Need your advice on a Strat!

[Soiouz]

Guys, a friend was offered a 1979 Stratocaster in red that is in very good condition and all original except.... a Freakin' Floyd Rose assembly was fitted in lieu of the original bridge.

Now, he asked me what I thought of it, but I have no clue as to what it's worth... The guy could sell for 900$ CDN (about the same in US currency at the current rate).


What do you guys think??

[vegasrock]

...........

[Soiouz]

peronally I think I would pass. 

Ok, thanks for the advice... But, out of curiosity, what exactly is the biggest downside to you? Year? Price? Floyd Rose mod?...

[vegasrock]

...........

[RumorsOFsurF]

Disco Strats are okay, IMO, but not Floyd Roses!   900CDN doesn't sound that unreasonable.  You could probably flip it and make a profit with a few vintage parts...I say go for it.  It's not like it's a Jazzmaster, but I think you could stand to make out well on the deal.

[1946dodge]

For 900 bucks you can buy a brand new strat that is made better and sounds better.
If you want a guitar with a Floyd, I would get an Ibanez or a Jackson (hot rod.) guitar.
Go and play a new strat especially with the S1 switching system and you will love the sound.
The quality of the late 70's guitars wasnt all that good either.
Big headstocks are fine with me, in fact I prefer them. My 66 Jag has a big headstock.

[~*blissedandgone*~]

Does the guitar sound good and seem like a decently built guitar? I don't subscribe to the "ALL 70'S FENDERS ARE CRAP!," it's more "HALF OF 70'S FENDERS ARE CRAP!" I have my eyes on a '76 Mustang that is built very sturdy and is pretty sweet. Now this Strat, is the body routed to accomidate the allen-wrench turny part? (I don't care to learn the real name of that part, Floyds are ghastly looking things) Can you revert it back to a vintage-style trem? Or even a modern two-point trem? If so, I'd say get it. If it's all modded, then I would take a pass.


An old Fender is pretty cool in my opinion

[StevenO]

Yeah, a "friend" wants this guitar. It's okay to want a strat. We'll accept you for who you are, even despite your strat-loving ways.


I like strats too.

[~*blissedandgone*~]

I own a Strat, and I love it.

[Soiouz]

Yeah, a "friend" wants this guitar. It's okay to want a strat. We'll accept you for who you are, even despite your strat-loving ways.


I like strats too.

Ok, ok!! 

Now, people.. I do own a Strat already and I'm far from ashamed of it!.. 

And this is really for a friend who actually just became a member here, but I think he didn't start his introductory thread yet. He's VintagePete on here.

As for the intent, it is in fact to replace the FR with a standard Strat bridge and resell the thing right away.


I gather from the rest of the comments that providing there's not too much routing done to accomodate the FR and that the guitar sounds ok, it's probably a decent deal to do a quick restoration on and resell.

[Jay]

ID hte neck was routed to install the locking nut then it's going to be more work to restore since you have to add back the portion of the board behind the nut and fill in the holes on the underside.  Not that it cna't be done of course but I'm not sure there is a whole lot of room for profit considering the time involved and the final value of a restored '79 strat.  Now if you wanted to fix it and sit on it for a few years then I'm certain there would be room for some profit.  Just my opinion though, I could be wrong.

As for guitars with Floyd's, some are quite cool IMO.  Can't stand the Ibanez and Jackson one though...  I'd go Kramer all the way.  The new Baretta re-issues are awesome or a nice vintage Pacer.

[i love sharin foo]

I gather from the rest of the comments that providing there's not too much routing done to accomodate the FR and that the guitar sounds ok, it's probably a decent deal to do a quick restoration on and resell.

That is my thinking too, though I am not real familiar with Floyds.

ID hte neck was routed to install the locking nut then it's going to be more work to restore since you have to add back the portion of the board behind the nut and fill in the holes on the underside.  Not that it cna't be done of course but I'm not sure there is a whole lot of room for profit considering the time involved and the final value of a restored '79 strat.  Now if you wanted to fix it and sit on it for a few years then I'm certain there would be room for some profit.  Just my opinion though, I could be wrong.

My thoughts as well. Personally, I'd rather fill a body route than try to reverse a locking nut mod. Overall, if it can be returned to stock for not a whole lot of cash, I think the price is pretty good. Also, for the record, when I am looking at '70s Fenders, I don't compare them to '60s models in terms of sound or feel. I like to think of them as something different that can make some different sounds and feels differently. Because of that, I have (and do) owned some '70s Fenders that many say are junk, but that I loved and thought did a lot of things really well. Different strokes for different folks I guess. (I did catch the part that this one is intended as a turnover for some profit... just wanted to air my feelings on '70s Fenders  )

Justin

[cmatthes]

There IS a difference in routing in a Floyd and a standard Strat trem.  You'd have to deal with body fill (a pain to get it right with no seams), refin (or at best a clever touch up) and then the dreaded lock nut reversal surgery, which on a Strat would never be invisible.

I'd pass if the thought was to restore and flip it.  You'll lose money on that deal most likely...

[Soiouz]

There IS a difference in routing in a Floyd and a standard Strat trem.  You'd have to deal with body fill (a pain to get it right with no seams), refin (or at best a clever touch up) and then the dreaded lock nut reversal surgery, which on a Strat would never be invisible.

I'd pass if the thought was to restore and flip it.  You'll lose money on that deal most likely...

Thanks for the input. Yeah, my friend passed on it. He bought a beautiful 1966 Harmony Jupiter instead, and it's gonna be a keeper for him!

[StevenO]

There IS a difference in routing in a Floyd and a standard Strat trem.  You'd have to deal with body fill (a pain to get it right with no seams), refin (or at best a clever touch up) and then the dreaded lock nut reversal surgery, which on a Strat would never be invisible.

I'd pass if the thought was to restore and flip it.  You'll lose money on that deal most likely...

Thanks for the input. Yeah, my friend passed on it. He bought a beautiful 1966 Harmony Jupiter instead, and it's gonna be a keeper for him!

Sounds like you did good with the Harmony. Hope you're not to bummed out about not getting your strat.