1976 pics, Eddie playing a '65 strat.

[Tex]

Check it out!

http://musikfoto.com/rockpics.php?tsk=display&id=1103&tag=Van%20Halen

[Tex]

Here's the rest:

http://musikfoto.com/rockpics.php?tsk=view&tag=Van%20Halen

[Hardrock69]

This is a dupe thread.

Mods...close it.

[ELVIS]

Actually, I'm not 100% convinced that's a real Stratocaster...

[Eyes of the Night]

http://musikfoto.com/images/large/1139.jpg ...

The humbucker placement is cool though ...

[BrownSound1]

The Fender name seems a bit out of place on the headstock.

[ELVIS]

Correct, and the sunburst is not Fender-like at all...

The pickguard screw placement isn't like any area Fender either...

[jhale667]

...I've seen a few Fenders in my day with misplaced logos...referred to as 'transitional' models when CBS was taking over Fender....could be an early Japanese copy he mangled as well..I'd wonder where you'd get a fake Fender logo in '76, but then we've all seen the pics of Frankenstein when it had the friggin' Gibson logo on it ....:D

[Don Corleone]

The body deosn't look quite right for an original Fender.

[MAX]

Good eyes both Elvis and BS1.

Also, if that were a '60's Strat, even post CBS. The Fender logo is not the right one for that year. I'd have to read one of my guitar books but I don't think they altered the logo until '67? If that were also the case and to have the matching logo, wouldn't the headstock have to be that larger more "pig-headded" one that was used on Strats from '67 until '79 or something? :confused:

[ELVIS]

'66 to '79...

Here's a '66 headstock...

http://www.j-guitar.jp/sea/data/1011/r/2465_4.jpg


:elvis:

[MAX]

Nice find Elvis. :cool:

My history's more than a little rusty. So was it '66 when they changed the headstocks? I know they prolly had them longer than '79 as well? :o I also didn't know that the Fender logo was any other color than a solid black during those years?

My Strat is an '83 and it looks similar to the ones they still have today. Also and while I have you on the subject, what years did they use the bullet truss rod? Any ideas?

[ELVIS]

1971 to 1981...

All Bullet truss rod Stratocasters also have the Tilt Neck with the hole for an allen wrench in the neck plate to adjust neck angle...

I suggest not tilting the neck...


I pretty much know all of this crap...;)


:elvis:

[ELVIS]

Your '83 should also have the Tilt Neck and the newer type truss rod...

I have a black lefty '83 with a maple one piece neck, no separate fingerboard...

Yours should be the same unless it's rosewood...

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by MAX
So was it '66 when they changed the headstocks?

yes...

I know they prolly had them longer than '79 as well?

Nope...

You should see a 1980 headstock. Ugly and shaped all wrong...





:elvis:

[MAX]

Thanks Elvis. :)

No, I've NEVER fucked with the rod in my neck.

Now that you mention it, I do seem to recall an altercation on those early '80's Fender headstocks.

Were they smaller than the classic or current ones? I seem to remember them being a bit goofy looking. :confused:

Another question, what years (I'm assuming early '80's?) did Fender produce the colored headstocks that matched the bodies finish?

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by BrownSound1
The Fender name seems a bit out of place on the headstock. That´s the reason I´m doubting too! I´ve seen quite a few out of place decals on CBS Fenders, but never anywhere near that far out of place.

And, although most Japanese copies back then wghere crap, El Maya and Luxor for example made some pretty decent Strats.

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by ELVIS
'66 to '79...

Here's a '66 headstock...

http://www.j-guitar.jp/sea/data/1011/r/2465_4.jpg


:elvis: They started using that decal in '64, but probably still used up their old stock till into '65. December '65 saw the advent of the larger headstock and in '68 they introduced the bolder black decal.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by MAX

Were they smaller than the classic or current ones? I seem to remember them being a bit goofy looking. :confused:

http://www.one-4-the-road.de/assets/images/Strat2.jpg

Another question, what years (I'm assuming early '80's?) did Fender produce the colored headstocks that matched the bodies finish?

