Help with Vintage 1975 stratocaster (Frets too high?)

ICBM

deanbutler said:

Where on the body can you find out what the date is?

Nowhere, at this production period. You have to go by features only.

Slightly later, they started putting little stickers with the serial number on them (and on the underside of the pickguard, although this has been replaced anyway), but they often fall off after the glue has finally dried out.

The good news is that as long as the features are correct - and they do look to be - then you can't prove the body is *not* original to the neck either! My guess from the history of the mods on it is that it's an original neck and body, even if almost nothing else apart from the neckplate and jackplate are.

deanbutler

ICBM said:

deanbutler said:

Where on the body can you find out what the date is?

Nowhere, at this production period. You have to go by features only.

Slightly later, they started putting little stickers with the serial number on them (and on the underside of the pickguard, although this has been replaced anyway), but they often fall off after the glue has finally dried out.

The good news is that as long as the features are correct - and they do look to be - then you can't prove the body is *not* original to the neck either! My guess from the history of the mods on it is that it's an original neck and body, even if almost nothing else apart from the neckplate and jackplate are.

Was purchased from a guitar dealer with like 20 guitars for sale on ebay, so all seems good so far. Few
https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/cwh1?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

ICBM

Still need to see the stamp on the end of the neck really though, if you can.

The 'dealer' thing makes me worried now you've said that, if it was very cheap.

guitars4you

Regarding changing anything my view is to get it set-up first and play it for a few weeks to a) decide if you like the feel, playability etc and b) to see what its attributes are and what you feel you need to change - No use spending £200/300 etc on upgraded parts if you hate the well it feels/plays

I don't know how it is set-up at this stage and what adjustments are required to maximise the set-up - Not sure if it is fine as is, needs work, or indeed if you have the ability to do basic set ups yourself

Again not sure if any fret dress is required to achieve a better set-up - such issues will generally need to be on a bench to evaluate

other comments regarding neck/originality then I agree with above last few comments

p90fool

SteveRobinson said:

p90fool said:

I have a CBS rosewood neck bought brand new by me from Soho Soundhouse, who were the UK's biggest Fender dealer at that time;

http://i64.tinypic.com/21jty82.jpg

Wow, what year is it? I don't think I've ever seen such a sharp transition on a Fender Tele neck.

That is a bit of a trick of the light tbh, it's nowhere near that pronounced in fact. I was just illustrating that some CBS Fenders with rosewood boards have the side dots well into the maple.
It's from late 1981.

deanbutler

shefguitar said:

deanbutler said:

guitars4you said:

deanbutler said:

Hey guys I know this is not all original at all and would have been a lot more if was. This is the closest to a nice beaten up 70s I could get. Will get some more pics up.

nothing wrong with a non -original players grade guitar , so don't be 'embarrassed' by it - often with changes and a good set-up they can end up performing far better than a clean original example - so you still get the old mojo character but in many ways correct all the things Fender got wrong with that era

Thanks for this. I like your way of looking at it

You want to be sure you’ve got what you paid for though. Was the neck described as original? Have you taken it off to check the heel stamps?

Hey, I only just got it in post this morning. I will be taking it to my local guitar shop for a setup  on weekend and will get the chap to look at these bits as I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

deanbutler

shefguitar said:

deanbutler said:

guitars4you said:

deanbutler said:

Hey guys I know this is not all original at all and would have been a lot more if was. This is the closest to a nice beaten up 70s I could get. Will get some more pics up.

nothing wrong with a non -original players grade guitar , so don't be 'embarrassed' by it - often with changes and a good set-up they can end up performing far better than a clean original example - so you still get the old mojo character but in many ways correct all the things Fender got wrong with that era

Thanks for this. I like your way of looking at it

You want to be sure you’ve got what you paid for though. Was the neck described as original? Have you taken it off to check the heel stamps?

Hey, I only got it in the post this morning. Will be taking it to my local guitar shop this weekend to get it set up and get the chap to look at it as I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

deanbutler

shefguitar said:

deanbutler said:

guitars4you said:

deanbutler said:

Hey guys I know this is not all original at all and would have been a lot more if was. This is the closest to a nice beaten up 70s I could get. Will get some more pics up.

nothing wrong with a non -original players grade guitar , so don't be 'embarrassed' by it - often with changes and a good set-up they can end up performing far better than a clean original example - so you still get the old mojo character but in many ways correct all the things Fender got wrong with that era

Thanks for this. I like your way of looking at it

You want to be sure you’ve got what you paid for though. Was the neck described as original? Have you taken it off to check the heel stamps?

Hey, I only just got it in post this morning. I will be taking it to my local guitar shop for a setup  on weekend and will get the chap to look at these bits as I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

deanbutler

shefguitar said:

deanbutler said:

guitars4you said:

deanbutler said:

Hey guys I know this is not all original at all and would have been a lot more if was. This is the closest to a nice beaten up 70s I could get. Will get some more pics up.

nothing wrong with a non -original players grade guitar , so don't be 'embarrassed' by it - often with changes and a good set-up they can end up performing far better than a clean original example - so you still get the old mojo character but in many ways correct all the things Fender got wrong with that era

Thanks for this. I like your way of looking at it

You want to be sure you’ve got what you paid for though. Was the neck described as original? Have you taken it off to check the heel stamps?

