FENDER STANDARD STRATOCASTER (1983-1985)

  • Fender Standard Stratocaster (1983-1984 end of CBS era; ivory finish).

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • electric guitars

Series name: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1983 to 1985

The 1983 - 1985 American Standard Stratocaster was the last in the Fender CBS era.This variation on the Stratocaster was designed to reduce production and retail costs: it had a single tone control, 3-position pickup selector, the newly designed Freeflyte vibrato system (surface mounted without a tremolo cavity - less routing required!) and a basic output jack that was flush with the pickguard. The remodelled ‘Comfort Contour’ body had deeper forearm and waist contours, similar to the early 1960s strats. The 1970s style headstock decal was retained though on the small peghead.

Ownership of Fender transferred from CBS to a group of investors and employees led by Bill Schultz in 1984/1985, and this model was discontinued during that transitional period.

Specifications (20)

Body

Body materialalder body
Body shape featuresdouble cutaway
Body styleStratocaster style
Pickguard materialwhite pickguard

Hardware

BridgeFreeflyte vibrato
Hardware colorchrome hardware

Fretboard

Fingerboard inlay materialpearl fingerboard inlay material
Fingerboard materialmaple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdot fingerboard position markers

General

Finish colorsblack finish, brown finish, ivory finish
Finish effectssunburst finish
Finish materialpolyurethane finish
Number of strings6 strings

Neck

Neck jointbolt on neck
Number of frets21 fret
Tuner layoutsix-per-side tuners

Controls

Pickup selector controls3-way selector switch
Tone controls1 tone control
Volume controls1 volume control

Electronics

Pickups configuration3 single coil pickups

Prices (7)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
2014$800good
2006$0good
19831494 NLG good
19851700 DEM excellentJohnIt was my first guitar and I am still in love...
2018$700worn
1983£230new
1983$230newMarkThis was my chance of getting a Strat. It is an ivory colour. It is still my only guitar. Reasonable condition for its age and I love it. Sounds and plays great. I don’t use the tremolo arm but still have it. The bridge and pick up screws have rust on them. This is probably from sweat when doing gigs.

Reviews (1)

FENDER STANDARD STRATOCASTER (1983-1985) reviewed by PMCG

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
The 83 Dan Smith era standard strat USA was and is a great Fender . They have a 5 position pickup switch not 3, a Bi-Flex neck meaning you can adjust both caster and camber, top quality hardware, sound great and excellent player comfort. Down sides one tone and difficult to set up trem springs but easy to top load strings on L saddles. Great guitar I own one and feel they are under valued by far. Cheers PMCG

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