Headstock
Stratocaster headstock, recognizable for its asymmetric shape and for the tuning machines arranged in a row, has undergone many changes over time.
Those made between ’54 and ’55 exhibit edges more rounded than the headstocks of the following years, which had sharper contours.
The so called “big headstock”, which appeared on the Stratocaster in December 1965, was one of the more evident changes of the new CBS management. There has been much speculation about the reason for this transition. Many believe that the purpose was to make the new Fender logo more present on television. Scott Zimmerman, Fender luthier between 1977 and 1984, ensures that the big headstock had been already conceived in 1964 by Leo Fender and Freddie Tavares, persuaded that a greater mass could increase sustain. According to Scott, after the sale to CBS, Freddie, who stayed with Fender, and Leo, by contract an external consultant, designed the lines of the new headstock, taking inspiration from the Jazzmaster. Actually, they soon realized that the sound did not benefit from this change, so that they both defined the big headstock: «That’s without a doubt the stupidest idea we ever came up with together»!
In general, Stratocaster headstock gradually became even thicker, with substantial differences in 1963, 1967 and in 1971.
In the autumn of 1981 the headstock went back to being small, although not quite the same as in the pre-CBS period: the new Smith headstock was so nicknamed because it was seen for the first time on the 1981 Standard Stratocaster (called "Smith Stratocaster"), but was later used on the late 1982 and 1983 Strat, on the Elite Stratocaster (Gold Elite and Walnut Elite included), on the 1983 Standard Stratocaster and on the first Vintage reissues.
The 1987 American Standard finally exhibited a new small headstock with the shape very similar to those of the years '54 -'65. However, only in 1998 Stratocaster headstocks were made following the correct design, mostly thanks to the studies of master builder Michael Stevens on the pre-CBS Stratocasters which brought to the birth of the Time Machine series.
We must remember also the twenty-five Stratocasters made in 1980 which had a reverse headstock, to imitate the Stratocasters used by Jimi Hendrix, and the first 1980 Strats, with which Fender tried to return to a smaller headstock, although the shape was completely different from the pre-CBS one. The latter headstock, often called Lead II headstock or Atrophied headstock, was also used in the Gold Stratocaster and in the Walnut Strat.
Finally, although it is a rare event, it is also possible to find Stratocaster or Precision Bass from the '60s with a matching headstock.
Those made between ’54 and ’55 exhibit edges more rounded than the headstocks of the following years, which had sharper contours.
The so called “big headstock”, which appeared on the Stratocaster in December 1965, was one of the more evident changes of the new CBS management. There has been much speculation about the reason for this transition. Many believe that the purpose was to make the new Fender logo more present on television. Scott Zimmerman, Fender luthier between 1977 and 1984, ensures that the big headstock had been already conceived in 1964 by Leo Fender and Freddie Tavares, persuaded that a greater mass could increase sustain. According to Scott, after the sale to CBS, Freddie, who stayed with Fender, and Leo, by contract an external consultant, designed the lines of the new headstock, taking inspiration from the Jazzmaster. Actually, they soon realized that the sound did not benefit from this change, so that they both defined the big headstock: «That’s without a doubt the stupidest idea we ever came up with together»!
In general, Stratocaster headstock gradually became even thicker, with substantial differences in 1963, 1967 and in 1971.
In the autumn of 1981 the headstock went back to being small, although not quite the same as in the pre-CBS period: the new Smith headstock was so nicknamed because it was seen for the first time on the 1981 Standard Stratocaster (called "Smith Stratocaster"), but was later used on the late 1982 and 1983 Strat, on the Elite Stratocaster (Gold Elite and Walnut Elite included), on the 1983 Standard Stratocaster and on the first Vintage reissues.
The 1987 American Standard finally exhibited a new small headstock with the shape very similar to those of the years '54 -'65. However, only in 1998 Stratocaster headstocks were made following the correct design, mostly thanks to the studies of master builder Michael Stevens on the pre-CBS Stratocasters which brought to the birth of the Time Machine series.
We must remember also the twenty-five Stratocasters made in 1980 which had a reverse headstock, to imitate the Stratocasters used by Jimi Hendrix, and the first 1980 Strats, with which Fender tried to return to a smaller headstock, although the shape was completely different from the pre-CBS one. The latter headstock, often called Lead II headstock or Atrophied headstock, was also used in the Gold Stratocaster and in the Walnut Strat.