Hey, I only got it in the post this morning. Will be taking it to my local guitar shop this weekend to get it set up and get the chap to look at it as I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

lovestrat74

Interesting thread! Explosive intro to FB - welcome aboard!!

Shipping a "vintage" guitar over from the States takes some balls!  I personally like the look of it - got a few stories to tell.

Any sepcific reason for a mid-70's Strat? You might have been able to get a late 70's one from the UK for a similar price ....

gusman2x

Awesome strat. I'd be getting the Floyd right back on it though. How fucking cool are 70s strats with floyds!

HarrySeven

Bridgehouse said:

HarrySeven said:

peteri said:

Massive, massive recommendation for Feline Guitars in Croydon, they've regretted 3 vintage guitars for me and each one has been superb.

What a fantastic idea - on your behalf, someone to take on board the angst and absolve you of all emotional negativity re. purchasing a guitar.

How long have Feline been offering a professional regretting service?

I wonder how much it would cost to take on your guitar regret??

It's beyond price.

peteri

lovestrat74 said:

Interesting thread! Explosive intro to FB - welcome aboard!!

Shipping a "vintage" guitar over from the States takes some balls!  I personally like the look of it - got a few stories to tell.

Any sepcific reason for a mid-70's Strat? You might have been able to get a late 70's one from the UK for a similar price ....

Agreed! How did you get treated on duty/customs charges?

deanbutler

peteri said:

lovestrat74 said:

Interesting thread! Explosive intro to FB - welcome aboard!!

Shipping a "vintage" guitar over from the States takes some balls!  I personally like the look of it - got a few stories to tell.

Any sepcific reason for a mid-70's Strat? You might have been able to get a late 70's one from the UK for a similar price ....

Agreed! How did you get treated on duty/customs charges?

Not a sausage to pay on duties. Was £220 for the shipping so that must have covered the lot.

TheBigDipper

OK, we all know that it's not "original" and as long as you didn't pay "original" prices. you've got the makings of a lovely guitar that will have a little bit of mojo a newer guitar might not yet have, and sound and play well. Good for you! 

deanbutler

TheBigDipper said:

OK, we all know that it's not "original" and as long as you didn't pay "original" prices. you've got the makings of a lovely guitar that will have a little bit of mojo a newer guitar might not yet have, and sound and play well. Good for you! 

Hey Thanks The Big Dipper nice way of putting it

Neil

ICBM said:

Still need to see the stamp on the end of the neck really though, if you can.

The 'dealer' thing makes me worried now you've said that, if it was very cheap.

Yes, dealers in vintage guitars aren't exactly known for their charity. 

Neil

deanbutler said:

peteri said:

lovestrat74 said:

Interesting thread! Explosive intro to FB - welcome aboard!!

Shipping a "vintage" guitar over from the States takes some balls!  I personally like the look of it - got a few stories to tell.

Any sepcific reason for a mid-70's Strat? You might have been able to get a late 70's one from the UK for a similar price ....

Agreed! How did you get treated on duty/customs charges?

Not a sausage to pay on duties. Was £220 for the shipping so that must have covered the lot.

I see that particular dealer ships via FedEx for around £177 which leaves around £43 for the VAT (pretty much the VAT on the shipping only) so unless the guitar was incredibly cheap I really hope you don't get a letter letter from FedEx asking for the VAT.

FedEx usually pay the VAT for you and bill you for it later to get stuff through faster. 

guitars4you

Neil said:

ICBM said:

Still need to see the stamp on the end of the neck really though, if you can.

The 'dealer' thing makes me worried now you've said that, if it was very cheap.

Yes, dealers in vintage guitars aren't exactly known for their charity. 

A dealer who supplies the  wrong info 'once' and you might put it down to lack of knowledge or an error, but when they do it  a number of times then that sets a trend for a well deserved dodgy reputation - But don't just put it down to dealers with misleading info, as many  times a private seller, either knowingly or unknowingly, can also be at fault 

gusman2x

Neil said:

 

I see that particular dealer ships via FedEx for around £177 which leaves around £43 for the VAT (pretty much the VAT on the shipping only) so unless the guitar was incredibly cheap I really hope you don't get a letter letter from FedEx asking for the VAT.

FedEx usually pay the VAT for you and bill you for it later to get stuff through faster. 

Yes, if it was delivered FedEx, I'm afraid you can expect a customs bill in 2-4 weeks. I though my custom build from the states had gotten through, and spent all my money in celebration (what a dick). Obviously the ending involved a big bill coming through the letter box, and much sobbing about the resultant beans on toast meals.