You mean these ??

http://www.randyciak.com/guitar/randy/Fender_HM_Strat.jpg





:elvis:

[Hardrock69]

Yeah....in the early 80s they painted the headstock to match the guitar body on some Strat models. I remember when they first came out.

My best friend in the world is an expert on Fender guitars. SO whenever we get onto that subject, he can tell me anything I want to know.

And yes, there was a transitional decal beginning in 1965, and used until the late 60s when the solid black Fender logo became standard.

Here is an original Fender decal:



http://www.stratcollector.com/scnimages/63/63head.gif

And here is the transition version:



http://www.mondoguitars.com/65Strat_headstock.jpg


Now here is the black logo that was introduced in the late 60s:

http://www.gear-review.co.uk/reviews/70strat/Strat3.jpg

[kentuckyklira]

The black Strat with the black headstock ist a so called "Heavy Metal Strat". The first few ('87-'88) were made in the USA, the rest in Japan. They had a Kahler Spyder double locking trem and came in all kinds of hair metal colors. I have a made in USA one in Pink!

They also made a Tele like that, flashy colors and Kahler Spyder trem.

[jhale667]

The model with the painted headstock "The Strat" was the one I had...circa 1981-82, I believe.

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by jhale667
The model with the painted headstock "The Strat" was the one I had...circa 1981-82, I believe. "The Strat"

Candy Apple Red, Arctic White or Lake Placid Blue with matching headstock. Gold plated brass hardware and higher output pickups. The one I had was as heavy as a heavy 70s Strat plus a little. Sounded great though, as far as I can recall.

[jhale667]

I had a Lake Placid Blue one...sounded OK...neck was like a baseball bat....it also had a phase switch in place of one of the tone controls...

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by jhale667
I had a Lake Placid Blue one...sounded OK...neck was like a baseball bat....it also had a phase switch in place of one of the tone controls... I had a red one. Still regret selling it. Like so many others!:( :(

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by Hardrock69


Now here is the black logo that was introduced in the late 60s:

http://www.gear-review.co.uk/reviews/70strat/Strat3.jpg

That's incorrect...

That pic is a mid 70's head stock. The bullet truss rod started in '71, as I said above...

A late 60's version of that logo says "with synchronized tremolo"



:elvis:

[ELVIS]

The actual "Fender" part is slightly different also...

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by jhale667
The model with the painted headstock "The Strat" was the one I had...circa 1981-82, I believe.

http://www.one-4-the-road.de/assets/images/Strat2.jpg

Yeah, this...

I think it was only made in 1980...

[Hardrock69]

Yeah that all black Fender logo started in late 1971.

1968:

[Hardrock69]

1969

[Hardrock69]

1970

[Hardrock69]

1971

[Hardrock69]

Here is a kickass page with Strats for sale at www.stratcollector.com

http://stratcollector.com/inventory.html#plus

[Hardrock69]

Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you will see authentic original handbills and tickets for sale.

Here is a pick of 4 unused tickets to see Jimi Hendrix at the Fillmore West and Winterland Ballroom in S.F. in February of 1968. 250 bucks for 1, or 900 for all 4:

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
:elvis:

No Elvis, what I meant was, say for instance the body on the Strat ot Tele is "Surf Green" or something and the headstock is the same/matching color. Regardless of whether the fretboard is maple or rosewood. Like Ed's "5150" Kramer. Do you know what I mean? :confused:

Also, I have this killer book called "American Guitars." It's like circa 1983 or something? It's written bt Tom Wheeler who was one of the main editors for GUITAR PLAYER back in the day. It has the history and tons of pics of all sorts of guitars. It's a hardcover and tons of info. The color pics are worth it alone.

I'll let you borrow it anytime cos I think you'd enjoy it. :cool:

[MAX]

Elvis,

Another one from the book you might dig. Fuck, I wish I had my scanner up and runnin' but oh well, later...

Fender made this completely "see-through" Strat. It was made out of "lucite?" Have you ever heard or seen it? It's fucking awesome. The ENTIRE guitar (with the exception of the metal hardware i.e. bridge, pickups, wires, etc) is completely see through and clear as water.

