Early 80’s “Dan Smith” Strats

guitars4you

Also around the same era, Fender brought in Paul Riviera to revamp the amp line - Including the highly rated Super Champ + a very good Princeton Reverb + Concert model

stonevibe

guitars4you said:

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

Advertised for years and not sure who bought them, I worked for Jonny for a few years and always meant to ask him, but never did.

fretfinder

stonevibe said:

guitars4you said:

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

Advertised for years and not sure who bought them, I worked for Jonny for a few years and always meant to ask him, but never did.

I went into Soho Soundbouse at the time and tried one. The price was nothing remotely like £2,999 - I’m fairly sure they were £550, £650 or £750 depending on colour and whether hardtail or trem. Don’t ask me to remember what I did last week, but I can remember those prices pretty clearly, even though it was 25-30 years ago. They all sold eventually as I used to pop in there reasonably regularly and eventually there were no more of them for sale.

marantz1300

I had one, it was nothing special.

The JV Squier I had was better in every way.

ICBM

DaiCapp said:

... 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...

Exactly - that's what I meant about the necks from these being re-bodied and sold as 'Dan Smiths' as well. Luckily they're easy to tell apart even if the body is replaced because they have the modern cast machineheads with larger collars rather than the 'F back' ones, as well as a different logo and truss rod.

lovestrat74

There's one on gtree for 1100 https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/1982-usa-fender-dan-smith-stratocaster-with-orginal-hard-case/1295419341

Duppy03

All great info.

I’ll put my hands up and admit I know nothing about JV Squiers other than they’re rather coveted and the only Squiers that demand a price tag as high as their fellow Fenders.

So what’s the story?