Fender Stratocaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1971), ser. #308316, original black tolex hard shell case.

Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1971), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 308316, sunburst polyester finish, alder body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.

This is a well-worn but largely original just-past "Hendrix Era" sunburst Stratocaster, made during a time when a lot of changes were going down at Fender. It has transitional features of this specific time, when the character of the instruments really changed from the old "Leo" style into the slicker '70's pure CBS look. While no longer Pre-CBS in feel, these transitional late 1960s/early-70s "final 4-bolt" Strats still hold a strong fascination for many players, relics of what many feel was a special time in music and cultural history.

This guitar has a typical mix for 1970-71, a transitional last-gasp 4-bolt Strat with mostly older features. The one-piece maple neck is stamped 22MAR 71B, with the old-style ink-stamp clear dating that was now less common at Fender. The profile on the one-piece maple neck is round but a bit deeper back to front than many 1960s Strats. The neck finish is the earlier sprayed Poly, not as thick as the later 1970's versions with the decal under a lacquer overcoat. The finish in the body is the slightly heavier polyester encountered starting in summer 1969 with the sunburst sprayed over the Poly clear coat. The guitar still feels more natural than the later 1970's "Thick Skin" Strats, which appear to have been dipped in vats of Polyester. 1971 was the last year for the original 4-bolt neck (replaced by the 3-bolt Micro-Tilt' and bullet truss rod) until the advent of re-issues in the 1980s.

Internally the guitar remains nearly all original except for the common substitution of a 5-way switch for the original 3-way. The pots are a matched set dated 7052 indicating fabrication during the last week of 1970. Apparently the huge 250K pot order CBS made in 1966 finally ran out! The grey-bobbin pickups are leaded with plastic-coated wire instead of the 1968 and earlier cloth-covered variety, with coded stamps (0181) indicating 1971. The white plastic pickguard has the small adhesive shielding plate in the control cavity place of the old full-size aluminum underlay. Another newer feature is the just introduced cast Zamac bridgeplate/trem block in place of the older 2-piece steel unit, but still fitted with the older style stamped steel saddles.

This guitar plays well and sounds great, exactly as expected. It has survived the years with some wear and tear but escaping the refinishes, humbucker routs, locking trems and other pitfalls of the '70's and '80's. Overall this is a nice player's example of a 55 year old Stratocaster, in the original black Tolex Fender Hard shell case.

Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).

This is a largely original guitar overall showing noticeable play wear and but no major repairs; the only alterations are an old refret and the typical substitution of a 5-way switch. The body finish has noticeable wear with large patches worn away on the top and lower side up to the jack area, where it looks like someone started sanding then thought better of it! The top also has dings, chips and worn away spots to the sealer coat in the upper armwear area. There is a spot behind the bridge where it looks like a sticker (or something) was added then removed. The back has a swath of buckle wear down to the sealer coat with scratches and dings, the body edges have numerous deep dings and chips. The neck finish has dings and chips all along the edges and some fairly random wear to the fingerboard.

Except for the period 5-way switch this Strat remains original inside "Under the Hood' with all other joints intact. All hardware is quite clean except for some fairly heavy corrosion on the steel bridge saddles. The trem arm is correct but the tip is a repro; The chrome snap-on bridge cover is long gone. The pickguard, pickup covers and knobs are original and nicely aged, the guard shows scuffing to the top but very little shrinkage and there are no broken screw holes or missing tips. The guitar is currently set up with 4 trem springs, the 5th is gone; the plastic trem back cover is intact.

The neck was refretted long ago with wire consistent with the larger Fender frets of the period but not the massive '70s jumbos often used later. These have been crowned down a bit in the lower positions with some subsequent wear but still play well. The nut is newer. While well-used this is a good player's example of this period Stratocaster, original where it counts and wearing its scars proudly; it took its likkin' and kept on tikkin'! The original black Tolex hard case remains in solid shape with the 1970-dated warranty booklet still in the pocket, though the card was detached and mailed. Overall Very Good + Condition.