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1979 Fender Stratocaster

by Gordon
(San Jose, CA, USA)

1979 Fender Stratocaster

1979 Fender Stratocaster

This is what I believe to be a 1979 Fender Stratocaster, with serial number S954896. It is in perfect condition.
The case is not original, but it is a Fender case.

ANSWER

Hi, Gordon--

The serial number indicates that your guitar was made at the Fullerton Plant (Fender - CBS Era), USA in 1978 - 1981, so the 1979 date is probably correct.

Here is the Blue Book general info:

STRATOCASTER THREE-BOLT NECK (CBS MFG. 1971-1981) A
- offset double cutaway alder or ash body with smaller body contours, bolt-on three-screw one-piece 21-fret maple neck with black dot inlays, or maple neck with 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with clay off-white dot inlays, large Strat-style headstock with two string guides and truss rod adjustment at bottom, six-on-one-side tuners, tremolo bridgeor six-saddle hardtail bridge with STB, white laminated (1971-75, 1981) or black laminated (1975-1981) pickguard, three single coil staggered height (1971-late 1974) or flatpole (late 1974-1981) pickups with white covers (1971-75, 1979-1981) or black covers (1975-1981), three knobs (v, two tone), three-way (1971-77) or five-way (1977-1981) pickup switch, jack angled into the top, nickel hardware, available in standard 3-Tone Sunburst finish or various custom color finishes, 25.5 in. scale, mfg. 1971-1981.

The pricing info:

1979
Mint $2,250
Exc.+ $1,800
Exc. $1,500
Avg.+ $1,200
Avg. $950
General $700

Add 10-15% for Black finish.

Lynne

Comments for
1979 Fender Stratocaster

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Dec 06, 2011
Rating
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Something's not right
by: Chuckygm

It's definitely black, but was it born black or Cathay Ebony? Original, I don't think so. Pristine? I can't believe it is. If it's black from 1979, I have never seen a white pickguard with black pickup covers and white knobs and a white selector switch. I've seen them with either all black plastic with a white trem cover or ALL white plastic. All white plastic, rare, IMHO. OR if it's 80-82 (are the pickup bottoms black plastic with the embossed numbers, If so, definitely 80-82) AND if it has the white pickgaurd and trem cover WITH black pickup covers, knobs and switch tip, it's your ultra rare Cathay Ebony from the International series. Of course the big headstock is your tell tale that it's not '81-83 Smith and the other tell tall is if the pot dates, neck stamp date, pick up cavity date STICKER and if the neck pocket serial number STICKER matches the S9##### serial on the headstock... You have an original AND pristine axe. In any case it's not original nor pristine, however, In every case it's a Stratocaster and I can't imagine playing any other guitar, period. So many things need to be looked at and so many things need to be considered. What I mean by considered is you have Fender in the late 70s, in a transitional time of its life. Do they use existing 79 necks and bodies and existing 80-81 pickups/electronics, and concoct the 81 "colour" ideas and frankenstein a bunch of "custom color" guitars so they don't waste stock? You bet your ass! Commerce drives bad AND good decisions. CBS thanks god they fucked with perfection, because if you stray a tad from perfection, it's still pretty fucking awesome. This applies to any late 70 early 80 fender guitar or bass. Peace out. Chuck.

Aug 18, 2011
Rating
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fender 79international color
by: sam

come on guys i just bought one in capri orange from original owner in pristine condition it was stocked away for 30+ years never been played im the second owner this guitar was never opened before i was the 1st one to open it inside out,all original no scratches whatsoever on the body,and when i pluged it in it sounded amazing after all these years,this im keeping forever and ever.its light weight i was surprised maybe ash body.as far as i know these guitars will live another 30 if not another 100 years and there will be no other guitars to replace them.
so please guys dont put these guitars down.
oh..did i mention its a shred killer machine.

Jan 06, 2011
Rating
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1979 Strat in black
by: Rocco

I have an ALL black `79 with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and a coil tap. This thing is a pyle driver, man! Unbelievable power and sustain. The finish has always been an issue with these things and mine has a ton of finish cracks and a few spots of exposed wood where the poly has come right off, whole! Thing is still BAD ASS! Incredible maple neck that feels sooo good...because of the cosmetic issues with the finish I picked it up for $800 and I'm never getting rid of it!

Nov 12, 2010
Rating
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my 79' strat
by: hwinters

i have a sunburst body with a maple neck and black pick guard. is that combination common for a strat. i put seymor-duncan pick-ups in it . same strat sound as original only louder and brighter. love it!!!

Aug 14, 2010
Rating
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1979 solid body hard tail candy apple red
by: TJ

Mine is a 1979 solid body hard tail, no cut out in back candy apple red, maple finger board black pick guard and pick ups all original, I'm thinking of selling it..

Aug 01, 2010
Rating
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END OF THE STRATS
by: Anonymous

collectibilty-wise what always surprises me on these pages is that they carry relatively little value when they are the last of Leo's basic notion. It's the same stock, chunky, noisy Stratocaster Buddy G and H, Jimi and the Ventures used. Assembly line built. The last of the breed, I think.

Mar 29, 2010
Rating
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Maybe International series ?
by: Anonymous

Looks like Fender USA 'International series' custom colour cathay ebony ! correct for 1981.White pickguards were only available in '81' with the larger headstock necks... ultra rare and highly sought after if it is Cathay ebony!. Most of the International series of colours never came with cases from new...they also would have had black pickups covers like the one pictures.Also came in Morroco Red,Sahara Taupe,Capri orange and monacco yellow! Common to see 'S9' necks on these. I have a Capri orange Telecater from 1980 with an 'S9' prefix serial number.

Mar 20, 2010
Rating
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My '79 Strat is white
by: Randy

My '79 Strat is white...or used to be. Over the years, it's more cream colored. I bought it in 1980, but it was made in '79. The black pickguard, etc. has been replaced with a white pickguard, white pickup covers, white knobs, and white tip on the detuning mechanism arm. :-)

Other than that, it's all stock. I put some of that sticky copper tape in the pickup cavity hoping it would help tame the noise (it didn't). But the pickups and everything else is stock.

It's acquired a few dings through the years from playing here and there - and I'll never give it up.

http://users.techline.com/rag/strat/strat.htm

Jul 16, 2009
Rating
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Color confirmation
by: Anonymous

Black finish it is...
Thanks,
Gordon

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