Vintage Fender Stratocaster – USA 1970

From Guitar.com: 

‘There are many well-travelled vintage guitar myths that don’t stand up to scrutiny and are not supported by any concrete evidence. One of the most frequently repeated among these is the notion that 1965 was some sort of corporate ‘year zero’ for Fender and nothing was ever the same again. The truth is far from that. 

Firstly, Leo Fender stayed on as a consultant after he sold the company to CBS, and even helped to develop new Fender models. And from a Strat-specific perspective, many of the features we associate with the pre-CBS era lingered on into the 1970s – the 1970 Stratocaster we have here exhibits several of them. 

We can point to the four-bolt neck join, the pressed steel saddles with a patent application that was still pending, and the steel vibrato block held to the bridge plate by three hefty screws. Although Fender was using machine-wound plain enamel magnet wire and grey flatwork by 1970, the staggered alnico magnets survived – albeit without their hand-bevelled edges.’ 

Features: 

Brand: Fender 

Model: Stratocaster 

Finish: Sunburst 

Weight: 7.75 lbs 

Frets: 21 

Inlays: Pearl Dot 

Body Material: Ash 

Neck: Maple 

Fingerboard: Rosewood 

Fingerboard Radius: 7.25” 

Nut: 1 5/8” 

Scale Length: 25.5” 

Neck Profile: C 

Bridge Pickup: Late 70s DiMarzio PAF

Middle Pickup: Original Fender (Dated 1970)

Neck Pickup: Original Fender (Dated 1970)  

Switch: 5-way - Replaced 

Controls: One Volume, Two Tone 

Tuners: Original Fender 

Bridge: Original Fender 

Pickguard: 3-ply Original

The two hardest year Strats to find are 1967 and 1970 Hendrix era because the production #s were very low, making this guitar a real find.

This 1970 Fender Strat has had a life, it’s been played to death and for good reason, it’s an absolute beaut! As displayed by its battle scars and bruises, this guitar has seen more than a few stages, playing many a solo over its 52 years of existence. There are scratches and dings in the finish, the chrome hardware is tarnished and the pickguard has faded to a dark cream with splashes of light brown. The headstock is a highlight, looking like it’s had a spray tan - it looks exceptionally cool. 

Its Sunburst finish has a very well-played in patina, its “4-Bolt” Rose neck is what makes this Strat so special & is green ink stamped w/a single string tree, its White pickguard has the typical white 60’s “pearloid” bottom lamination.

The pickups sound great, with huge Strat tones; chimey and bell-like. The neck has a few small dings, but nothing to fuss over and the frets are still in good condition. The guitar has new strap pins that look the goods and a new 5-way switch. The internal of the neck displays the ‘green ink date stamp’ which Fender used at the time, confirming its authenticity. 

The pot codes all date to the 32nd week of 1969, factory tremolo, this is one of the last late 60’s 4-bolt Strats made prior to the beginning of the 3-bolt era, its worn cool, has all late 60’s traits & is ultra-lightweight.

This Strat is unique and stands on its own. It would suit a player looking for an excellent playing and sounding guitar that has a genuine relic job - one that took 52 years to complete!  

Comes in its original hard-shell case in good condition.