I have a 1979 with floating vibrato and love it , since it was my first proper guitar in the 80s.These guitars were much derided by snobs.Since it was a 'low-point' in Fender's history.It's not as curvy and has flat pole pickups and a bullet truss rod, 3 screw neckplate ,heavy Northern Ash body etc..Big deal ! I've had it for 37 years and no problems.(Maybe the back problem now and then ). It has aged very nicely unlike me. It also has great funk sounds.And a great gnarly rich overdriven sound that is three dimensional with the vibrato float Your playing is great.All the best to you.
Just picked up a black 79 hard tail. I cried in the parking lot of the guitar store, it’s my birth year and exactly what I’ve wanted for years. It has beautiful finish checking and tons of mojo. Era correct tweed case. Through my Friedman JJ Jr on the neck pickup it’s Hendrix all day! Great video man, thanks for showing how awesome these much maligned guitars are. I’d recommend to anyone especially if it weighs in under 9lbs!
I have a '79 fender strat with a maple neck and ash body. Thing is as heavy as a Les Paul and looks exactly like the guitar Ritchie Blackmore played at Cal Jam. I bought it back in the 90s for around $750. I wouldn't sell or trade it for anything.
The body wood looks like Ash. Swamp Ash is just Ash grown in special places and it's usually a bit less heavy but it used more in moden guitars. Alder is rather less "deep" looking with less constrast in the grain (some people might call Alder look boring) so it's used more on guitars on which the wooden look isn't pronounced as it's here. Really love the middle pickup's drive sound! :D
the only thing that i suspect might not be original are the saddles on the bridge. I think the 79 would have the cast iron version not the bent steel. I have pretty much the same guitar. Hardtail same colour. 3 point neck attachment. Rosewood board (veneer). Mine's from '81 the last year they did the 3 bolt i believe. The heavy ash makes it quite cool for distorted sounds imo. Oh, the bridge PU would be an X1 from Fender btw. which is a little hotter at 7.6k. Love mine!
I can dig it. Looks and sounds good. I had a '75 SB MN HT that i bought in '76. Loved it for jams with my stereo at home but at jams with other players would get too slippery. Good guitar,,,a friend who didn't like Strats then stopped by to check it out the day i bought it (Gibson SG Special from '74). Plugged into my Estey Magnatone tube amp, Big Muff and CryBaby. He didn't put it down until half an hour went by. Three S types here but still miss that one.
Nice Video Mate! The Overdriven Tone sounds not that good to me (if I am honest, it sounds like a cheap amp with to much presence and unclear midrange, but it also could be the IR). But the Clean is so smooth and balanced! Your playing is exelent by the way. Greetings from germany!
Thank you Marc for everyone of your words! I will agree listening back to it, doesnt sound as good as it did in the room. It was INSANE in the room. I could blame the IR, but its the Captor X. Nothing sounds bad on that thing 😅
I have a 79 hard tail in black with a maple fingerboard. It has the problem many of the fenders from that era have, the paint is slowly flaking off…however, it’s an absolute killer player that I wouldn’t ever part with
People always call these 70s Era CBS Fenders crap 1st off that is a BEAUTIFUL guitar. My guitr teacher had a 1974 thinline telecaster he bought for 300 bucks and was able to pay it off in payments. His was the same way natural wood color and its not beat up its played. BTW his was swamp ask so I'm guessing yours is the same.
@@resqgear1918 I think it's a four-bolt conversion Strat. You can see the hole for the center bolt when it was a three-bolt connection (technically "screw", but whatever) below the neckplate. Though I might be wrong too since I can't see it up close and in detail. Other than the four-bolt, everything checks out from where I'm seeing IMHO.
Get a new or used Professional please. 1979 was a mediocre year and the guitars were hit or miss due to quality control isssues. The quality of the USA strats is so, so, much better now. The year 1979 was the beginning of the end for the management of Fullerton and CBS. They brought in a panel of consultants in 1980 to try to stop the slide. By 1981 it was under new management and was transitioned away from CBS in 1985. They made the big headstocks until 1982 I think from leftover parts. The one you are playing sounds great now after decades of adjustments.
