Help verifying a 1982 Fullerton Strat I'm looking to buy:

[D7alt]

Had forgotten that the Red bobbins only feature on the now more sought after early 82 production. Later gave way to the black bobbins.
So that now checks out as long as we can be confident the pickups are the stock ones.

To me, the neck looks good though clearer pics of the headstock would help.

On the body, the worm routing doesn't seem to have the sort of L shape that I remember seeing on other 82 avris. But again, the pic is unclear on my screen. As on those examples

 

[whitey10]

Thanks everyone for your input, great info! This is my first time delving into the "classic strat" market and I learned alot. I will mull it all over before deciding to pull the trigger.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

thanks Will, do these pics help?

There was a hypothesis floating around that all Fullerton made U.S. Vintage guitars pickups could be identified by white writing on the bobbin bottoms.
This seems to go against that hypothesis- I see no reason to believe this is not a genuine unmolested 1982 model.
The worm route morphed in the mid 80s, so I don't see that as a real concern, nor do I see the missing neck date as a real concern. It's been demonstrated that there were several episodes of missing neck dates in the 80s. I have one myself.

 

[stratman323]

There was a hypothesis floating around that all Fullerton made U.S. Vintage guitars pickups could be identified by white writing on the bobbin bottoms.

I had never heard that hypothesis but it's clearly not true.

 

[sazista1]

No. I bought it from a struggling student in LA in 1988 who said it was a 62 RI (which it isn't) with a car paint finish from someone else. Before him it had been painted 3 more times. I wish I had the real story.

Thanks Sazista, I will check them out. Are you the original owner of your 57 RI?

 

[D7alt]

Looking at the soldering there are signs it was tinkered with.
Now that doesn't prove anything about the authenticity of the pickups but it is a sign. For instance here is an example of untouched solder joints at the switch on a 82 Avri. To compare with.

And below the one being considered here.

 

[sazista1]

The other page got the op to show the curves of the body helping confirm it had a fullerton curve and the guitar is indeed legit just can't nail an exact date down.
The one random question asking for a clearer pic of the logo could have narrowed it down to. 82 -83 if it had the third batch logo decal.

The skunk stripe nonsense was the issue in the other thread, just one thread would have been less confusing

Request a pic from trem cavity for possible date stamp.

 

[D7alt]

And here's an example of black bobbins pickups from an unmolested, untouched late 1982 Avri for comparison.

 

[stratocarlster]

Unless it's a screaming deal, no neck date is a no-no for me. Did the Fender workers just forget sometimes?

 

[Nick L Plate]

Personally, there's enough here that I would consider it genuine, but even assuming this to be the case, that info (IMO) makes it a little hotter in the market but does it justify the price to you? I don't think this run of instruments offers anything particularly special others than age, though it doesn't really qualify as vintage. To me, some regular Custom Shop runs and all of the Masterbuilt guitars are the best builds Fender has ever produced. A broken-in CS Strat made in a good year and following specs from a good year (that is, having the specs that fit the player) is, to my mind, as good as it gets for a Fender.

 

[D7alt]

Looking at the code. Here we have the CTS manufacture code 137, the 26th week of 1982.

Coincidentally same period as the one here below.

From this clean 1982 beauty

And it can be seen that the worm routing is consistent with the previous two examples I brought up earlier. i. e still erm.. un'morphed'(whatever that means) . Again just an observation, no proof.

 

[whitey10]

Looking at the soldering there are signs it was tinkered with.
Now that doesn't prove anything about the authenticity of the pickups but it is a sign. For instance here is an example of untouched solder joints at the switch on a 82 Avri. To compare with.
View attachment 634691
And below the one being considered here.
View attachment 634692

Thanks Yves, I'm new to this and I don't know what to look for on the soldering joints - they look the same to me, lol. What do you see that is different?

 

[whitey10]

Personally, there's enough here that I would consider it genuine, but even assuming this to be the case, that info (IMO) makes it a little hotter in the market but does it justify the price to you? I don't think this run of instruments offers anything particularly special others than age, though it doesn't really qualify as vintage. To me, some regular Custom Shop runs and all of the Masterbuilt guitars are the best builds Fender has ever produced. A broken-in CS Strat made in a good year and following specs from a good year (that is, having the specs that fit the player) is, to my mind, as good as it gets for a Fender.

I'm new to this Nick but am learning a great deal form these posts, it is my understanding the 82-84 Fullertons were well made and considered collectible. What are good years for Custom Shops?

 

[D7alt]

Thanks Yves, I'm new to this and I don't know what to look for on the soldering joints - they look the same to me, lol. What do you see that is different?

