My new guitar!!! 1979 fender strat

I came across an american fender stratocaster from 1979 black with white pick guard. I figured it would be about 1000-1500 considering the condition (though I am no expert)

May one of you can help me out with the value?

Anyways. The guy ended up selling it to me for $600 and I have to say I love this guitar so much. It has great character. Plays like a dream. and probably most importantly it sounds so good. Its making friends amps that I hate sound amazing. And my fender blues jr sound like heaven.

I am excited and just wanted to share the news.

the questions I have are.

1. what do you think its worth (its all original except the 1/4 connector and the back plate with the 4 bolt.

2. Would you rather have a new strat.. or 1990 1980... or a late 70's

3. Would it be hard (or worth) me replacing all the non original parts with 1979 replacements.

Thanks

2.

Sweet man. I'd leave everything original for value reasons. If something actually isn't working though get it replaced.

Ebay shows 79 strats going for 2k...

Don't Fender's come with serial numbers so you can determine what model/where it was made?

I'm sure if you run that number through their website, it will tell you what exactly you bought

some of the old strat's the sn# were behind where the neck screws to the body

There is a serial number... so far all i can find is that is a 79... plus that is what I was told from the second owner.

The serial on the neck is S934600

I can check the botten of the neck and all the internals which I will do when I have a friend who knows what he is doing with me.

I have seen them go for about 1500 and this was not the only really really cheap piece of gear I got off him (electronic stuff)

It is fairly banged up... 30+ nicks on the body and 2-4 deep gouges that go to base wood.

The neck looks really worn but there are no dings it looks really good. I will try get some good pictures up. specially when I take it apart.

if anyone can help me with getting more info then just year from the serial number please let me know.

Thanks

Wow Congrats!!! Should sound awesome! You can serch on internet the serial and then the info comes out

I hate to tell you dude, but if he sold you a 1979 strat for $700, then one of two things have happened:

1) (the more likely) You got ripped off and it's not a 1979 strat, or it's missing a bunch of original pieces so that it's not worth what a 1979 strat should be worth

2) The guy you bought it from is an idiot and had no idea of its worth.

If I were you, I'd run the serial number and double check the validity of the guitar, cus 1979 strat in good condition should run over $2k. Really good condition and all original can fetch over $3k IF the market is right (market sucks right now).

As far as your 3rd question, it's impossible to replace the original parts, because no matter if they're 1979 or not, they're NOT the original that came with the guitar.

Also, if the neck plate was replaced, you might want to check to see if the neck isn't original. You may have a 1979 neck with who knows what year body.

Maybe it's only worth $700 because the body is in terrible condition, I dunno. But I wouldn't be surprised if someone pulled a fast one on you. I'd be damned if I let an ORIGINAL 1979 go for $700, that's just crazy.

my dad has the same strat i think

i would say that the guy probably didnt know how much they were worth, some people truly have no idea. like my dad was looking through the paper and found an ad for a Robot Gibson SG for 700 bucks or something. he went to check it out, it wasnt a robot guitar at all, turns out the guy who owned it just looked at the gibson website and wrote what he saw first. which could have been what happened to you. or maybe he just doesnt know anything about guitars. and it being pretty beat up would make him think its of even less value

If I was faced with that decision I would have went the same way, but I would have to know it was actually a '79. It should have a wide headstock. Got this from the guitar dater project.com. I entered your SN to get this info.

Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - CBS Era), USA
in the Year(s): 1978 - 1981


Fender: Fullerton
The Fullerton factory opened in 1946, Fullerton California with the first major electric solid body guitar production began in 1950 with the Broadcaster (later known as the Telecaster). Sold in 1965 to CBS who in 1985 sold Fender to a group of private investors the plant was not included in that sale and was subsequently closed.

congrats man, if your on the hunt you can find some deals...

I bought a pre-war gibson L-00 acoustic for $300 and ended up selling it for $1850.

I had another unknow gibson f hole style electric i traded for a taser but that got stolen from me.

Sorry to bring a post back from the dead but I just had to reply to Floydfanatic

@Floydfanatic I had it checked out at el rayo guitars in San Diego which is an extremely highly esteemed shop.

The guy was gushing. it is a 79 it is all original (except what I stated) and just a dahm amazing guitar (both body and neck).. and it was just a lucky find... I actually brought a friend who is extremely knowledgeable to help me out.

Talking about deals I could probably write a list of about 100 deals that would blow your minds but I assume most of you are not gear***z (recording equipment etc so I will just list some of my guitar steals.

MIM strat 98 (my favorite of my like 10 MIM strats over the years... pretty much brand new in case for 80 bucks

Fender blues jr. 180

Gibson sg standard with quite a few upgrades and all original stuff with it to.. with original case and paperwork 450

boss rc-50 loopstation 200

I am always looking for the right deal at the right time and it pays off.