You're right! It's not the original neck! It's been such a long time since i shot that video, i forgot when the neck was from.. But it's not the original, that you are right!
There could be 3 holes underneath ;-) is there a serial number on both the headstock and the neck plate? It was a transition period, 1980 started the Randall Smith era, with the Squier Japan/USA parts as the buffer. Most of the late 70's Strats were hard ash To my knowledge, I've held a lot of them and most have been HEAVY hard ash bodies.
They vary so much in quality so it’s hard to just say all 79 strays are garbage. I would agree though, I have tried some that was the absolute worst guitar I’ve ever played. But this one is KILLER!
I have a 1979 with floating vibrato and love it , since it was my first proper guitar in the 80s.These guitars were much derided by snobs.Since it was a 'low-point' in Fender's history.It's not as curvy and has flat pole pickups and a bullet truss rod, 3 screw neckplate ,heavy Northern Ash body etc..Big deal ! I've had it for 37 years and no problems.(Maybe the back problem now and then ).
It has aged very nicely unlike me.
It also has great funk sounds.And a great gnarly rich overdriven sound that is three dimensional with the vibrato float
Your playing is great.All the best to you.
I have had this same model and played it and owned it for 42 years it plays like a dream and wont part with it.
I understand why!
Just picked up a black 79 hard tail. I cried in the parking lot of the guitar store, it’s my birth year and exactly what I’ve wanted for years. It has beautiful finish checking and tons of mojo. Era correct tweed case. Through my Friedman JJ Jr on the neck pickup it’s Hendrix all day! Great video man, thanks for showing how awesome these much maligned guitars are. I’d recommend to anyone especially if it weighs in under 9lbs!
Such a dream guitar, I want a 70s strat so bad but this one looks and sounds incredible especially with the slightly darker natural color than usual
It's a GREAT guitar! I really wish it were mine! :o
My 79 strat hastrat has the most unique and comfortable neck I have ever played and it happens to be a light guitar There are some good ones
I have a '79 fender strat with a maple neck and ash body. Thing is as heavy as a Les Paul and looks exactly like the guitar Ritchie Blackmore played at Cal Jam. I bought it back in the 90s for around $750. I wouldn't sell or trade it for anything.
Keep it then! :D
Very nice guitar and video I have a 1979 Fender Stratocaster sunburst and I love it they are awesome very beauty guitar and sound friend!!!
Thank you Adrian! 🙏
I agree! That guitar sounds beeeeeeeeeping wonderful!
Haha! 😂😂
Just pulled out my 79 Strat, same as yours but with a maple neck, bought it in 79, first summer job earnings 😀
The body wood looks like Ash.
Swamp Ash is just Ash grown in special places and it's usually a bit less heavy but it used more in moden guitars. Alder is rather less "deep" looking with less constrast in the grain (some people might call Alder look boring) so it's used more on guitars on which the wooden look isn't pronounced as it's here.
Really love the middle pickup's drive sound! :D
Good thing i have you Simon! Like i said, i really have no idea about woods.... All i know is that guitars are made of it haha
Yes, this definitely looks like Ash wood for the body.
the only thing that i suspect might not be original are the saddles on the bridge. I think the 79 would have the cast iron version not the bent steel. I have pretty much the same guitar. Hardtail same colour. 3 point neck attachment. Rosewood board (veneer). Mine's from '81 the last year they did the 3 bolt i believe. The heavy ash makes it quite cool for distorted sounds imo. Oh, the bridge PU would be an X1 from Fender btw. which is a little hotter at 7.6k. Love mine!
O M G!!!! Thats my dream Fender!!!!!!!! Thank you for this video!! IM looking out for one !
To be fair any US would be my dream. Just to have one. Hahaha. I love my Squier CV 60s and MIM FSR strats tho!
