1980 Fender "The Strat" Stratocaster Pacific Blue matching headstock w/hard case
Maker: Fender
Model: "The Strat" Stratocaster
Condition: very good
Description:
Here for your consideration is a very early production model 1980 "The Strat" Stratocaster in Pacific blue in very good condition! A unique, semi-hot rodded Strat that is incredibly versatile and plays great! Body shows some light general finish wear, dings, scratches, etc., but is overall in great shape with no major damage. Neck is in excellent condition with no major damage or blemishes. Headstock shows a couple very minor finish chips along the edge but is otherwise in very good condition. Fretboard shows one very small blemish on the 8th fret but is hardly noticeable and does not affect playability. Otherwise fretboard is in excellent condition. Hardware shows a bit of age, pitting, and oxidization, but is all in perfect working order and overall in very good shape considering its age. Electronics work perfectly and features a fantastic sounding set of single coils with an incredibly versatile switching system. Check out the info below for the switching setup. A very early production version of a unique and killer playing Strat. Has been fully inspected and set up by our tech and ready for a new home. Includes original hard case and wammy bar. See below for a full list of specs and info.
Weight: 10lbs 3oz
Neck Profile: U
Neck Thickness: 1st Fret .889", 12th Fret .949"
Fretboard Radius: 7.25"
Nut Width: 1.60"
Pickup Values: Neck 5.84k, Middle 6.14k, Bridge 7.47k
From the Stratcollector website:
The “STRAT”, a customized and souped-up variation of the Stratocaster, was introduced by Fender at the 1980 NAMM Show. Designed by Gregg Wilson, then chief of guitar R&D; at Fender, with the help of Dan Armstrong serving as a consultant, the STRAT tried to blend classic features with modern electronics to rejuvenate the Stratocaster concept. With the STRAT model, Fender gave a nod to the past by reinstating the smaller 1954-1965 pre-CBS headstock design (however, since the original worn-out tooling was used, the STRAT headstock, though smaller than the CBS era design, was not an entirely accurate re-creation of the pre-CBS model); and, like the 1979 25th Stratocaster Anniversary models, the STRAT was fitted with the popular pre-CBS style truss-rod adjustment and four-bolt neck plate, replacing the CBS Bullet truss rod adjustment and three-bolt neck plate.
*a new wiring circuitry delivering 9 different basic tones:
a twin mode rotary selector switch replaced the bottom tone control which when used with the five-way pickup selector switch allowed not only for your standard 5 Stratocaster positions(tones) but also 4 “new” tones never before or since available on a Fender Stratocaster :
neck and middle pickups in series – humbucking
middle and bridge pickups in series – humbucking
neck and bridge pickups in parallel
neck and bridge pickups in parellel, with the middle pickup in series
Thus, the STRAT delivered nine (5+ 4) different basic pickup tones by combining the 5-position switch with the twin rotary selector tone knob. Otherwise the STRAT was fitted with the standard 250k ohm audio taper pots and the “master” tone control carried a regular .05 MFD capacitor. This unique wiring design delivers many tones not usually associated with a Fender Stratocaster and makes the STRAT one of, if not the most, versatile of any era Stratocaster produced by Fender prior to the recently introduced S-1 switching system.
*22 carat gold electroplated brass hardware including a re-designed extra massive(sustain) bridge and vibrato block, tuners, and volume/tone knobs that were officially dubbed the “Brassmaster Series”. According to Fender, the hardware was actually plated with a 100 micron gold coat (the same as fine jewlery) and for that reason it’s rumored that the company lost money on every unit sold. Some very early models are missing the gold tuners (same tuners but in chrome) and the gold plated pickup selector tip because of a delay in parts delivery.
