This guitar is in unreal condition. It is a 1982 Fender "Strat" model in Candy Apple Red finish. The guitar is 100% original and in immaculate condition. The Gold hardware on these guitars is notorious for oxidizing over the years and becoming more of a brassy look-this guitar has gold hardware that is bright and super shiny. It also has the very rare gold tuners! Known for years as "The Strat" model, this variation was only produced a short time between 1980-1982. The design was conceived in order to bring back excitement to the Stratocaster model line and included a combination of new and old features. Some of the old features included the smaller pre-CBS style headstock, which was rumored to be produced from the original 1950's templates, which were pretty worn out but nonetheless it worked. The matching headstock and original 4-bolt neck joint with deep contours on the body were also features from the good old days. The bridge has a full size block like a 1960's strat and also has a thick sustain block on the upper lip of the tremolo-adding sustain to the guitar. The newly developed X-1 pickup design was utilized for a tone that resembled the woody "bell" tone of the Pre-CBS Strats. Instead of 2 tone controls the designers chose a master volume and master tone control along with a selector switch camouflaged as a tone control. Most incredibly, Fender chose to plate the brass hardware with real 22K gold. Consequently, it is rumored that they lost money on every one of these guitars that they sold. They originally sold new for $995 in 1980 but that number ballooned to $1150 by 1982. That was a LOT of money for a guitar back then. This guitar was made at the original Fender factory in Fullerton California, U.S.A. It has factory inspection marks in the neck slot as well as the body and pickup date codes as well. It is very obvious that this guitar was very well-cared for and rarely, if ever, played. It is in Time-Machine condition and needs nothing.
The body is the standard Stratocaster shape with contours on the front and back. The Candy Apple Red finish is a true candy paint with a gold base and translucent "apple red" hue sprayed over. A clear top coat seals the finish. The paint is in excellent condition with a perfect factory orange peel texture which is common with the Candy Apple Red finish of this time period. Typically, the Candy Apple Reds can appear splotchy or mottled but this one is super even everywhere and has no issues. It has a depth and glimmer that appear like wet paint! There is a tiny dimple on the bottom horn-see photos. The backside is super clean as well with only a hint of handling evidence. The neck joint is super solid and an excellent fitment. The neck slot has the original paper inspection sticker as well as a rear shim.
The neck itself is again very clean and in excellent condition. The neck is straight and the truss rod functions smoothly. The neck width at the nut measures 1.60" wide. The neck profile is best described as a modern slim-C and the neck depth measures .806" at the 1st fret and .930" deep at the 12th fret. Perfect for chords down low and solo action up high. The backside is very comfortable. The original gold tuners are in excellent condition and function smoothly. The headstock and logo both display excellent and the gold string trees and tuners look fabulous on that field of Candy Apple Red. The fingerboard is maple and it is really clean-see photos. The frets are in ridiculously clean condition with crisp clean surfaces and zero signs of wear. The action has been set low for an easy playing experience with a super light touch. The guitar plays excellent everywhere on the fingerboard with zero dead spots. Chords, single notes, full-on shredding and it bends with the best of them. The string height measures .010" at the 1st fret and .045" at the 12th fret.
The guitar sounds as fabulous as it looks. The pickups all have an excellent signal and the neck measures 12.74 ohms, middle 11.21 ohms and bridge position measures 11.48 ohms. The pickups are the black bobbin single coils and they are in excellent condition with dates of 1982 written on the bottom of the bobbin. The wiring harness is in excellent condition nd the original potentiometers date to late 1981. The familiar 5-way switch selects the standardized stratocaster pickup positions. The controls feature volume, tone and the third one is a selector switch which features a double-stack design and provides additional combinations. The pickguard and pickup covers are all in excellent condition as is the bridge, vibrato arm and saddles. The hardware on this guitar is super clean-right down to output jack and ALL of the screws.
The guitar is fun to play and sounds amazing. It weighs 10.17 lbs.
The condition on this guitar is really outstanding. It would be a beautiful addition to anyone's collection. The guitar and case are both easily the nicest examples of this model I have ever seen. Can't go wrong with this unit.
A very early pale tweed fender hardcase is included-no doubt it is the original. It has the fuzzy orange interior which is mint, and the outside of the case is super clean.