Hi @whitey10,
See the wiring looks untidy, and loose around the selector"s lugs. Unfortunately the resolution of the pictures provided to you is too poor to have a close look at soldering points on the lugs. But it doesn't look factory like anymore. I strongly suspect some diy fiddling occured at some point. Now peeps do experiment with different wiring, for instance switching from a 3 way to a 5-way selector etc...
But, I question why are most pics of such poor quality when it is so easy to take clear pics these days.
If the COA that would have come with an AVRI was presented, it could bring some added assurance. But I assume that isn't the case.
The seller themselves, may have aquired this strat in that exact state and may not know any better.
It is very challenging to identify with absolute certainty those pickups as genuine or otherwise.

 

[Rufustelestrat]

For me, the issue is multifold in the neck date, and lack of other clearly identifiable tell-tails I would say yes its a reissue. Yes it probably is from the 80s and maybe even the early 80s, but to pin down a date is difficult. Like with @Parksie and his two different early reissues, they neck could be from a completely different guitar, and it all comes down to how much you believe it is what is represented. If it were my money, I would be looking for the red bobbin, neck dated low serial number reissue with all the paperwork and the hang tags. That is the one I would buy but only if it plays good.

 

[whitey10]

Hi @whitey10,
See the wiring looks untidy, and loose around the selector"s lugs. Unfortunately the resolution of the pictures provided to you is too poor to have a close look at soldering points on the lugs. But it doesn't look factory like anymore. I strongly suspect some diy fiddling occured at some point. Now peeps do experiment with different wiring, for instance switching from a 3 way to a 5-way selector etc...
But, I question why are most pics of such poor quality when it is so easy to take clear pics these days.
If the COA that would have come with an AVRI was presented, it could bring some added assurance. But I assume that isn't the case.
The seller themselves, may have aquired this strat in that exact state and may not know any better.
It is very challenging to identify with absolute certainty those pickups as genuine or otherwise.

I hear you and agree. Its 6 states away from me so no way to take it to the local shop for a COA. It's on the low end moneywise of what other Fullertons are going for but still asking for several thousand. I'm most likely gonna pass on this one. Thanks for you help.

 

[stratman323]

Hi @whitey10,
See the wiring looks untidy, and loose around the selector"s lugs. Unfortunately the resolution of the pictures provided to you is too poor to have a close look at soldering points on the lugs. But it doesn't look factory like anymore. I strongly suspect some diy fiddling occured at some point. Now peeps do experiment with different wiring, for instance switching from a 3 way to a 5-way selector etc...
But, I question why are most pics of such poor quality when it is so easy to take clear pics these days.
If the COA that would have come with an AVRI was presented, it could bring some added assurance. But I assume that isn't the case.
The seller themselves, may have aquired this strat in that exact state and may not know any better.
It is very challenging to identify with absolute certainty those pickups as genuine or otherwise.

I've owned several early AVRIs. I'd never even heard of a COA of any kind until joining ST & certainly never seen one.

This idea about worrying about original solder joints strikes me as strange. These Strats were sent out fitted with the 3 way switch & 90+% of owners must have fitted the 5 way switch supplied. And the supplied .1k cap is far too big! Switch that right away for a .022 if you actually want to play the thing.

Suddenly original solder joints are a dim & distant memory.

 

[Intune]

I've owned several early AVRIs. I'd never even heard of a COA of any kind until joining ST & certainly never seen one.

This idea about worrying about original solder joints strikes me as strange. These Strats were sent out fitted with the 3 way switch & 90+% of owners must have fitted the 5 way switch supplied. And the supplied .1k cap is far too big! Switch that right away for a .022 if you actually want to play the thing.

Suddenly original solder joints are a dim & distant memory.

This strikes me as a strange comment since you just complained about fender custom shop being expensive and sending a guitar out with a decal that doesn’t match a floor traveller. That’s unacceptable.

Then looking at this expensive reissue and telling someone who cares if it’s me messed with. Lots of people did it.

 

[whitey10]

It's been enlightening to see the different views on this and how all of you notice these details. Fullertons are going anywhere from $3000 - $10,000 and I think I'm too inexperienced to take a chance on something that expensive when I can't even see or play them before buying. Plus all of them are sold "as is" so no returns if there is an issue. I'm enjoying learning though!

 

[Intune]

It's been enlightening to see the different views on this and how all of you notice these details. Fullertons are going anywhere from $3000 - $10,000 and I think I'm too inexperienced to take a chance on something that expensive when I can't even see or play them before buying. Plus all of them are sold "as is" so no returns if there is an issue. I'm enjoying learning though!

I said early for being considered rare there’s a lot to choose from. My honest opinion is they are great because of the history being the first fender USA reissue. However for $3000-$10,000 I’d look elsewhere. Extremely thin necks not really accurate to vintage specs. I know big deal but a mid to late 90’s AVRI to me is much more accurate and just as cool. Looking into a 2012-2017 AV series fender reissue and you have a real winner. Much less than a Fullerton reissue.