THE EVOLUTION OF THE STRATOCASTER
1954-1987
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Fender Stratocaster is certainly the best-selling and most imitated guitar ever. A real cult object, as well as a unique sounding instrument.
Since its birth in 1954, although, at least apparently, preserving its characteristics unaltered, it has actually undergone many changes that have taken place gradually, without marked boundary lines. For example, between 1964 and 1967, it was possible to find both Black Bottom and Grey Bottom pickups.
The value of the Stratocasters also varies on the base of the year of production: obviously, those made between 1954 and 1964 are the most sought by collectors. Since the end of 1965 the impact of CBS and mass production had begun to undermine the charm of the Stratocasters (although we can consider a 1965 Stratocaster equal to those of 1964), with repercussions on the value of the instrument. Polyester, used for the first time in late 1967, and the new die-cast metal bridge, that in 1971 took the place of Leo Fender’s Synchronized Tremolo, further affected the value of these guitars. However it is since the mid-70s that the production of Fender had faced a dark period, during which instruments still of a good standard were joined by others built with a certain approximation and of dubious quality. Since 1985, with the new management headed by Bill Schultz flanked by Dan Smith, Fender has experienced a new splendor. In particular, in the new millennium, also thanks to the innovations brought by the Custom Shop, the quality of its guitars has improved considerably so that you can often find Stratocasters which have nothing to envy to those of the origins. However, the charm of the vintage Stratocasters is beyond question, and this is why on the market there are numerous fakes.
In this section we analyze in detail the evolution of the Stratocaster in the pre-CBS and in the CBS era and the changes undergone by the original Leo Fender design over the years, without neglecting, if necessary, also some details of the first post Fullerton period.
Regarding the specs of the Stratocasters in the post buyout years, we refer to the sections "The history of the Stratocaster" and to that "Stratocaster: models and chronology".
Since its birth in 1954, although, at least apparently, preserving its characteristics unaltered, it has actually undergone many changes that have taken place gradually, without marked boundary lines. For example, between 1964 and 1967, it was possible to find both Black Bottom and Grey Bottom pickups.
The value of the Stratocasters also varies on the base of the year of production: obviously, those made between 1954 and 1964 are the most sought by collectors. Since the end of 1965 the impact of CBS and mass production had begun to undermine the charm of the Stratocasters (although we can consider a 1965 Stratocaster equal to those of 1964), with repercussions on the value of the instrument. Polyester, used for the first time in late 1967, and the new die-cast metal bridge, that in 1971 took the place of Leo Fender’s Synchronized Tremolo, further affected the value of these guitars. However it is since the mid-70s that the production of Fender had faced a dark period, during which instruments still of a good standard were joined by others built with a certain approximation and of dubious quality. Since 1985, with the new management headed by Bill Schultz flanked by Dan Smith, Fender has experienced a new splendor. In particular, in the new millennium, also thanks to the innovations brought by the Custom Shop, the quality of its guitars has improved considerably so that you can often find Stratocasters which have nothing to envy to those of the origins. However, the charm of the vintage Stratocasters is beyond question, and this is why on the market there are numerous fakes.
In this section we analyze in detail the evolution of the Stratocaster in the pre-CBS and in the CBS era and the changes undergone by the original Leo Fender design over the years, without neglecting, if necessary, also some details of the first post Fullerton period.
Regarding the specs of the Stratocasters in the post buyout years, we refer to the sections "The history of the Stratocaster" and to that "Stratocaster: models and chronology".
- Body
- Finish - part 1
- Finish - part 2
- Neck and fretboard
- Neck date
- Headstock and Fender logo
- Tuning Machines
- Neck Shape and fingerboard radius
- Truss rod and neck plate
- Fret markers
- Bridge
- Pickups
- Pots
- Capacitors
- Switch
- String Trees
- Pickguard
- Volume and tone knobs and pickup covers
- Other
- How to date a Stratocaster
- Serial numbers
- Vintage Reissue "Fullerton" in detail
