Fender Stratocaster Hardtail Black 1974
Fender Strat Hardtail, refinished in black, made in USA 1974. This is super rad: it's been heavily modded and played a lot, and it's got a lot of swagger. The headline mod is the reason why this plays so well: it's been re-fretted with jumbo frets and fitted with a new maple fretboard with a 12" radius. Some 1970s Strats had better fret and finish work than others, so it's often a smart move to buy a re-fretted example... this is just taking that logic to it's natural conclusion, right? The neck is a chunky U shape, and it feels fantastic. The pickups have been replaced with a set of Vanzandt singles, hand wound in Texas. They sound amazing too: rich and thick through the lows and mids, sparkly and glassy on top, amazing complexity and balance.... yum. In my books, the sound is much easier to manage than the slicing brightness of many 70s factory pickups, as it's a fair bit fatter and warmer. The hardtail bridge is unusual, and lends the guitar a little more sustain and high-midrange snap than a tremolo bridge, and also makes for excellent tuning stability, helped along by upgraded tuners and a bone nut. The big bold logos and black finish tie it all together perfectly: this thing rules, it's such a convincing guitar.
Model: Fender Stratocaster Hardtail
Made: USA, 1974, Fullerton factory
Serial: 562900
Finish: black, gloss urethane, refinished
Body: ash
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 12" radius, fat U shape
Weight: 3.440kg
Mods: tuners replaced, new bone nut, second string tree removed, fretboard replaced, re-radiused, new jumbo frets installed, pickups replaced, re-wired with Fender volume pot and CTS tone pots and 0.047μF ceramic capacitor, raw vintage saddles installed, refinished
Pickups: Vanzandt True Vintage single coil x3, wired for out-of-phase on positions 2 and 4
Accessories: original case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has chips and scuffs on the end, some dimples on the bottom edge,. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back, as well as visible lines where the fretboard has been replaced. The back has widespread minor scuffs, surface scratches and dimples, as well as some dents in the elbow area, bald patches around the neck plate and a long scratch in the bottom corner. The sides have a chip and some dimples on the top horn, a bald patch and some dimples in the elbow area, some scuffs, checking and dimples along the back edge and near the controls, a small chip near the jack and some case burn, checking and dimples on the bottom horn. The front has scuffs and a dent on the top horn, a bald patch, a dent and some scuffs in the elbow area, dimples and scuffs around the bridge and knobs, two decent chips that have been smoothed out around the jack and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 strings.
Fret life: 9/10, minor wear only