83 Fender Strat trade. Is it worth it ?

[jebbo]

I keep trying to upload a link to the CL ad, but it keeps saying invalid file. Anyway, I found an all original 83 Fender Strat with the 2 knobs (master volume, and master tone), and I'm cosidering trading my Gibson SG for it. I also plan to throw in my vintage 1960 St.George "The Vibe" tube amp. I have the SG for sale at $760 and the amp is worth about $300. The guy has the Strat listed for $1250 so that is a pretty close price. The one thing that turns me away from the Strat is the fact that the jack is attached to the pick guard. As I said, the Strat is completely original and the guy said they normaly sell from $1500 to $1800. I've read mixed things about these Strats. Some people say they're great, and others say they're awful. Is it a good trade ?

BTW, if anybody can help me to post the link it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Delta63]

Originally Posted by jebbo

I keep trying to upload a link to the CL ad, but it keeps saying invalid file. Anyway, I found an all original 83 Fender Strat with the 2 knobs (master volume, and master tone), and I'm cosidering trading my Gibson SG for it. I also plan to throw in my vintage 1960 St.George "The Vibe" tube amp. I have the SG for sale at $760 and the amp is worth about $300. The guy has the Strat listed for $1250 so that is a pretty close price. The one thing that turns me away from the Strat is the fact that the jack is attached to the pick guard. As I said, the Strat is completely original and the guy said they normaly sell from $1500 to $1800. I've read mixed things about these Strats. Some people say they're great, and others say they're awful. Is it a good trade ?

BTW, if anybody can help me to post the link it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You are aware of thye differences compared to the standard strat right? The 83 had two knobs no recessed input, a very thin neck, those weird vibrato bridges etc...

Those were meant to be reissues of the CBS era.

I don't exactly think its a great deal, but if it will float your boat...

heres one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-Fender-...#ht_500wt_1203

at 1000 looks like its not getting sold.

[Jakedog]

Some poeple are claiming they are going for 1500-2000 dollars. I see lots of listings for those prices, but no sales at anywhere close to that money. I dunno. These arer the famed "Smith" strats, and personally, I've never thought they lived up to the hype. I think a great many people have paid too much for them because a few people saw an opportunity to sell some snake oil and hyped the hell out of them.

I'm not saying they are bad guitars. They are weird guitars, but not bad guitars. I'm just saying that if you're going to blow $1200 on a strat, you can do better IMO. Much better.

[tele12]

I did some quick searching. I found 3 on GC Vintage, 2 for $799, 1 for $899.
There is 1 on Ebay now, $747 buy-it-now. A siena Sunburst in completed listing went for $1300, a blonde $1000.
His price to me seems a little high.

[JoeNeri]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

Some poeple are claiming they are going for 1500-2000 dollars. I see lots of listings for those prices, but no sales at anywhere close to that money. I dunno. These arer the famed "Smith" strats, and personally, I've never thought they lived up to the hype. I think a great many people have paid too much for them because a few people saw an opportunity to sell some snake oil and hyped the hell out of them.

I'm not saying they are bad guitars. They are weird guitars, but not bad guitars. I'm just saying that if you're going to blow $1200 on a strat, you can do better IMO. Much better.

+1 - listen to Jakedog. '83 Strats are not worth $1200 - closer to $400 IMO. They were basically a Fender mistake.

[jebbo]

I like how it's different. I'm a big fan of the two knobs instead of three. I might change out the bridge though, it is very weird.(I'd keep the original just incase I decide to sell it later on .) I probably could do better, but I've had the SG FS/ST for a long time now. The guy said he has other guitars FS/FT, maybe I'll get there and end up trading for a different guitar. I've seen guys use the 83 strats as hardtails because the bridge is so weird. I could probably do that.

[Delta63]

Originally Posted by jebbo

I like how it's different. I'm a big fan of the two knobs instead of three. I might change out the bridge though, it is very weird.(I'd keep the original just incase I decide to sell it later on .) I probably could do better, but I've had the SG FS/ST for a long time now. The guy said he has other guitars FS/FT, maybe I'll get there and end up trading for a different guitar. I've seen guys use the 83 strats as hardtails because the bridge is so weird. I could probably do that.

Just get a custom pickguard:

http://www.warmoth.com/pickguard/StratPickguard.aspx

[adjason]

I would think that it would be worth about $700-$800 in great shape. I like those guitars but one was my first good guitar and I played it the most of any guitar I have ever owned. I never used the trem arm and used mine as a hardtail. Good guitar but I would not think they are "better" than a newer strat that could be had for under $1000.

[tonetime]

They're great guitars and unique. They are not a traditional Strat, but the pickups sound great, and the trem always worked for me. The neck profiles vary from a C to a D. But only the very MINT ones go for above $1000. I wouldn't do more than $650.

[jebbo]

I ended up not going for it. It was a nice guitar, but the guy already had an SG. He liked mine, but I think he was more fond of his. I think the Strat was a little overpriced anyway. I found aother guy though. He builds partscasters. I was thinking of a strat or I could get a tele. He said he could build a guitar to my specs and I give him the SG. I realy like those 52 avri teles. I could get one of those built, or I could get an EC blackie replica. It's so hard to choose. I'm going to see him this weekend so he can try the SG, and I'm sure we'll figure something out.

[torresfan]

Reading a lot of Fender books, when getting to this Guitar, it's widely believe that this was the lower depths that the Strat fell to before Bill Schultz came riding in on his white horse to rescue Fender. After these diabolical Guitars, manufacturing was moved to Japan while Fender could get things moved to a new Facility in the US.

[trev333]

more hands/ears than mine have played/listened my 83's... on the same day/amp settings as a few '87's, 90's and 00's US strats...
and all agreed these sounded the best ... the hardtail is a killer guitar,,,the RW strat a tone monster,,,

the last of the Fullertons... they had a pile of good bodies /necks to put together before the factory sale.. the choice of the stock that was going to Corona...
do you think those last Fullerton workers would have put together crap Fenders to be remembered by?... Leo's old staffers...

I reckon many bits were cherry picked with the better stuff available before the transfer....

no kidding the PU's are great, the necks are great. they aren't all blade thin,.. 30 yr old wood is good... finish is as good as I've seen on your average US strat....

under a grand would be a good score.... but what do I know?..

[Texsunburst59]

I've heard some very good sounding 2 knobs,but I would not pay more the $550-600 for one. I found one in a pawnshop,but I passed, cause I think the bridge was a HUGE mistake. I think a lot of guys bought these guitars during the 80's Fender Dan Smith craze, and got stuck paying to much for these 2 knobers and are trying to unload them now.

[jtees4]

Terrible trade for you $$ wise. Don't do it.