Trying to date and price a 75 (?) strat

[jcw]

Hi all,

Many moons ago, I sold my 1975 hardtail strat to a friend, with the condition that when he stopped playing it, he'd sell it back. Well, it's back in my possession now, and I'd like to sell it.

When I purchased it back in the mid '90s, it was sold from a reputable store which dated it as a '75. Now that I know a little more about dating guitars, the serial number on the neck plate checks out, and the numbers on the grey-bottomed pickups check out, but I can't make out the faded red numbers on the end of the neck. Is there anything else I can look for to help me confirm the age of the guitar?

Also, I know back when I first got the guitar, the 3-way pickup selector was changed to a 5-way (and I no longer have the original). I think the pickguard was changed back then, too.

With these changes, how much should I be able to expect to ask for the guitar?

[Tonemonkey]

Put some pics up, Guitar, Pocket, end of Neck, routs, Ser No. Pot numbers are a good guide too.

[jcw]

Sorry it took a while to reply! Here are some pics:



Serial number: 661929


Neck pickup:


Middle pickup:


Bridge pickup:


Neck pocket:


End of neck (ink's all faded):


Volume pot:


Tone pot (I think this was changed..)


Headstock:


Body:


Thanks in advance for any help!!

Jason

[MahoganyMan11]

Dinner and a movie is a good way to date a guitar. lol, there should be a log on fender or a strat site that says the time frames. ive used them myself before. they can be hard to find. sorry i cant be more help

[jipp]

one year off it be my birthday. hard tail is a plus in my book ( id think most would want wammy tho so that may bring the price down). dose it has the three bolt neck plate, my guess is yes. looking at the metal at the end of the neck. no matter what, its a cool guitar. good luck on selling her. looks like she has lots of life left in her.
chris.

[Tonemonkey]

Vol pot is 5th week of '74

this site is a great resource

[jcw]

Thanks Tonemonkey! So my strat had leftover pots from '74.. :)

I was (and still am) planning to sell this strat, but then I plugged it in and played it and compared it to the partscasters I'd put together (one with Fat 50's and one with CS 54 pickups), and one thing I noticed right away was the real deal '75 strat had a much more airy and glassy tone. Might be due to the lighter strings (I use 11's, my friend restrung it with what felt like 10's), but man... I told my wife I wasn't expecting to hear such a difference in tone, but then I guess there's a reason people pay what they pay for the older guitars. The strats I'd put together had a fatter sound, which I do like, but when I play the '75, I think I hear what a strat is supposed to sound like.

[jcw]

And here's Blackie with the new siblings that have arrived while Blackie was gone:


The siblings playing Hungry Hungry Hippo:

[fezz parka]

The another number under the solder. Looks like 51.

[SamClemons]

If I was not hard up for money, I would keep it.

[Tonemonkey]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

The another number under the solder. Looks like 51.

I think you're right - 51st week of '74.

[jcw]

I've listed this up for sale on Craigslist. Contact me if interested - I'll consider shipping and paypal for forum members.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/msg/2926022620.html

[Jvm210Guy]

I should just sell my lp and buy it off ya, super sweet guit!!!!