rather take a modern strat, even regarding the price.

at least the worn in 70s look was really cool, but thats about it. i was very disappointed. a BKP pimped 70s reissue model would easily be better than this particular example

then i tried a 1962 strat which was perfect in everyway and cost $26k. i can see what people mean about the cbs period being so bad. theres probably good 70s strats out there, but this one was shocking. 100% cured of real 70s strat GAS now!

[Twinfan]

Fender Custom Shop is the way to go - leave vintage to the collectors  ;)

[headtheball]

This is true. About 70% of Fender's 70's output (an about 80% of Gobson's for that matter) appear to have been started at half four on a Friday evening.

Mind you, I do love my Tele Deluxe, but it's every bit as much 90's/00's Me output as 70's Fender.

[Philly Q]

It's funny, when I was a kid it was those late '70s Strats I was GASing over in shop windows  :lol: .  Probably just as well I never bought one, I'm sure I'd still have it and the body would've been carved up for humbuckers and a Kahler.  I might've even resprayed it.

I'm sure there were good ones, but the bad ones were incredibly heavy with thick plasticky finishes.  And the body contouring was all wrong.  I don't think they reproduce those "features" in the reissues, funnily enough.  

[jpfamps]

Strats really suffered in the 70's.

Generally up to '74 you can get really great instuments, but after that they really went downhill.

I was playing a '79 the other day that was quite frankly shocking. It was virtually a slab body.

Whilst on the subject of 70s Strats, the pricing of this really had us in stitches. And it's a hard tail.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Very-Rare-Hard-Tail-1979-USA-Fender-Stratocaster_W0QQitemZ150306554740QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150306554740&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Philly Q]

Whilst on the subject of 70s Strats, the pricing of this really had us in stitches. And it's a hard tail.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Very-Rare-Hard-Tail-1979-USA-Fender-Stratocaster_W0QQitemZ150306554740QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150306554740&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I must say I love the look of that Strat.  And hardtail is perfect for me (that's one thing they did right in the '70s, lots of hardtail Strats!  :) ).

I'd only be prepared to pay about £800 for it though.

[gingataff]

Whilst on the subject of 70s Strats, the pricing of this really had us in stitches. And it's a hard tail.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Very-Rare-Hard-Tail-1979-USA-Fender-Stratocaster_W0QQitemZ150306554740QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150306554740&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I must say I love the look of that Strat.  And hardtail is perfect for me (that's one thing they did right in the '70s, lots of hardtail Strats!  :) ).

I'd only be prepared to pay about £800 for it though.

I'd rather pay £100 for an old  Japanese copy and another 500 or so doing it up ;)

[jpfamps]

Whilst on the subject of 70s Strats, the pricing of this really had us in stitches. And it's a hard tail.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Very-Rare-Hard-Tail-1979-USA-Fender-Stratocaster_W0QQitemZ150306554740QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150306554740&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

I must say I love the look of that Strat.  And hardtail is perfect for me (that's one thing they did right in the '70s, lots of hardtail Strats!  :) ).

I'd only be prepared to pay about £800 for it though.

That's about the correct price. Only 20% of the asking!!

Not much contouring on it though......

[Philly Q]

Yeah, I don't like the lack of contouring but I could live with it.   

The guitar could be a dog anyway, it's only the look that's getting me GASing. 

[blue]

that '79 really does have virtually no body contours!  and it's not so much aged looking as knackered looking!

really, the prices now for 70's fenders and gibsons are crazy.  it's not that long since you could hardly give the things away.  i recently saw a battered late 70's les paul deluxe with basically no frets left with a three grand price tag on it.  any epiphone in the shop would have outplayed it, and frankly would have looked better.  i own a '75 deluxe myself, but i got it for a reasonable price and because it was the year i was born.  my 2004 standard and '93 studio MIII are better guitars in every way.

[Philly Q]

I've always had the impression (maybe wrongly) that vintage guitars are priced in a much more structured way in the USA, depending on the condition, original features etc.

Over here dealers just seem to say "it's vintage, call it 5 grand for cash", even if the thing is totally trashed.

[jpfamps]

I've always had the impression (maybe wrongly) that vintage guitars are priced in a much more structured way in the USA, depending on the condition, original features etc.

Over here dealers just seem to say "it's vintage, call it 5 grand for cash", even if the thing is totally trashed.

Actually vintage guitars are more expensive in the US at the moment. Long gone are the days of bringing back a guitar and doubling your money.

The if you look at the price of the other items the £4k '79 Strat merchant is selling they are all out to lunch. I don't think he will be selling much..........

[Ted 'N' Leo]

One of my friends dads owns a CBS Fender Frank Zappa signature, one of only 5 made or something. Its a really great guitar, ash body, see through finish, maple neck, 4 bolt neck, with big headstock. It sounds the business too.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I would much rather own an early 80s JV series Squier
Had a few in for setup now and then and they blow 1970s Fender USA out of the water!

Even some of the new vibe series are like that too!

Buy a good cheapie and ad BKPs

[Denim n Leather]

My '79 Strat had a killer neck ...