70's Strats

gliderider22 · September 18th, 2009, 03:21 PM

What are some of the years/models of 70's Strats that have been recreated for a reissue?

Also, I have noticed many of the 70's era Strats have natural or just stained bodies. Where there colors available? If so, examples?

fenderkev · September 18th, 2009, 07:50 PM

From 1971-81 the Stratocaster remained the same apart from the following. In 1974 staggered height pup pole pieces were replaced with flat ones. In 1975 pick guards were changed from white to black, but pup covers and knobs remained white. In 1976 everything was changed to black. Natural ash bodies were first made available in 1972. I owned a '75 version and it was heavier than a Les Paul. I owned a 1979 model as well, and played many others. You'll see people rave about 1970's Strats but let me assure you, todays USA Standard Strat is light years better than any '70's Strat I ever came across.

Ray-Boy · September 19th, 2009, 05:13 PM

I have a Partscaster which has a 70s hardtail alder body and what I'm told by reliable sources is a Fender Sea-Foam Green finish. I was also told that Fender did another shade of green, I think in the 70s also, which they called Surf Green. The two single coil pups have black covers and the pole pieces are staggered. (The bridge pup is a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail Humbucker) I wear a white pick plate and the black pup covers and knobs against the white pick plate against the Sea-Foam green is really pretty, IMHO.

Kyri · September 19th, 2009, 05:33 PM

Check this out: you can view pics of strats from most years including all the 70's it may not include all colours that were availabe.

http://www.stratcollector.com/scn/base.html

Yogi · September 21st, 2009, 08:15 PM

"I have a Partscaster which has a 70s hardtail alder body and what I'm told by reliable sources is a Fender Sea-Foam Green finish. I was also told that Fender did another shade of green, I think in the 70s also, which they called Surf Green. "

Where did you get this information from, I've never seen a stock 70s strat in any shade of green. Mostly the colors that I have seen are white, Black, Natural, Mocha, 3 tone burst, a dark red looking color, the 25th anniversary model color, and the international colors of the early 80s

fenderkev · September 22nd, 2009, 12:28 PM

Where did you get this information from, I've never seen a stock 70s strat in any shade of green. Mostly the colors that I have seen are white, Black, Natural, Mocha, 3 tone burst, a dark red looking color, the 25th anniversary model color, and the international colors of the early 80s[/quote]

They did "Foam Green", and "Teal Green", right up to 1969, but you're right, there was no Green in the '70's. It could be that Ray-Boy has a late '60's Stratocaster body.

Ray-Boy · September 22nd, 2009, 05:37 PM

I was told this by the luthier at Guitar Center.

mutato · September 23rd, 2009, 07:50 AM

Dating Late 1970's Fender Stratocasters

fenderkev · September 23rd, 2009, 12:35 PM

Does it have 3 neck bolts or 4? If its 4 I'd say its from the 60's.

doombie22 · September 23rd, 2009, 01:03 PM

man i played many and owned 4 strats from the late seventies all were p.o.s. the necks were all over the place. never liked any of them.

Strat-Talk · September 23rd, 2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderkev

Does it have 3 neck bolts or 4? If its 4 I'd say its from the 60's.

Not so fast. The 1979 25th Anniversary models have a 4 bolt neck. And, many of these were refinished due to major problems with the original Silver finish cracking while under warranty. And, the factory refinishes can age to look like Sea Foam Green (well, a faded Sea Foam Grean).

fenderkev · September 23rd, 2009, 05:12 PM

Yes, except Fender didn't paint any Strats, in any shade of Green, from 1969 until 1982. At that point they started doing them in Emerald Green, and Candy Apple Green, (?????Yeh, thats what it says on my colour chart!). Come on Ray-Boy. Let us know if its 3 or 4 bolt. My money is still on it being late '60's.

Ray-Boy · September 24th, 2009, 11:45 AM

It's 4 bolts. I'd like to think it's late 60s. The maple neck is really fine. It may have been refinished down through the years (decades) but if so, it was a first-class job. My luthier lowered a couple of frets and raised a couple, leveled a couple, whatever the really adept cats do, but he thinks the frets are original to the neck, as best he can tell, and they're in good condition despite the guitar having been hard-used during its former life.

70s, 60s, 1800s, whatever, I just love it and the sound rings right through the marrow of my bones. If somebody can find a way to make me think (even wishfully) that it's at least partly 50s, I'll owe you a big, wet, sloppy kiss with lots of tongue and moaning.

__________________________________________________ ______

"It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness a thousand times." Or else just pay your freakin' electric bill.

fenderkev · September 24th, 2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray-Boy

70s, 60s, 1800s, whatever, I just love it and the sound rings right through the marrow of my bones.

You got that right! If you love it, thats all that counts. Now if you could just find a late '60's neck ...............................................