Strat hard Case Query?

[dyker124]

Hi All,

Back in 1979 I purchased a new USA Standard Stratocaster from the biggest double-fronted music shop in the city. When I asked about a hard case, the guy in the shop said that they didn't stock Fender cases because they were too expensive and nobody will buy them. However they did stock 'copy' cases so I bought one of those.

In 2012 I purchased a new USA Standard Stratocaster. This time, included with the guitar came with a black rectangular hard case with the Fender logo embossed on it.

This has got me to thinking, that maybe back in 1979 I ought to have had one included then too, but was conned.

Does anyone have any idea if Fender have always included a hard case with their USA Stratocasters or only supplied them in certain periods of their history?

Thanks.
Roger

[StuartD]

Hi

I ran my own music store in 1979 and Fender did not include cases. They were very expensive at that time. Later they increased the cost of the guitar to include a case but back then it was very different.

Hope this helps

Regards

Stuart

[dyker124]

Hi Stuart,

Thank you so much for that. Perhaps I was not conned back then as I thought I was and the guy was telling the truth. That makes me feel a lot better as the shop had a very good reputation at the time.

Kind regards
Roger

[RUSSET]

About 10 years ago, I bought a USA Standard Strat from 'biggest double-fronted music shop in the city' (Brum ?). At the time I got it for £600, but was never offered a hardcase. I didn't think about it at the time, but have since wondered if they were supposed to come with a hardcase. I have since, sold that guitar. Last year I bought a new USA Standard Strat & it came with that excellent Fender vinyl hardcase, lead, cloth, strap etc., etc. They even gave me another strap for free & nocked £50 off their advertised price, so the store has definitely upped it's game in looking after the customer. I pop in regularly, even just for a chat with the staff. I guess the competition from the internet has made many music stores much more considerate of their potential customers.

[dyker124]

Hi Tony,

I too bought a Standard USA Stratocaster in 2012 and that too came with a super Fender case, strap, and lead with very good service. That was in Birmingham too.

The big shop in Birmingham in the 70's was Jack Woodroffe's. Initially in the sixties they were in John Bright Street and later in the 70's moved to Dale End. I have found out that there were periods years ago when Fender did not supply cases with their guitars. So I was not conned (as I thought I was) after all.

Roger

[RUSSET]

Hi Roger,
Nice to talk to another member from the West Mids. I also bought a nice little PRS SE 'Soapbar' pickup model from that little store behind the shops on Shirley High Street about 8 years ago. It was a bargain price at just over £200 at the time, & it's so good, I still have it.
Yes, I remember Jack Woodroffes very well from the early '60s. I remember it was very difficult for them to allow us spotty kids to even touch the Fender Strats. They cost 160gns at the time ! I had to settle for a second hand Hofner V3 solid for about £35.
There was also that big store at the start of Broad Street, next to the Registry Office, which was the first one in which I saw a Fiesta Red Strat (Rosewood board) like Hank's. I stared at it for ages.

Best Wishes, Tony.

[dyker124]

Hi Tony,

Fancy that. You must have frequented the same shops as I did. There was also another small guitar shop in Cannon Street called Kay Westworths. I used to occasionally look in there too. I remember going in Jack Woodroffes in Bright Street every Saturday morning. There was a guy in there who sold/demonstrated the guitars named Alf Brough (I think his name was) I remember fancying a really budget guitar and asking him to demo it for me. He then played the Harry Lime Theme in chords. Absolutely brilliant. Great salesman. He could make an orange box sing. You are right, a Stratocaster was about 160gns and out of my league. I settled for a Gibson Les Paul Junior (T/V Model). It was £105 because it was shop-soiled. Standing in the window had caused the yellow finish to fade a little. I had it on HP having traded in my Burns Trisonic (which was also on HP). My band also had a Watkins CopyCat which we bought from there. I used to ogle every week at the Binson Echorec Baby they had on the shelf but the price was on another planet. Happy days.

Best wishes
Roger

[neil2726]

I started buying guitars from the early 60s - a Futurama 11 Deluxe, a Harmony, a Baldwin Marvin, a Gibson 335, and a Telecaster. Non of these came with a factory case and I had to buy one as a separate item! My first guitar with a factory fitted case was my Ovation Glen Campbell. Of course my Burns Marvins all came with a great case. It is good to see that today the top range guitars do come with one - never trust a gig bag!

[RUSSET]

Hi Roger,
Yes, I can remember paying about two bob a week for my Hofner from Woodroffes on the HP agreement. I do remember Kay Westworths, & also the Drum shop at the bottom of Snow Hill. Then there was Jones & Crossland on Smallbrook Ringway, where I got my White Burns Vista Sonic in around 1964. There was a tiny store near the bottom of Hurst Street, behind the Albany Hotel, & of course Ringway Music on Moor Street, run by Pete Oliver at the time.
I believe the big store on Broad Street was 'George Clay's'.

Tony.

[dyker124]

Hi Neil,

I remember those guitars very well. I would have died for a Futurama or a Harmony. I loved those guitars and nearly did a swop for a harmony once. Great times.

Kind regards
Roger