Finally, although it is a rare event, it is also possible to find Stratocaster or Precision Bass from the '60s with a matching headstock.
Logo and decals
In the pre-CBS and in the CBS era different Fender logos and many decals alternated on Stratocaster headstock. All the decals of the vintage Stratocasters and of the reissues were water decals applied by letting them slide on the surface, and this is why it was possible to find some of them placed incorrectly.
The historical Spaghetti Logo, golden with black border, remained on the headstock until December 1964. Its position, however, has not remained constant over time: many Stratocasters, in the mid-1960s, have the logo slightly shifted towards the ball of the headstock.
As early as June 1964, a new logo, bigger, golden with black border, called Transition Logo, started to circulate at the same time as the Spaghetti one.
The next Black Logo or CBS Logo or TV Logo, more evident, black with golden border, appeared in mid-1968 (although sometimes it is possible to find it on some Stratocasters of the end of 1967) and remained unchanged until 1977, when its yellow border became slightly larger thus narrowing the black of the body of the letters.
Since its first appearance, CBS logo has always been accompanied by a circled “R” standing for “registered”. The same symbol has appeared also next to the "STRATOCASTER" decal since the end of 1976, when the serial numbers moved from the neck plate to the headstock and the "ORIGINAL Contour Body PATENTED" decal disappeared.
Until the mid-1968, before the advent of the Black Logo, the decals were applied over the paint, in the following years below. However, it is possible to find the Transition Logo both protected by the transparent, and almost unchanged over time, and applied over. This type of logo had unprotected metallic pigments, which oxidized over time becoming dark green, until they detached themselves from the subtle decal.
In mid-1983 the new silver Modern Logo, sometimes called Whitish Logo or Silver Logo, started to be applied on the headstock on the second version of the Standard Stratocaster and on that of the Elite Stratocaster (although it had previously appeared on the 1980 Strat). In 1995 Fender went back to using, on the American Standard and on the Plus series, a "whitish" Spaghetti logo and the same time moved the serial number, which since 1976 had been on the front of the headstock, in the back, while since 1982 the Vintage Stratocaster reissues have been showing a Spaghetti Logo without the patent numbers.
The historical Spaghetti Logo, golden with black border, remained on the headstock until December 1964. Its position, however, has not remained constant over time: many Stratocasters, in the mid-1960s, have the logo slightly shifted towards the ball of the headstock.
As early as June 1964, a new logo, bigger, golden with black border, called Transition Logo, started to circulate at the same time as the Spaghetti one.
The next Black Logo or CBS Logo or TV Logo, more evident, black with golden border, appeared in mid-1968 (although sometimes it is possible to find it on some Stratocasters of the end of 1967) and remained unchanged until 1977, when its yellow border became slightly larger thus narrowing the black of the body of the letters.
Since its first appearance, CBS logo has always been accompanied by a circled “R” standing for “registered”. The same symbol has appeared also next to the "STRATOCASTER" decal since the end of 1976, when the serial numbers moved from the neck plate to the headstock and the "ORIGINAL Contour Body PATENTED" decal disappeared.
Until the mid-1968, before the advent of the Black Logo, the decals were applied over the paint, in the following years below. However, it is possible to find the Transition Logo both protected by the transparent, and almost unchanged over time, and applied over. This type of logo had unprotected metallic pigments, which oxidized over time becoming dark green, until they detached themselves from the subtle decal.
In mid-1983 the new silver Modern Logo, sometimes called Whitish Logo or Silver Logo, started to be applied on the headstock on the second version of the Standard Stratocaster and on that of the Elite Stratocaster (although it had previously appeared on the 1980 Strat). In 1995 Fender went back to using, on the American Standard and on the Plus series, a "whitish" Spaghetti logo and the same time moved the serial number, which since 1976 had been on the front of the headstock, in the back, while since 1982 the Vintage Stratocaster reissues have been showing a Spaghetti Logo without the patent numbers.
Until 1960, only the "STRATOCASTER" decal appeared on the headstock near the Fender logo and, in the guitars equipped with vibrato, also the "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO" one (abandoned at the beginning of 1971). They were both drastically enlarged in 1968 with the advent of the CBS Logo.
At the end of 1976 the serial number was added under the Fender logo and the writing “MADE IN USA” under the word “STRATOCASTER”.
In 1983, with the introduction of the new Modern Logo, the word “STRATOCASTER” was considerably reduced, while remaining larger than that of the pre-CBS Fender.
