Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Series name:
Dates of manufacture:
Fender introduced their "The STRAT" model in 1980, during the CBS era of ownership. It was designed as an upgrade to the standard Stratocaster model of the time, and it cost $250 more than the standard model. This model has "STRAT" in captial letters on the headstock.
The STRAT had some pre-CBS specifications, at this time CBS management were becoming aware that the sales and popularity of their late 1970s models was declining whereas the reputation of the pre-CBS Stratocasters was increasing. Pre-CBS specifications included: a four bolt neck joint, small 1954-1965 style headstock, and no bullet truss rod nut. There were also some new features on this model. A two-way rotary pickup selector switch replaced the middle tone control - combined with the 5-way selector this gave 9 pickup combinations in all.
The STRAT also had a higher output bridge pickup: the Fender X-1. The controls and hardware were 22K gold plated and included a heavy brass tremolo (for extra sustain), gold plated knobs and brass tuners.
The STRAT came with C, D, and U neck profile and Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue or Arctic White finishes (from 1981 onwards). They had matching color headstocks.
This model was also availble with a walnut body as the Walnut STRAT (from 1981).
Specifications (19)
Controls
Pickup selector controls | 2-way selector switch, 5-way selector switch |
Tone controls | 1 tone control |
Volume controls | 1 volume control |
Electronics
Pickups brand and model | Fender X-1 pickup(s) |
Pickups configuration | 3 single coil pickups |
General
Finish colors | blue finish, red finish |
Made in | USA |
Number of strings | 6 strings |
Scale length | 25.5 inches scale-length |
Body
Body material | alder body, ash body |
Pickguard material | white pickguard |
Hardware
Bridge | tremolo bridge |
Hardware color | gold hardware |
Tuners | brass tuners |
Fretboard
Fingerboard material | maple fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard |
Fingerboard position markers | dot fingerboard position markers |
Neck
Neck joint | bolt on neck |
Number of frets | 21 fret |
Peghead (headstock) | matching-finish headstock |
Prices (18)
Date | Price | Condition | Name | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | €1800 | good | Norbert | in olympic white with rosewood fredboard |
2015 | €1300 | good | Giuseppe | Just a comment: it plays wonderful. The best strat ever played |
2015 | £1000 | good | terry | nice guitar lots of different sounds |
1982 | £450 | new | Stephen | In perfect condition. No changes since new. |
2016 | $1600 | worn | GPike | |
2016 | $1600.00 | good | DPOWELL | 1983 - Olympic white with rosewood fredboard |
1981 | $200 | good | Ryan | Lake Placid Blue. Maple fingerboard. Early non-gold Schaller tuners. |
2016 | €1900 | worn | ||
1983 | 500000 GRD | new | PANOS VAMVOUKIS | |
2017 | $700 | good | ||
1983 | $575 | new | ||
1981 | $638 | new | Mike | |
2017 | kr4500 | worn | ||
2018 | £2200 | excellent | As far as I can tell a totally original instrument 1982, Maple Neck, all gold hardware in Sapphire Blue (Not Lake Placid Blue) supplied with original fender case. | |
2014 | £890 | good | ||
1987 | $400 | good | ||
1984 | £395.00 | worn | Tony | Plays and sounds very good |
2018 | €1790 | good |