Amazing looking axe.

Here's a pic I found when I Googled:

http://fender.demonweb.co.uk/news/images/lucite-full.jpg

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by MAX
No Elvis, what I meant was, say for instance the body on the Strat ot Tele is "Surf Green" or something and the headstock is the same/matching color. Regardless of whether the fretboard is maple or rosewood. Like Ed's "5150" Kramer. Do you know what I mean? :confused:

I'll let you borrow it anytime cos I think you'd enjoy it. :cool:

Yeah, I know what you mean. Im very familiar with custom or whatnot Srats and Teles with the headstocks being painted the body color...

Many P and J basses were like that...

Over the years, several times, Fender offered it as part of a finish option...

Fender also seems to have just made some one-off guitars than were never found in any catalog...


:elvis:

[ELVIS]

Yeah, I've seen a clear Lucite Strat in person years ago in a big music store...

Maybe it was in Mobile, Alabama...


Hmmm...

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Yeah, I know what you mean. Im very familiar with custom or whatnot Srats and Teles with the headstocks being painted the body color...

Many P and J basses were like that...

Over the years, several times, Fender offered it as part of a finish option...

Ok and that makes more sense. Thanks. :)

I own two strats and was always curious about that option. My buddy has a "Buck Owens" signature model Tele which is metallic Red, White and Blue and his headstock is the same color. It's a cool guitar.


Fender also seems to have just made some one-off guitars than were never found in any catalog...

Exactly and I know what you mean. My '83 American Standard was only offered in Black, Ivory, two different sunbursts. However, I got on a list through the dealer cos I really wanted either "Lake Placid Blue" or "Candy Apple Red" (Luckily I did receive the latter) and when the shipment arrived they also had two other colors. Shit, pretty much "one of a kind" finishes called "Puke Blue" and "Puke Red." I shit you not. They looked similar to bowling ball finishes with either blues, reds all mixed in with the blacks and whites, just paint all swirled around. Ugly as fuck but cool lookin' in hindsight.

The dealer told me that was a common practice at the factory when they ended a production run. Just to use up the last of the paint. Similar to an ice cream store making a "potpourri" of combined flavors to get rid of it and not to be wasteful.

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Yeah, I've seen a clear Lucite Strat in person years ago in a big music store...

Maybe it was in Mobile, Alabama...


Hmmm...

Well, the book is old and makes a really big deal out of it being "one of a kind." lol

However, when I just Googled to show a pic, several came up. Still, out of the one's that I saw, there's only the ONE with a lucite neck. The others had a stock Fender neck. Cool stuff regardless.

[ELVIS]

They were actually called Bowling Ball Stratocasters...

http://www.bluesman.de/strat-pics/83bowling05.jpg


:cool:

[ELVIS]

That one is an '83 exactly like my black one...

[ELVIS]

http://www.stratcollector.com/images/invlarge/sc010283bb.gif


:elvis:

[MAX]

Fuck YEAH!!! You know your shit!!! :cool: The ones I saw were a lot more greyish though. Still, same thing. That's stellar!!!

That's IDENTICAL to my first guitar, which I still have and cherish to this day. The one tone knob and the removable tremelo. It's Candy Apple Red with a maple neck.

Elvis, I'm not kidding you but EVERYONE who plays it is blown away with how comfortable the neck is. I've NEVER felt another Strat like it.

Also, did you know that the '83's weren't rear loaded? The springs are underneath the pickguard. Wacky. lol

Hey, I still have the catalogue from that year and Fender had these cool finishes called "Stratobursts." Have you seen them? They were good looking.

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
That one is an '83 exactly like my black one...

Hahahaha!!!

Then negate my last post cos you're obviously well aware of everything that I just said.

That's killer bro. :cool:

Don't you just fucking love the neck?

[ELVIS]

I just told you I had an '83 Strat...

It was my first good guitar, I got it used in 1984...

It's identical to your Candy apple red one, but black...

I know all about them...


