Fender / Stratocaster (#1717) / 1978 / Blond / Guitar
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This rare late 1970s 'blond' Stratocaster weighs 9.70 lbs. One-piece ash body with a wonderful see-thru blond finish. One-piece maple neck with a nut width of 1 5/8 inches, a scale length of 25 1/2 inches and a medium-to-thick profile. Veneer rosewood fretboard with 21 original medium frets and pearloid dot position markers. Large headstock with "Fender" logo in black with gold trim, "SERIAL NUMBER S 894584" in black beneath, "STRATOCASTER" in black beside it, and "MADE IN USA" in black beneath. Individual Fender "F" closed-back tuners with octagonal metal buttons. Two "butterfly" string trees with nylon spacers. Three-bolt neck plate with the Fender backward "F" logo and small hole for allan key neck tilt adjustment. Three black plastic Stratocaster pickups with balanced outputs of 5.58k, 5.60k, and 5.80k. Two of the pickups are stamped in black on the underside "170778" and the third one is stamped "780816". Three-layer black over white plastic pickguard. Three controls (one volume, two tone) plus five-way selector switch, all on pickguard. The potentiometers are stamped "137 7745" (CTS, November 1977). Black plastic ribbed-sided knobs with white lettering. Fender "Synchronized Tremolo" combined bridge/tailpiece. The end of the neck is dated "0901X0785" (Stratocaster; custom color; rosewood board, February, 1978). The neck pocket has two circular ink stamps; the back of the neck has a similar circular stamp and also the number "1082" stamped in black. The neck pickup cavity has a large "2" in black marker and the middle pickup cavity has another similar circular stamp and "0285" stamped in black. There is also a small printed label with the matching serial number on the back of the pickguard. This guitar is in near mint (9.25++) condition. The only reason that we do not give it a 9.50 is that there are a couple of really tiny surface marks on the body and a miniscule amount of fretwear which is commensurate with this guitar having spent most of its life 'under-the-bed' in its case. Complete with the original termolo arm with black plastic tip and the original chrome bridge cover. Also included is the original Fender leather guitar strap, case keys, allan keys, spare tremolo springs in original envelope, original guitar cord, original owners manual with matching serial number various other hang tags and case candy. The best example we have ever seen. Housed in the original Fender black hardshell case with black plush lining (9.25).
"The Stratocaster was launched during 1954 [and was priced at $249.50, or $229.50 without vibrato]. Samples around May and June were followed by the first proper production run in October. The new Fender guitar was the first solidbody electric with three pickups [Gibson's electric-acoustic ES-5, introduced five years earlier, had been the overall first], meaning a range of fresh tones, and featured a new-design vibrato unit that provided pitch-bending and shimmering chordal effects. The new vibrato -- erroneously called a 'tremolo' by Fender and many others since -- was troublesome in development. But the result was the first self-contained vibrato unit: an adjustable bridge, a tailpiece, and a vibrato system, all in one. It wasn't a simple mechanism for the time, but a reasonably effective one...Fender's new vibrato had six bridge-pieces, one for each string, adjustable for height and length, which meant that the feel of the strings could be personalized and the guitar made more in tune with itself...The Strat came with a radically sleek, solid body, based on the outline of the 1951 Fender Precision Bass. Some musicians had complained to Fender that the sharp edge of the Telecaster's body was uncomfortable...so the Strat's body was contoured for the player's comfort. Also, it was finished in a yellow-to-black sunburst finish. Even the jack socket mounting was new, recessed in a stylish plate on the body face...the Fender Stratocaster looked like no other guitar around [and in some ways seemed to owe more to the contemporary automobile design than traditional guitar forms], especially the flowing, sensual curves of that beautifully proportioned, timeless body. The Stratocaster's new-style pickguard complemented the lines perfectly, and the overall impression was of a guitar where all the components ideally suited one another. The Fender Stratocaster has since become the most popular, the most copied, the most desired, and very probably the most played solid electric guitar ever" (Tony Bacon, 50 Years of Fender, p. 18). (#1717)
Fretted Americana , USA 
We specialize in acquiring and offering the finest specimens of American vintage electric guitars with particular attention to those in their complete, original state. We are the only dealer to embrace a written code of ethics (in Terms & Conditions). We encourage you to read it.
HOW WE WORK
We want to inspire and win your trust and confidence. You don't want to have any negative surprises upon receipt of an instrument that you've invested yourself as well as your money into. Nor do you want any untoward surprises should you decide to sell it in the future.
To that end, every guitar that we offer is catalogued to a degree and depth of detail that is fast becoming the standard in the trade. When we declare an instrument to be completely original, it is. If it is not, we tell you exactly in what manner it has been altered.
We photograph each guitar at many angles to provide you with the broadest, clearest sense of its appearance. We will, upon request, provide you with images of all electronic components, inside and out.
Each guitar we acquire is skillfully and painstakingly dissected by David Brass, who is a trained luthier as well as a dealer and collector. All parts, no matter how small, are meticulously examined. We have an enviable reference library of wide breadth and scope that we refer to when necessary for crucial facts. The instrument is put under a black-light: original finish or refin? Even the most skillfully masked ding is uncovered. David then fastidiously reassembles the instrument. It is then cleaned with the finest products available for wood and metal.
An inspection certificate of authenticity signed by David is provided with every guitar you purchase.
We keep our inventory relatively small and highly select. We choose our guitars with extreme care so we can offer you the finest examples of the finest rare guitars in the world.
We are client focused to an extraordinary degree. If you expect or would like to be surprised by courteous, professional client service, we will pleased to accommodate that desire.
It is our fervent wish to establish a long-term relationship with you.
CODE OF ETHICS
We wish to establish an ongoing relationship with you based upon your trust in our knowledge and judgment.
To that end:
We meticulously inspect in detail every guitar that we offer. We check the finish, all of the electrical components, serial numbers, etc. With over thirty years of experience collecting and handling vintage guitars and our enormous reference library, we bring to bear all that is known about guitar manufacturers, models, and annual production.
We provide full, detailed descriptions and specs to each guitar.
We openly disclose any and all flaws we discover in writing. If the instrument is not completely “straight,” we will tell you so and why.
We endeavor to conduct ourselves to the highest standard of professional behavior.
We will deal fairly and ethically; no surprises, flim-flam, dubious business practices or shenanigans.
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We allow a full 48 hour honeymoon period when you buy a guitar from us. If you are not 100% satisfied with it we will refund the purchase price in full, less shipping, upon return of the guitar in the same condition as sold. Please call us before returning the instrument.
Please inspect your new guitar immediately upon receiving it. If any guitar we offer is found to be not as described, we will happily refund the full purchase price, less shipping, upon return of the guitar in the same condition as sold. Please call us before returning the instrument.
