Battered, but plays well (Vintage Strat Content).

HarrySeven

Someone I know has pulled this from a very long sleep in a wardrobe.

It's pretty battered, as you can see...plays really well though, despite being in dire need of a refret.

They've owned it for 30-odd years, but it's spent a long time tucked away.

When purchased, it was some non-original colour, which they stripped. At least they didn't add a Floyd or Humbuckers...

They reckon that the splits in the body have been that way for ages.

When I saw it, I didn't have time to whip the neck off and take a look in the pocket, etc.

No S-prefix serial on the headstock, so before, what? '76-ish?

tony99

HarrySeven said:

No S-prefix on the headstock, 

Fender Tratocaster?

Kittyfrisk

^  You having the fixed price mexican menu or a la carte USA sir? 

Bridgehouse

It’s like that classic Japanese movie - “One of our knobs is missing”

John_P

HarrySeven said:

Someone I know has pulled this from a very long sleep in a wardrobe.

It's pretty battered, as you can see...plays really well though, despite being in dire need of a refret.

They've owned it for 30-odd years, but it's spent a long time tucked away.

When purchased, it was some non-original colour, which they stripped. At least they didn't add a Floyd or Humbuckers...

They reckon that the splits in the body have been that way for ages.

When I saw it, I didn't have time to whip the neck off and take a look in the pocket, etc.

No S-prefix serial on the headstock, so before, what? '76-ish?

Yes - depending whether the pickups and plates are original it looks like a 75.   
Hard to tell in the pics but staggered pike pieces would be 73/74 and flat pole pieces 75 on and black pickguards cane in around 75.   

Bridgehouse

John_P said:

staggered pike pieces 

Don’t tell him, Harry...

Neil

A nice wardrobe find Harry!

I love the '70's natural look even though it has been stripped.

Re the stripping, perhaps somebody dropped the body in an acid bath (very common for pine doors in the '70's) or used some harsh chemicals that affected the glue and caused the body joints to come apart? 

ICBM

HarrySeven said:

No S-prefix serial on the headstock, so before, what? '76-ish?

But no number on the neckplate either, so it's a put-together. You'll need to take it apart to see if there are any dates anywhere, but the best you can say at the moment is that the neck is pre-'77 and the neckplate is later.

Bridge is non-original, and obviously either the pickguard or the pickup covers aren't... or both.

stonevibe

I remember laughing in the '80s at these '70s Fender guitars and making jokes about "How one day people would consider them vintage and collectable".

Should have bought more of them at £200 a pop and stuck them in my wardrobe!

ICBM

stonevibe said:

I remember laughing in the '80s at these '70s Fender guitars and making jokes about "How one day people would consider them vintage and collectable".

You have more foresight than I did if you even thought of it as a possibility!

Funkfingers

My mate’s 1976/77 Stratocaster has the serial number on the headstock. The 76 prefix is part of the decal. The other digits are applied before the later clear coat is sprayed.

For 1975, the serial number ought to be stamped into the neck anchor plate, between the two screws.

The bridge saddles are not original but you probably already knew that.

HarrySeven

Funkfingers said:

My mate’s 1976/77 Stratocaster has the serial number on the headstock. The 76 prefix is part of the decal. The other digits are applied before the later clear coat is sprayed.

For 1975, the serial number ought to be stamped into the neck anchor plate, between the two screws.

The bridge saddles are not original but you probably already knew that.

Yup, it’s a bit of a dog’s dinner.

Funkfingers

Possibly, the halves of two different dinners, fastened together?

guitars4you

Funkfingers said:

My mate’s 1976/77 Stratocaster has the serial number on the headstock. The 76 prefix is part of the decal. The other digits are applied before the later clear coat is sprayed.

For 1975, the serial number ought to be stamped into the neck anchor plate, between the two screws.

The bridge saddles are not original but you probably already knew that.

agree - just looking at same pics + info ref serial numbers

Any date info on the neck pocket, possibly the pick-ups if any, + butt end of the neck will be useful

merciful-evans

Regardless of abuse/damage, it looks terrific

HarrySeven

I'm going to pop back next week with screwdrivers.

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

The bridge saddles are not original but you probably already knew that.

The whole bridge is not, unless the body is a lot earlier, since it has three bolts holding the plate to the block. Mid-late 70s Fenders have a single-piece alloy casting - which is notorious for the arm thread stripping or seizing, so often replaced.

ESBlonde

Without having it in hand to properly assess, I'd suggest a fret dress rather than a refret. Those maple fingerboards can splinter and delaminate the finish if the refret is not done by a very competent luthier.

Does it still have the three way switch? The body contour suggests 70s and the neck socket (from the photos), suggests it's not the second half of the 70s where they got a bit ...erm...loose.

Edit.

I can't believe anyone hasn't asked how much it weighs?

HarrySeven

Weight-wise, it's actually OK...

Switch is 5-way.

NPP

I have its mate - old thread here: http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/25539/70s-strat-makeover-project-now-finished#latest

guitars4you

You can make some of these projects into a good players grade Strat and at sensible prices and end up with a decent player and plenty of mojo/character - especially once you get any date info of the body/neck