;)

[ELVIS]

Then negate my last post...:D

[ELVIS]

They only made those Bowling Ball Strats in 1983...

Like they only made those splatter strats in 2004...

[ELVIS]

Here's a cool one-off tele...

http://www.themusiczoo.com/greensparkle1offtelecustomfull.jpg


:elvis:

[MAX]

Ok, that glittery tele looks just like my buddy's "Buck Owens" I was telling you about. Except, it has a rosewood neck and the rwb finish.

Here we go cos I found a pic. A small one though. I forgot that the pickguard is also chrome or gold plated?

http://www.bostonguitar.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/fender-buck-owens-tele-mini.jpg

Man, that's so fucking cool that we have the same year/model Strats. :elvis:

I posted a pic of my guitars once but I just searched for it and they're gone. I'll post new ones soon so you can check them out.

I got my '83 brand spankin' new. Took me a cupla years to pay for it. Just think, when I bought the fucker it was only $700 bucks.

It's been an awesome guitar. I've only had to replace one pickup and I had new frets thrown on about a dozen years ago.

Do you dig the neck as much as I do? It just seems, I dunno...Fatter than other Strat necks?

Here's a pic of the "Stratoburst" finish that I was yappin' about:

http://ericernest.com/AV.Artists.Tabor.Stratoburst.jpg

They also had ones that went from gold to candy apple red and one that had three shades of blue. I thought they were awesome.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by MAX

Do you dig the neck as much as I do? It just seems, I dunno...Fatter than other Strat necks?



Yeah...

Mine is a lefty, as are most of my guitars...

I have found, especially in the 80's and 90's, that the lefty necks feel nicer than the right hand versions...

The frets are dressed better and the overall fit anf finish is nicer, throught the entire guitar...

[Hardrock69]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Yeah, I know what you mean. Im very familiar with custom or whatnot Srats and Teles with the headstocks being painted the body color...

Many P and J basses were like that...

Over the years, several times, Fender offered it as part of a finish option...

Fender also seems to have just made some one-off guitars than were never found in any catalog...


:elvis:

Heck they have made a lot of one-off stuff....my friend had a 1955 Fender Twin...it was a 100-watt amp, and had a bunch of stuff on it that was not consistent with any one year during the 50s. It had some features that were not available one year, but other features that were, so we only were able to figure out that it was made approximately in 1955...that is...it could not have been made before then, but if it were made after 1955 it would not have had some features that were discontinued in 1955, unless they were just using up left over parts. We figured it must have been a special order, as they did make amps and guitars per customer's request back then.

He sold it about 17 years ago when he was broke and starving. Did not EVEN get what it was worth, but he could not afford to be picky at the time.

Amp would have been worth thousands by now.

It ROCKED!!!

One of the greatest, singing guitar tones I ever heard in my life was one night when I was at his band's rehearsal room. I plugged my 1975 Gibson Flying V (with Dimarzio Super Distortion Humbuckers) into an Electro-Harmonix Hot Tubes box, then into the Twin and turned it up.

It was incredible.
Oh and it still had the original tubes it it. They were rusted into their sockets.

[Hardrock69]

I was at a guitar show in Gnashville a few years ago...they had 3 matching bolwing ball guitars for sale as a set. A Strat, A Tele, and one other...I think a Jazzmaster.

Dude would only sell all three as a set, and I think he wanted something like 4 or 5 grand for them.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by Hardrock69

It was incredible.
Oh and it still had the original tubes it it. They were rusted into their sockets.

I always look at amps in old rock and blues photos...

You see amps with the Fender sign on the wrong side, strange knobs and features like you describe...

Neat stuffff !!


:D

[jhale667]

So MAX & ELVIS , what do you think of the 'Elite' pickups? I've never heard anyone sing their praises besides Ty Tabor of King's X.....

And yeah, with the right pedal in front of it, an old Twin can sound MONSTROUS...

[MAX]

Originally posted by jhale667
So MAX & ELVIS , what do you think of the 'Elite' pickups? I've never heard anyone sing their praises besides Ty Tabor of King's X.....

