Early 80’s “Dan Smith” Strats

Duppy03

I’ve started lusting after 70’s Strats, but I appreciate the later more affordable ones are very hit and miss, mostly miss by the sounds of it.

So i’ve Just started looking into the ‘82 Dan Smith Strats, at least they still have the nice big decal and ‘F’ tuners

Any owners out there? Any experienced opinions on them?

fretfinder

I had one a while ago and it was lightweight and sounded great, but the neck was as slim as, and the nut felt narrow, so it was like holding a pencil rather than a guitar neck! Maybe they vary though.

richardhomer

They are the last ‘classic’ Fullerton built Strats - so of historical significance - and very much an endeavour to rebuild Fender’s reputation.

That said - they still tend to be on the heavy side - and though their contouring is better than the last three-bolt models - it’s still ‘wrong’.

I wouldn't pay ‘daft’ money for when, when a used CS Strat is likely to be a better guitar in almost every way.

ICBM

I’ve never understood why they were that valuable. They’re really nothing more than a reshaped late-CBS Strat. It’s true that they have a four-bolt neck, improved contouring and a (wrongly shaped) small headstock, but everything else is the same as the preceding 1981 version.

fretfinder

Here’s an example of a particularly overpriced one! 

https://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/fender_1982_usa_stratocaster_and_dan_smith_eraand_with_kinsman_case_2nd_hand-yfender68399/

ICBM

That’s a lot less overpriced than I was expecting, and actually less than I seem to remember what was being asked for them 10-15 years ago.

richardhomer

ICBM said:

That’s a lot less overpriced than I was expecting, and actually less than I seem to remember what was being asked for them 10-15 years ago.

There was a big London dealer - the name of which escapes me - who bought all the last ones from Arbiters and sold them as ‘sealed box, once in a life-time, collector opportunities’ for £2999 a pop.

I wonder how many people who bought one have seen a return on their investment?

SNAKEBITE

Who was "Dan Smith"?

I was expecting a S-type guitar by another manufacturer.

guitars4you

There was a big buzz at the time as we had just come out of the 70's period and a serious deterioration in what we all expected a good USA Strat to be - The Dan Smith 82 models were an upgrade on that and a sign of improvement required - However moving on a few more decades and they are over hyped - fine if you can acquire one for less than £1500, better still £1200 but otherwise I'd go find something else

guitars4you

richardhomer said:

ICBM said:

That’s a lot less overpriced than I was expecting, and actually less than I seem to remember what was being asked for them 10-15 years ago.

There was a big London dealer - the name of which escapes me - who bought all the last ones from Arbiters and sold them as ‘sealed box, once in a life-time, collector opportunities’ for £2999 a pop.

I wonder how many people who bought one have seen a return on their investment?

Soho Sound House - Which was Jonny Arbiter's business - Yes Ivor Arbiter's son - so a family tie in/connection

richardhomer

guitars4you said:

richardhomer said:
There was a big London dealer - the name of which escapes me - who bought all the last ones from Arbiters and sold them as ‘sealed box, once in a life-time, collector opportunities’ for £2999 a pop.

I wonder how many people who bought one have seen a return on their investment?

Soho Sound House - Which was Jonny Arbiter's business - Yes Ivor Arbiter's son - so a family tie in/connection

Ah - wasn’t aware of the connection!

guitars4you

SNAKEBITE said:

Who was "Dan Smith"?

I was expecting a S-type guitar by another manufacturer.

Worked earlier for Yamaha and was brought into the new Fender management team with Bill Schulz, to improve the brand/models, manufacturing etc - His son is Dan Smith, now a Master Builder within the Custom Shop Team

The 82 Dan Smith Strat was never called a 'Dan Smith' model - just a nick name it later acquired - It only had around a 15/18 month shelf live before it was dropped in favour of the Strat Standard and the Strat Elite - This was the first time Fender ever listed the Strat model with another tag - Standard, Elite etc - The Standard had 2 controls, instead of 3, with the jack socket now moved onto the scratchplate

Dan Smith was partly responsible for the Vintage Replica range from both the USA and the early JV Squier models

All in all an improvement on the late 70's models and indeed  1980/81 models - but the best was yet to come

guitars4you

fretfinder said:

I had one a while ago and it was lightweight and sounded great, but the neck was as slim as, and the nut felt narrow, so it was like holding a pencil rather than a guitar neck! Maybe they vary though.

agree - something funny/unusual in the neck profile and nut width

lovestrat74

fretfinder said:

Here’s an example of a particularly overpriced one! 

https://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/fender_1982_usa_stratocaster_and_dan_smith_eraand_with_kinsman_case_2nd_hand-yfender68399/

I am usually surprised at how well Richtone price their seconhand stuff. Their "used" appear on ebay for very competitive prices imo

ICBM

guitars4you said:

fretfinder said:

I had one a while ago and it was lightweight and sounded great, but the neck was as slim as, and the nut felt narrow, so it was like holding a pencil rather than a guitar neck! Maybe they vary though.

agree - something funny/unusual in the neck profile and nut width

All the ones I've played have had very skinny, usually slightly v-shaped necks. This was carried over into the first USA Standards (the 2-control one with the Freeflyte trem) as well. I've seen a few of these re-bodied with a normal Strat body - not always Fender - and at least one described as a 'Dan Smith', whether by ignorance or deceit, I don't know...

guitars4you

lovestrat74 said:

fretfinder said:

Here’s an example of a particularly overpriced one! 

https://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/fender_1982_usa_stratocaster_and_dan_smith_eraand_with_kinsman_case_2nd_hand-yfender68399/

I am usually surprised at how well Richtone price their seconhand stuff. Their "used" appear on ebay for very competitive prices imo

the last 2/3 I've seen at Gardiner Houlgate Auction have fetched north of £1200 - so with fees then not to far away from that price

With late 70's Fender Strats selling for well over 1K with a trem, then I don't think it is to bad - £1200/1500 depending on case/condition/trem is about right in todays market

Gassage

One of the things that hasn't assisted, the RI 57 uplifts from the DG fans. Personally, I hate Dan Smith necks- as Mark said, much too thin.

Duppy03

I too had seen the ‘79 and ‘82 Strats on Richer Sounds and thought they were reasonably priced. I love the look of the ‘79 and feel the pull of the ‘82 as it’s in my favourite combo of sunburst with a Rosewood board, plus the history of it all ape all’s too.

BUT... i’m sticking to my principles and not buying anything I haven’t tried out first. I’ve made the mistake a few times in the past.

If I was closer to Sheffield I could see myself walking out with one of them unless they were both dogs.

richardhomer

If you want to scratch the itch, go to the next guitar show near you - there are invariably some late 70s Strats for sale at them.

Play them - then try an American Vintage reissue, a CS, a JV series Squier, etc. You can pretty much guarantee - if you judge purely on merit - that any of the latter three will be better. 

DaiCapp

... and don't get sucked into the 1983 hardbacks with one tone control and scratchplate mounted jack socket being Dan Smiths. I've seen a few advertised as such and priced accordingly. I have one and I love it but Dan Smiths they ain't - to say they're hit and miss is being kind at best and value wise, they're probably less than £500...

Modellista

I had one - although it was a bit of a mongrel with a later neck (so no big decal) and Dan Smith body.  It had the X1 pickup in the bridge.  Played ok, sounded ok, weighed a tonne for a Strat, looked nothing special.  Not a patch on my Bacchus.