Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1970), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 273341, sunburst polyester finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, period black tolex hard shell case.

This is a quite clean and nicely original sunburst "Hendrix Era" early CBS Stratocaster, made during a period when a lot of changes were going down at Fender. It has transitional features seen at this specific time, when the character of the instruments was changing from the old "Leo" style into the slicker '70's pure CBS look. The ultimate avatar of the Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix mostly played these then-new models built at this time; that has given the guitars of this exact period a special appeal in the ensuing years. While no longer truly Pre-CBS in feel, these transitional 1960070s Strats still hold a strong fascination for many players, redolent of what many feel was a special time in music and cultural history.

The ropsewood fingerboard neck is stamped with an early-style "green code" on the heel which by published information should read as 1968, before this system is believed to have been in use. The neck profile is very slim, with more dressed-away sides than earlier 60s Strats. It feels like a late '60 to mid '70 neck to us; over the years we have found a number of quizzical markings in this period. In general the guitar has typical features for 1970. The finish in the body is still the slightly heavier early poly encountered starting in summer 1969; the neck also has the earlier type of Poly finish, not as thick as the later 1970's versions and with the decal under a lacquer overcoat. The guitar still feels much more natural than the later 1970's "Thick Skin" Strats, which can look like they were dipped in Polyester.

Internally the guitar remains all original; the pots are dated to the 34h week of 1969 and the 2nd week of 1970. Apparently a the huge CBS pot order made in 1966 was just running out! The grey-bobbin pickups are leaded with plastic-coated wire instead of the 1968 and earlier cloth-covered variety, with coded stamps suggesting 1970 on two and the third unmarked. The white plastic pickguard has a pearloid underside, again typical of this exact 1969-70 time period. All solder joints are original and undisturbed. The trem arm is a repro, all other hardware is original and correct.

This guitar plays extremely well and sounds great, exactly as expected. It has survived the years better than most, with some small dings and dents but escaping the refinishes, jumbo frets, humbucker routs, locking trems and other pitfalls of the '70's and '80's. A lovely 50+ year old Stratocaster, in a slightly older 91965-6 era) black Tolex Fender Hard shell case.
 
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.)., 7.46 lbs.
This is a nice clean guitar overall showing only light wear and no repairs or alterations. The body has some typical edge wear on the lower side, often seen on older Fenders even if just stored in the case through the years. The top is very clean with only a couple of minor dings and one small soft-focus red spot that looks like a sprayer's error; it is under the topcoats. The back has a couple of deeper dings but is really pretty clean as well. The neck finish shows very little wear, which was after all the point of the new harder Polyester finishes.

This Strat remains original inside "Under the Hood' is an untouched wiring assembly with all joints intact. All hardware is quite clean except for some typical corrosion on the steel bridge saddles. The trem arm is a correct repro; this is the only non-original part. The chrome snap-on bridge cover is still present. The pickguard shows some light shrinkage typical of this pearloid-backed plastic; there are no broken or missing tips but one area buckled up slightly on the lower forward tip. There are two small corner splits on the trem back cover, and a license number (or similar) is neatly etched on the bottom edge of the trem block.

The guitar still retains its original small frets, crowned down a bit in the lower positions with some light subsequent wear. The nut is newer. While not absolutely perfect this is a really fine example of this period Stratocaster, currently set up with a three trem springs for a Hendrix-like free-flowing vibe; the other two are in the case, along with a period handmade leather strap and a tie-dyed undershirt. The vibe is festival 1970; this Strat is an instant trip back to those heady days! Overall Excellent + Condition.