At the end of 1976 the serial number was added under the Fender logo and the writing “MADE IN USA” under the word “STRATOCASTER”.
In 1983, with the introduction of the new Modern Logo, the word “STRATOCASTER” was considerably reduced, while remaining larger than that of the pre-CBS Fender.
Between the end of 1960 and January 1961 also different patent numbers gradually began to appear, on the headstock, at the bottom, which were applied until the end of 1976:
It is interesting to note that not all these serial numbers refer to the Stratocaster: for example, DES 169,062 indicates the design of the Precision Bass, and 2,960,900 that of the Jazzmaster; 2,573,254 refers to Broadcaster pickup and bridge combination and 2,817,261 to the hum cancelling double coil of the steel guitars! 2,741,146 refers to the Stratocaster tremolo and 3,143,028 to the neck equipped with an adjustable truss rod.
- From late 1960 / January 1961: PAT 2,573,254, 2,741,146
- From early 1962 to late 1964, with Spaghetti Logo: PAT 2,573,254 2,741,146 2,960,900
- From mid 1964 until the end of 1967, with the Transition Logo: PAT 2,573,254 2,741,146 2,960,900 3,143,028 (or with the 2nd and 3rd pat. numbers reversed)
- From mid-1965 to the end of 1967: PAT 2,573,254 2,741,146 2,960,900 3,143,028 2,817,261
- From mid-1965 to mid-1968, with the Transition Logo: PAT 2,741,146 3,143,028 DES 169,062
- From mid-1967, with the CBS Logo, to the first months of 1971: PAT 2,741,146 3,143,028
- From mid 1970: PAT 2,741,146
- From late 1971 to 1976: PAT 3,143,028
It is interesting to note that not all these serial numbers refer to the Stratocaster: for example, DES 169,062 indicates the design of the Precision Bass, and 2,960,900 that of the Jazzmaster; 2,573,254 refers to Broadcaster pickup and bridge combination and 2,817,261 to the hum cancelling double coil of the steel guitars! 2,741,146 refers to the Stratocaster tremolo and 3,143,028 to the neck equipped with an adjustable truss rod.
Since 1954 the Stratocaster has had, on the ball of the headstock, the small "ORIGINAL Contour Body" decal. To this was added in the early 1961 that "Pat.Pend." – but it was possible to find it also on the last 1960 Stratocasters – or the uppercase version too, sometimes present from the second half of 1965; these decals were replaced by the "PATENTED" one present together with the 1968 Black Logo. Finally, they were all abandoned at the end of 1976, simultaneously with the patent numbers, when Fender moved the serial number from the neck-plate to the front of the headstock.
Spaghetti logo, no patent numbers and "Original Countour Body" decal on a '55 Strat (realvintage.it)
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Spaghetti logo, two patent numbers and "Original Countur Body" decal with "Pat. Pend." on a 1961 Stratocaster
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Transition Logo, five patent numbers and "Original Countour Body" decal with "Pat. Pend." on a 1966 Strat (Recaster)
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Large headstock with dark CBS black logo and "R", only one patent number and "Original Contour body" decal with "Patented" on the ball of the headstock
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Late CBS large headstock (1979) with narrower black letters and larger border; serial number on the headstock
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"Atrophied" headstock with modern logo on a 1980 Strat (courtesy of reverb.com)
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Smith headstock and black logo on 1982 Stratocaster Standard (courtesy of Mario Cecil)
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Smith headstock and modern logo on a 1983 Stratocaster Standard (reverb.com)
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1989 American Standard Stratocaster: Modern logo and serial number on the front face of the headstock, no "Original Contour Body" decal or patent numbers
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Comparison between a 1996 headstock, on the left, with one from 1999, on the right. All headstcocks made after the CBS era, but before 1998, had a shape similiar to the pre-CBS one, but not the same. You can see a different inclination of the curve "A" and more pronunced "B" curve on the headstock on the left, so nicknamed "pregnant headstock" (photos: reverb.com)
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Comparison between the back face of the headstock of a 1954 stratocaster, with rounder shapes, and a 1961 one
Comparison between an original 1957 Spaghetti logo (on top) and one of a reissue (bottom). Note the pointed "E" of "Fender" and the different fonts used for the decal "Synchronyzed Tremolo" (pay attention to letter "M" of "Tremolo").
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Comparison between a fake Transition logo (in the middle position) and two different kind of original Transition Logos
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Original Transition logo (on top) ed a fake one (below). Note the different fonts used for the decal "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO"
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