I’m considering buying a pre-CBS 60’s Fender Stratocaster. The intention is it will be an investment that can be enjoyed and then given to my son on this 21st birthday in 18 years time, for him to either sell or keep.
So where can I get unbiased advice on buying something like this? The budget will be up to £15k. What level of instrument should I be aiming for? Are there any obvious things to look out for? Where is the best place to search?
There have been a few come up on this forum recently, but unfortunately I’m not knowledgable enough on this to make an informed decision. The prices also don’t seem to align as one that was all original was asking for £10k, whereas another refinished example with parts changed is only £2k less.
Comments
Are you looking for an investment or something to play for next 18 years? I’m no expect but I wouldn’t expect much return on 15k on vintage fender in 18 years time, for a number of reasons.
Every element of vintage guitars /parts described.
The bottom line is that nothing will help more than you doing your own homework and trying to become as familiar as possible with the ins and outs (quite literally) of pre CBS Fenders. This may take a bit of time but is worth it. Books, videos, talking are all helpful. If you're planning on buying a pre CBS Fender they are potentially the easiest guitars for people to have tampered with or to try and pass off as something they're not. Just be cautious but don't be put off as they are a joy and the right guitar can be found.
Very generally a refinish will halve the value of the guitar. This can be useful though if you think you are looking for a guitar you'd like to gig and play. This explains in part the pricing you mention above. The year is also important, some are more popular than others but they generally go up in price the older they are, therefore in general a '65 will be at the cheaper end and a '54 will be the most expensive. The jump can be quite considerable between years though.
On your budget I would also consider going to the States and bringing one back where your choice will be much wider. However, again you will have to really do your homework on the CITES side of things, especially where Brazilian rosewood fretboards are involved.
Obviously the vintage Strat is really for your benefit . Your son may not be interested, my three boys aren't, and who knows how the vintage guitar market will go?
Very speculative IMO.
less people playing, more guitar are on market, price goes down accordingly. I’m sure quite a few people disagree, but it’s just my take on it.
btw close friend of mine has two 61 strats and 63 Tele, and I’d like to get one myself, but price is to rich for me
I know a few people who went to the USA when it was 2-1 dollar pound.
Filled their boots with vintage gear.
If you're thinking investment then that's worth pondering.
The Harrison father and son team manage somehow.
To answer your question I go for the best one you can afford. Personally, I'd go for an original finish over a refin. I think they're easier to sell and it's easier to ensure that they haven't been tampered with generally.
Roll back 10 / 15 years and eBay was full of early to late seventies strats and teles, and a fair few sixties. Where have they all gone and what happens when these collectors, who hoovered them all up, drop off their perch?
Appreciate that young and middle aged people do use and want them but at a guess I'd say that 80% of these guitars are now being held by old folk in their collections as a nice addition to their isas :-)
And all the really bad early ones have been broken up or several put together to make 'really nice' ones.
15k should get you a very good guitar with excellent provenance in this day and age, although it's very hard to prove anything with Strats.
Just as an example, I bought my particular Strat in March 1982 from a local guitar teacher, who told me he'd bought it from a local farmer in around 1975.The farmer told him he'd bought it new in London complete with the Selmer case the UK imports came with. He also had it refinished, and the outer scratchplate and tuners replaced by John Birch in the early 1970s.
There ya go, that's my sales pitch.
Actually I sold it two years ago, and left it with Vintage & Rare in Bath to strip it and examine it. They found that every single detail of the guitar matched my story perfectly, but although my story happens to be true there is simply no way I could prove that all those parts weren't thrown together from spares last week and that I lied about the whole thing.
Treat every guitar with suspicion, and every guitar story as exactly that, a story.