Fender Stratocaster turns 60

[DP]

Thrown together story but some nice pix. Just says it's 60 yo in April:

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/60th-annive...slideshow/

[Yoyodyne ArtWorks]

No shot of Rory Gallagher's iconic Strat, why am I not surprised...

[rz]

But mine's only 10 years old!

[onthedownlow]

What? No love for the Starcaster? (I know there was a gap there and now it is a different market for it)


: )

[Octave Doctor]

Starcaster is a whole different thing, would have been better with real WRHB, those are amazing pups.

Probably didn't include Rory's Strat, since it would probably tempt Joe Bonnamassa to play it again.miley-signs006:

[DP]

And there are Telecasters, too...

[flightdelayedagain]

Hey, what about the Fender Mustang?

Many many years ago my wonderful parents bought me a new Fender Mustang for Christmas - I asked for a Strat but they got me the cheaper Mustang so I was happy none the less. Yes, I still have it but don't play it much. It's an F Series 1966 or 1967 and in great shape. Not sure what it's worth - had it been a Strat, it would be worth lots more

[JoeM]

My first good guitar was purchased new and was a 1967 Telecaster. I paid $160.00 for it with case from Jimmy's Music on 48th St. In NYC. I still have it. I was lucky enough to play a number of great Fender guitars from the 60s and a few from the late 50's along with many Gibsons and others when I worked on 48th St from 1971-72 at Buddy's Music (now Rudy's).

We would buy them used - 60's Strats going for about $250.00 and sometimes less. I have never played anything like the instruments built in the 50's and 60's. There was something about the wood they had then.

I had Strings & Things Custom Shop in Memphis Tenn. build me a custom Strat around 79 or 80 and still use it for my main axe. It has a Duncan JB in the bridge position and two other single coil Duncans along with a Kahler bridge. I replaced their neck with a vintage Fender Strat neck and replaced the frets on the Fender neck with Dunlop jumbo frets. It a great guitar but I wish I would have had the $250.00 back in 71 to buy one of those 60's Strats.

Here's my Strings & Things Strat:

[Will Collier]

I'm glad I blew a good chunk of my summer job money on a new American Standard in '91. Less than half the price you'd pay for one today (even at a discount joint), and it still plays like a dream--even if you have two thumbs and suck as a guitar player (this guy).