And yeah, with the right pedal in front of it, an old Twin can sound MONSTROUS...

I remember hearing that they sucked. They were made of fuckin' rubber for goodness sakes. Only played through one once and that was twenty years ago. Don't remember much about them really?

[MAX]

Hey Elvis,

How many axes do you currently own?

Fuck man, I'm still in awe about you scalloping your own fretboards. :cool:

[jhale667]

Originally posted by MAX
Hey Elvis,

How many axes do you currently own?

Fuck man, I'm still in awe about you scalloping your own fretboards. :cool:

Yeah, I like working on guitars, but I'm not THAT daring.... ;)

[MAX]

Originally posted by jhale667
Yeah, I like working on guitars, but I'm not THAT daring.... ;)

Elvis has posted some pics. Pretty fuckin' impressive stuff. :cool:

[ELVIS]

Thanks!!!

I have 14 guitars, I think...

I have a real '55 hardtail Stratocaster that I bought 10 years ago as a project that I never finished...

I'm getting on that very soon...

No, I'm not gonna scallop it...:D



:elvis:

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Thanks!!!

I have 14 guitars, I think...

I have a real '55 hardtail Stratocaster that I bought 10 years ago as a project that I never finished...

I'm getting on that very soon...

No, I'm not gonna scallop it...:D



:elvis:

LMAO!!!

Holy Shit!!! A real '55? How much did that set you back or did you get a killer deal?

[jhale667]

I only have FIVE (kicks dirt) :( LOL

I've seen ELVIS' pics....quite impressive....my next 'official' project is going to be replacing the body of the 2nd guitar I built (the grey one in the pic I posted) with a better one (old one's maple, goin' with ash)...the original was made by a friend, who kind of F*ed it up...:rolleyes: though it does have a REAL old-school Charvel neck on it... SO I'm gonna get a Musikraft Charvel copy body and have the finish recreated...my own replica...sweet. I also need to build a bass for demos, and there's that Voyager body staring at me every time I open the frickin' closet like a lost puppy...:p

[jhale667]

Originally posted by MAX
LMAO!!!

Holy Shit!!! A real '55? How much did that set you back or did you get a killer deal?

No shit! Did you have to sell any of your kids into future servitude or anything? ;)

[MAX]

Originally posted by jhale667
I only have FIVE (kicks dirt) :( LOL

I've seen ELVIS' pics....quite impressive....my next 'official' project is going to be replacing the body of the 2nd guitar I built (the grey one in the pic I posted) with a better one (old one's maple, goin' with ash)...the original was made by a friend, who kind of F*ed it up...:rolleyes: though it does have a REAL old-school Charvel neck on it... SO I'm gonna get a Musikraft Charvel copy body and have the finish recreated...my own replica...sweet. I also need to build a bass for demos, and there's that Voyager body staring at me every time I open the frickin' closet like a lost puppy...:p

That's cool mang. :)

I only have three guitars anymore. I have my original 1983 Candy Apple Red American Standard Strat. I have an old black Ovation acoustic/electric that I recently picked up from a friend who needed some cash. Then I have my own "Frankenstrat." It's got an '87 Japanese Strat body. It's Lake Placid Blue with an unfinished Performance Products maple neck. It also has a DiMarzio PAF bridge humbucker drilled right into the body, an old Floyd Rose. It's fucking identical to Ed's except the color. Had it built in 1988 and I've done a lot of "experimenting" on it myself. The body 'tis pretty thrashed. I used to abuse the fuck out of it when I gigged back in both college and highschool. Still sounds good though.

I used to have a late 80's P-Bass, a '86 Kramer Striker, a '68 SG and another 1991 Strat. Never played nor cared about them much.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by MAX
LMAO!!!

Holy Shit!!! A real '55? How much did that set you back or did you get a killer deal?


10 years ago, I paid $750 for it...

The guy wanted $850...:D

[jhale667]

Even 10 years ago, that was a STEAL!! To this day, when you walk by it, do you not go "Score!"? ;)

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
10 years ago, I paid $750 for it...