It is crazy good! The CV is not to be joked about though!
I can dig it. Looks and sounds good.
I had a '75 SB MN HT that i bought in '76. Loved it for jams with my stereo at home but at jams with other players would get too slippery.
Good guitar,,,a friend who didn't like Strats then stopped by to check it out the day i bought it (Gibson SG Special from '74). Plugged into my Estey Magnatone tube amp, Big Muff and CryBaby. He didn't put it down until half an hour went by.
Three S types here but still miss that one.
Nice Video Mate! The Overdriven Tone sounds not that good to me (if I am honest, it sounds like a cheap amp with to much presence and unclear midrange, but it also could be the IR). But the Clean is so smooth and balanced! Your playing is exelent by the way.
Greetings from germany!
Thank you Marc for everyone of your words! I will agree listening back to it, doesnt sound as good as it did in the room. It was INSANE in the room. I could blame the IR, but its the Captor X. Nothing sounds bad on that thing 😅
@@resqgear1918 You should capture it with ... ta daaa ... be zen... you know , wink wink :D
I believe that is Northern Ash. I have a sunburst that weighs as much as a Les Paul.
It might be!
The body wood is Ash. Beautiful grain on it as well!
I have a 79 hard tail in black with a maple fingerboard. It has the problem many of the fenders from that era have, the paint is slowly flaking off…however, it’s an absolute killer player that I wouldn’t ever part with
People always call these 70s Era CBS Fenders crap 1st off that is a BEAUTIFUL guitar. My guitr teacher had a 1974 thinline telecaster he bought for 300 bucks and was able to pay it off in payments. His was the same way natural wood color and its not beat up its played. BTW his was swamp ask so I'm guessing yours is the same.
Answer: Yes
Good answer!
Pretty sure 1979s still had the 3 bolt neck, this could be counterfeit.
I guess you're right 🤔 Serial says 1979 though. I'll look more into that 🤔
@@resqgear1918 I think it's a four-bolt conversion Strat. You can see the hole for the center bolt when it was a three-bolt connection (technically "screw", but whatever) below the neckplate. Though I might be wrong too since I can't see it up close and in detail. Other than the four-bolt, everything checks out from where I'm seeing IMHO.
Can confirm as I own a 79 strat and it has the 3 bolt neck.
All Strats from the 70s are 3 bolted neck. This one has been modded to a 4 bolt.
the contours on 70s strats are really almost not existent. But hey, more wood more tone!
ash body!
Get a new or used Professional please. 1979 was a mediocre year and the guitars were hit or miss due to quality control isssues. The quality of the USA strats is so, so, much better now. The year 1979 was the beginning of the end for the management of Fullerton and CBS. They brought in a panel of consultants in 1980 to try to stop the slide. By 1981 it was under new management and was transitioned away from CBS in 1985. They made the big headstocks until 1982 I think from leftover parts. The one you are playing sounds great now after decades of adjustments.
Something not right should be 3 bolt .. these years worst .. could be fake suppose to be 3 bolt Def not a original neck.
You're right! It's not the original neck! It's been such a long time since i shot that video, i forgot when the neck was from.. But it's not the original, that you are right!
There could be 3 holes underneath ;-) is there a serial number on both the headstock and the neck plate? It was a transition period, 1980 started the Randall Smith era, with the Squier Japan/USA parts as the buffer. Most of the late 70's Strats were hard ash To my knowledge, I've held a lot of them and most have been HEAVY hard ash bodies.
Very desirable Strat ; hard-tails have their very own individual sound and feel .
It's indeed a good guitar! 😱
Its swamp ash.
Of course it is! If I actually looked at the darn instrument I've could have told myself that! 😂😂
I had a 79 stratocaster, worst guitar ever made, is just my opinión
They vary so much in quality so it’s hard to just say all 79 strays are garbage. I would agree though, I have tried some that was the absolute worst guitar I’ve ever played. But this one is KILLER!