how do I know its a 73 strat?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ostia Man
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Ostia Man

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Hi,
this guy is selling me a 73 strat body with a warmoth neck, it also have the original bridge(not the saddles) and tuners (one is damaged).
but how can i be sure that the body is a 73?
is there any marks or something?


thanx!
 
Taken from the "Antique Vintage Guitars Collector Info" web-site (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/1375/)...

Fender Body Dates, 1950 to present.
The earliest models (Broadcaster, NoCaster, Telecaster) had a body date under the neck, in the neck pocket. But by 1954 or 1955, this date moved to under the lead pickup (but didn't show up consistently in this spot until 1956). Stratocasters also had variable body date positions. Usually they are seen in the rear tremolo cavity (if the Strat is a tremolo model!). But it is also common for the body date to be under the middle pickup. For all models, by about 1963 or 1964, body dates were rarely used.


So, it looks like you can't be absolutely sure if the guy is telling the truth.
 
A helpful site, Cheek. Thanks. I have a couple of oldies I'll check there.

J.
 
Ostia Man said:
Hi,
this guy is selling me a 73 strat body with a warmoth neck, it also have the original bridge(not the saddles) and tuners (one is damaged).
but how can i be sure that the body is a 73?
is there any marks or something?


thanx!

I have a counter-question: why would you buy it? '73 is the heart of the post CBS dark ages, the neck is far and away the most important part of the guitar, followed by the pickups. Unless it is way cheaper that a new USA Standard, you're paying for a lot of nothing, IMO. I'd buy a Closet Classic or Relic (any of which will be superb guitars, and carry a warranty) before I ponied up for '70s stuff.
 
Ostia Man said:
Hi,
this guy is selling me a 73 strat body with a warmoth neck, it also have the original bridge(not the saddles) and tuners (one is damaged).
but how can i be sure that the body is a 73?
is there any marks or something?
thanx!

Why do you care? A guitar built from parts is worth nothing as a collectible; that body is a piece of wood, nothing more. I hope you're getting it really cheap.
 
ermghoti said:
I have a counter-question: why would you buy it? '73 is the heart of the post CBS dark ages, the neck is far and away the most important part of the guitar, followed by the pickups. Unless it is way cheaper that a new USA Standard, you're paying for a lot of nothing, IMO. I'd buy a Closet Classic or Relic (any of which will be superb guitars, and carry a warranty) before I ponied up for '70s stuff.

Amen to that, I had several CBS strats and one Tele, they were nothing special.
 
Well, if you have a gun or something you could point it at him and ask politely ;)
 
the guy is selling it fo $100(whith 3 Dimarzio pickups) so for that price its a good deal
 
I spoke with the guy yesterday and the guitar is 79 not 73
sorry
 
Same difference. If it plays good and sounds good, that's a fine price, regardless of the body.
 
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