The guy wanted $850...:D

WOW!!!

What kind of condition is it?

Details please... :elvis:

[ELVIS]

Well, first of all, it was in terrable condition...

When I first saw it, someone had attempted to refinish it in the original 2-tone dark sunburst. It looked horrible...

I asked if I could remove the neck and the owner was reluctant, but I said that was the only way I would consider purchasing the guitar...

He said yes, and that's when I saw 10-55 in pencil on the heel of the neck...

I then offered him $750 and he took it...

The neck was, and still is, unfinished with no logo with what looks like a recent professional fret job...

The body was dented and gouged badly, and the middle pickup was chizzled out (not routed) for a humbucker, which was a popular thing to do in the 60's...

The pots, switch and one pickup appear to be original, the pickguard was some old Fender replacement part...

The original hardtail bridge is in good shape, with very early Fender stamped saddles...

The neck plate is nice with 00178 stamped on it, which puts it correctly at October 1955...

Now the part that makes people cringe...

I recently finished the body myself in glitter gold, or, gold metalflake, similar to the Dick Dale Stratocaster, and believe me, It's a beautiful professional looking finish...

Next, I'm gonna refinish the neck in a tinted nitrocelluose lacquer with the correct logo...

I have some Fender Hendrix reverse stagger pickups that I'm gonna try first, since they look vintage and I'll be stringing it lefty...

I'll top it off with a gold anodized pickguard and aged plastic parts...


What do you think about all that ??



:elvis:

[Mr_Pink]

I shot an email to wayne charvel about that sunburst guitar.
His kid wrote back that the B/W guitar was sold as a raw wood body,and he knows nothing about the sunburst, or the wierd fender neck.

[jhale667]

Nice find, ELVIS...I'd have to see the finish....could be cool...are you doing a matching headstock?

[ELVIS]

I wasn't planning on it, but, Hmmm...


:elvis:

[ELVIS]

No, I wouldn't do that...

I want it to look like a '55

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by jhale667
Nice find, ELVIS...I'd have to see the finish....could be cool...are you doing a matching headstock?

The finish IS cool !!

My work is professional...

It's flawless and the clear coat looks like glass...

[jhale667]

Well, you pretty much killed THAT idea with the gold sparkle, didn't you ;)? I saw Joe Perry playing one in a vid that had a matching headstock and a pearl pickguard...pretty badass.....

[ELVIS]

Yeah, I remember that...

Doing a solid color finish was mandatory, as the body was dented and gouged beyond repair for a transparent sunburst...

[jhale667]

Originally posted by ELVIS
The finish IS cool !!

My work is professional...

It's flawless and the clear coat looks like glass...


I've seen your pics...I don't doubt your work. Metallics weren't big until the 60s though...so 'period correctness' is out the window, but who cares about that? I wanna see pics of this!!! :D

[ELVIS]

I'll post some fo' sho' !!

[ELVIS]

I really want the neck to come out great!

I was gonna pay to have it done, but I'm confident I can do what it needs...

The neck feels awesome! Those 50's necks were 100% hand shaped, and you can tell that by looking at this one...

[MAX]

Originally posted by ELVIS
What do you think about all that ??

:elvis:

I think it sounds interesting. I like finishes and paint jobs on axes that reflect one's personality. I painted an old Kramer of mine flourescent orange with flourescent green stripes back in the '80's and it was let's say... Different. However, I got the idea from a cool lookin' skateboard deck and copied it. lol

Also, I think that glitter metalic finish looks cool. Again, I'm bringing up that Buck Owens Sig Model Tele but the glittering finish works just fine. I think Dick Dale's strat looks awesome.

Besides Elvis, it's your axe and you'll put all of the blood and sweat into restoring it.

Definitely sounds cool and don't forhet to post some pics when you get her done. :cool:

[Matt White]

Didn't Buck have a gold met-finish tele & Don Rich a silver one?

WAY FUCKING COOL paint job:rockit2:

I regret not buying a Gold-Met finish Fernandes Srat back in the day....so COOL