OGD - 1980 Strat

MisterE

Fractal Fanatic
Up for sale is a - what I suspect to be - a late 1980 Strat.
My first good guitar was a '78 Strat that I bought in Soho square in London when I was 16.
I always regretted selling that so every time a second hand one popped up, I started gassing again.
This one's up for sale now:
$_86.JPG

I suspect it's a late 1980 because of the pickups:
$_86.JPG


The owner says it's 100% original and mint.
The serial is S967... and is found both on the headstock and in the neck pocket:
$_86.JPG


What to do, what to do....
 
Do you have a chance to play it? I think feeling it and hearing it will help you a lot with that decision.
 
Yes looks good. S9 serial number ran from 79 right up to 81 but that looks totally right in what I can see of it. UK value of £2k up to £2.5k on a good day. A good long term buy but possibly not going to go up in the short term . The thing is there are not many coming up in that condition.
If you buy it you would need to keep it 100% stock or the value will drop dramatically .
 
Thanks Andy.
I was hoping you'd reply 👍
If I'm going to buy it, I'll definitely keep it stock and it's also for the long term.
 
Well,....
I just got it home and it seems way to good to be true....
It's A B S O L U T E L Y G O R G E O US
Not one scratch or ding...
Mint.....
Tomorrow I'm going to dissect it, restring it, set it up and plug it in........
I'm in for a sleepless night
 
Being a lifelong Strat guy, imho the 80-81 strats never did it for me. Not saying they are all bad. Just didn't work for me. In 83 they started getting better. I had an 89 that was primo. Lost it though-long story.
I agree with Andy-if it feels, plays and sounds right---be nice to have. I really don't consider it a collectors Strat. But that's ust my opinion.

Here's a nice article about 80-83 Strats.

https://www.stratcollector.com/news/the-1980-1983-fender-strat/
 
Being a lifelong Strat guy, imho the 80-81 strats never did it for me. Not saying they are all bad. Just didn't work for me. In 83 they started getting better. I had an 89 that was primo. Lost it though-long story.
I agree with Andy-if it feels, plays and sounds right---be nice to have. I really don't consider it a collectors Strat. But that's ust my opinion.

Here's a nice article about 80-83 Strats.

https://www.stratcollector.com/news/the-1980-1983-fender-strat/
In terms of collector potential; a forty year old mint condition 100% original Stratocaster!!! that's a rock solid safe bet. The Fender custom shop has cleverly taken quite a lot of the market for vintage Fenders by making "safe" authenticated relatively affordable vintage (style) guitars but if you don't want a replica that's a great vintage buy this is it particularly as the 50's and 60's stuff goes basically out of most peoples reach.
 
Being a lifelong Strat guy, imho the 80-81 strats never did it for me. Not saying they are all bad. Just didn't work for me. In 83 they started getting better. I had an 89 that was primo. Lost it though-long story.
I agree with Andy-if it feels, plays and sounds right---be nice to have. I really don't consider it a collectors Strat. But that's ust my opinion.

Here's a nice article about 80-83 Strats.

https://www.stratcollector.com/news/the-1980-1983-fender-strat/
You didn't like the Dan Smith??
 
You didn't like the Dan Smith??
You didn't like the Dan Smith??
Not real familiar with playing them at all. I just wound up prefering newer Strats-Newer for me is 89 and up. 89 to 2006 are my favs. I cannot tell you why because I am not sure myself-they just do it for me.
I bought my first Strat when I came back from Nam. Sunburst, early 70's. Lost it in a pawn shop-yes I know-dumb. I kept buying and playing Strats . Have an 89, 2006 and an Ultra 2020. I also prefer USA. Just me.
 
So you got it then?
Yes I did
I'm so glad I found this one.
I had a '77 for a while.
Strat 77.JPGClearly, the colour wasn't original.
Strat 77 (body).JPG

I swapped the scratchplate and put in a set of Quarterpounders.
Fender Stratocaster '77 - 1.jpg
But the guitar was very heavy and sounded way too trebly so I sold it eventually.
Over the years I had different strats but none did it for me until I found a mint 35th anniversary stratocaster.
35th ann strat.JPG
That one was a keeper. Played like a dream.
I did however swap the pickups.

I know not a lot of the
Not real familiar with playing them at all. I just wound up prefering newer Strats-Newer for me is 89 and up. 89 to 2006 are my favs. I cannot tell you why because I am not sure myself-they just do it for me.
I bought my first Strat when I came back from Nam. Sunburst, early 70's. Lost it in a pawn shop-yes I know-dumb. I kept buying and playing Strats . Have an 89, 2006 and an Ultra 2020. I also prefer USA. Just me.
I get this. I've also tried a lot of strats and seem to like the same - '89 and up.
Never tried a Dan Smith.
But the one I got now just felt right.
I like the feel of the neck. I also now the '70s neck can be a bit of a crap shoot but this one really feels good and there's no wear on the frets.
This guitar was owned by a collector who didn't even play guitar. The guy I bought it from didn't own it that long
And it's also a sentimental thing for selling my old '78.
Before......and after.......
Before.JPG After.JPG

Anyhoo
I'm going to set it up today and plug it in.....
Keep you posted...
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom