❌SOLD❌ Fender Stratocaster Hard Tail Black, 1973

When Leo Fender introduced his new design in 1954, the revolutionary trem bridge was a central feature. The Stratocaster Hardtail model didn’t appear until March 1955, and remained part of the line until 2010.

The two Stratocaster versions are very similar, but the fixed hard tail bridge model doesn’t have the large cavity routed on the back for the trem block and springs. Without that cavity and the spring components, the Fender Stratocaster tends to have a bit more sustain and note-to-note clarity and separation, as with the Telecaster. Of course, this means it does not have the ‘built-in reverb’ contributed by the springs, whether the bridge is set to trem use, or fully tightened down for tuning stability.

This Fender Stratocaster guitar features the classic finished one piece Maple neck, with the new from 1971 3-bolt MicroTilt neck and hex-key ‘Bullet’ truss rod adjuster at the head. The MicroTilt and Bullet adjuster are extremely practical features, allowing rapid adjustments to the guitar’s setup, without disassembling it. Many earlier Fender models have damaged pickguards from truss rod adjustments with the neck on – a flat screwdriver would frequently be used and dig into the pickguard. These two features have persisted to current models, though with some refinements. Now, the tilt mechanism is used with a four-bolt neck, and the truss rod adjuster is often internal. However, some of the newest Elite series models use Vox-style body-end, edge-drilled truss rod adjuster, with the fingerboard notched for access.

Dating to 1973, this guitar was built at the CBS – Fender facility in Fullerton, California, with one-piece maple neck, gloss black finish, and hard tail bridge.

It is in all original condition, with some wear – as often happened, the finish on the side below the output jack is worn (usually from contact with the case)  but otherwise is in good clean condition. The neck finish is also in good shape. On many examples of this age, the finish particularly on the treble edge of the fingerboard is quite worn and tends to chip. Here, that type of wear is light.

Overall, the guitar plays well and cleanly, and has recently been serviced in our shop.   

The original hard shell case is included.