1970s black Strat

[drakula63]

Obviously I know little if anything about guitars!

Having said that, have just been in the Music Inn in Nottingham and they have a beautiful 'pre-owned' Fender Stratocaster in black with a big 1970s headstock, rosewood neck and Floyd Rose tremolo. Only £399. Surely that's got to be a bargain?

If I was a guitarist, I'd buy it. I'm tempted even though I only know one chord.


Like the front cover of 'Another String of Hits' come to life right before my eyes. Sort of.

Just thought I'd mention it.

[JimN]

If it's a genuine USA 1970s Strat, then that is a bargain.

Opinions are divided on the Fender production of that period (I had a new 1975 Strat and was bitterly disappointed with it), but even so, they are worth good money on the used market. It could easily fetch £1500.

The fact that it's at the price you mention suggests that it is a MIJ or MIM example from the 2000s rather than an American Fender.

[alanbakewell]

Does it look like this Chris?

Sorry for the awful photo, you have to keep the pixels down or it won't load.

Cheers, Alan.

20150710_174351.jpg

(774.02 KiB) Downloaded 7842 times

[drakula63]

Well, yes, but the fretboard is dark rosewood and the tremolo and other hardware is silver. It definitely has the Fender Stratocaster logo on the headstock.

[alanbakewell]

This is the one I was thinking of. I've got the LP somewhere. I'll have to dig it out.

Hank's 70's Stratocaster had gold hardware and a maple neck.

Hankblackstrat.jpg

(48.88 KiB) Downloaded 7637 times

[drakula63]

It's a beautiful looking guitar. Personally, I like the 'weight' that the bigger headstock gives it.

Given all that has been said, then perhaps the one in the local music shop is a '1970s-style' replica, rather than the real deal. Certainly I associated the Floyd Rose tremolo system with the 1980s and 1990s.

The left-handed Strat looks amazing - reverse the pic and you have Hank's guitar to a tee. Has anyone got a customised version of the Black Strat with its Humbuckers - as used on the Paris Olympia album / Eurovision and on TV in 1976...???

[JimN]

It's a beautiful looking guitar. Personally, I like the 'weight' that the bigger headstock gives it.

Given all that has been said, then perhaps the one in the local music shop is a '1970s-style' replica, rather than the real deal. Certainly I associated the Floyd Rose tremolo system with the 1980s and 1990s.

The left-handed Strat looks amazing - reverse the pic and you have Hank's guitar to a tee. Has anyone got a customised version of the Black Strat with its Humbuckers - as used on the Paris Olympia album / Eurovision and on TV in 1976...???

The Fender WRHB (the eventual bridge unit on Hank's black Strat) was actually difficult to find at the time - and is now effectively impossible to source.

However, a few pickup makers are prepared to convert a modern reissue to original spec, at a price. The modern reissue is constructed completely differently from the Seth Lover-designed 1970s originals, which had threaded polepiece magnets, quite unlike the arrangements on Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, etc, pickups.

[Uncle Fiesta]

Or you could try these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281633863972? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[alanbakewell]

If the looks weren't important.

I've never heard of these Steve. have you tried them?

[Simon Underwood]

These look like the cat's pyjamas, mind you, at that price they should be!

http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/custo ... akYrKRVhBc

Simon