Help evaluating a guitar's value?

[Tipperman]

Hell, I'd buy it if I were you. Of course, you can always buy it and re-sell to me for $400 ish.... I loves me some strats, modified or not, and that one is pretty sexy.

 

[Jusatele]

30 is a decent price for a early 80s AM Strat
no more though, it better be in top shape
the reroute brings the price down
however, keep it 10 years and it will be worth 500
how does it play? If you like it, it is a steal, how many guitars can you get for 350 that you like?
so this is a crap shoot, my 2004 AM Strat is worth 800, bought what I paid for it, and the price is going up, I like it, but feel it is sorta soulless, find me a 2004 AM tele and I will trade and throw in a pedal or 2.
It is up to you. One mans treasure is another mans trash.
It looks real nice, the action and tone is the rest of the problem, and I know of Mexi strats I prefer over AM strats, and Vice Versa.

 

[jackthehack]

Dear Mr B3.

I've lived through that time period, and I don't consider anything made in the 80's 'vintage', so my answer may be colored.  Having said that a hacked up old strat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.  I personally would not pay over $100 for the thing, with the idea of selling it for $200.  To me it's not worth a penny more.  If there is someone else out there who would attribute a greater value than that, then suggest to your friend that he sell it to them.  Please do not buy this guitar for yourself.

Yours,
Mayfly.

+1  :icon_thumright:

Off the top of my head, the only model made in the 80's that MIGHT be semi-collectable was a model made out of Walnut, which I don't think they made that many of, because they weighed 10-12 lbs. In general early 80's Strats were probably some of the worst ever made; a buddy of mine worked at the Melody Shop in Dallas and would complain about how many Strats they had to return to Fender due to defects.

 

[DangerousR6]

Dear Mr B3.

I've lived through that time period, and I don't consider anything made in the 80's 'vintage', so my answer may be colored.  Having said that a hacked up old strat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.  I personally would not pay over $100 for the thing, with the idea of selling it for $200.  To me it's not worth a penny more.  If there is someone else out there who would attribute a greater value than that, then suggest to your friend that he sell it to them.  Please do not buy this guitar for yourself.

Yours,
Mayfly.

+1  :icon_thumright:

Off the top of my head, the only model made in the 80's that MIGHT be semi-collectable was a model made out of Walnut, which I don't think they made that many of, because they weighed 10-12 lbs. In general early 80's Strats were probably some of the worst ever made; a buddy of mine worked at the Melody Shop in Dallas and would complain about how many Strats they had to return to Fender due to defects.

Ahhhhh, the Melody shop, I remember that store well, bought my first Kramer Beretta there....Good times.... :guitarplayer2:

 

[m4rk0]

there are a lot of good/collectible early 80s fenders...

they got really good, especially the Dan Smith's (1st version)
the first version of the Reissues made in fullerton have a great reputation and have doubled in price over the last couple of years.
As jack mentioned, the walnut strat is also very collectible (never played one)
another great one was "the strat" with the gold hardware and "incorrect" headstock.
I was offered an "elite" strat for 800 $ a couple of years ago and didn't go for it because I thought the freeflyte trem looked weird.. now they sell for well over 3000

I heard some good stories about the international color series too, but never played them... they may be late 70s though.

 

[m4rk0]

I think I read somewhere that Back in the late 80s Dave Gilmour bought lots of the early fullerton strat necks, which he used on his guitars.. I think he had them on the red emg strats and probably put one his black strat too.. so if you can verify that story, it may add some value to your strat if you want to sell it as parts

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

When I heard '82 Strat, I immediately thought of a bullet truss rod, 3 bolt neck, and the year before they dropped a tone knob and put the jack in the now vacant location.  Of course this was a reissue, so it had none of that.  It actually looks nicer than I thought it would.  If you could stand a Floyd, I'd re-Floyd it for the sake of the shelf.  In terms of hardware, wear, and mods, it nicer and worth less than SRV's number one, for obvious celebrity attachment.  I still wouldn't pay much for it though.

 

[B3Guy]

there are a lot of good/collectible early 80s fenders...

they got really good, especially the Dan Smith's (1st version)
the first version of the Reissues made in fullerton have a great reputation and have doubled in price over the last couple of years.
As jack mentioned, the walnut strat is also very collectible (never played one)
another great one was "the strat" with the gold hardware and "incorrect" headstock.
I was offered an "elite" strat for 800 $ a couple of years ago and didn't go for it because I thought the freeflyte trem looked weird.. now they sell for well over 3000

I heard some good stories about the international color series too, but never played them... they may be late 70s though.

Yes, this is what it is, exactly. It is from the beginning of the first run of Dan Smith Fullerton Strats. It is an 82, the first year Dan reopened Fullerton. It was only open for a few years before they moved to the Cali plant. From what I understand they made a '50s styled Strat and a '60s Styled strat, neither one of which was exact copy, but a close representation of each era. This obviously is a '60s styled one. The body shape is a little different from an actual '60s strat, as is the headstock. Apparently, the profile on the neck is very very close, though. It doesn't have a nitro finish, its lacquer, and the pickups are close but not repros. 

There's no way I'd Floyd this beauty. If anything, I'd pay a few hundred to have the floyd route and the nut shelf reversed. He almost had this done himself. There is a very professional luthier in town that he takes his guitars to periodically, and they have mentioned several times that they can restore it for a couple benjamins. Anyhow, he still wants more than $350 for it , so I probably won't buy this one (especially since he's letting me keep it and play it anyhow). I'll probably buy a Warmoth neck and a loaded EC Sig. Strat body off of ebay and pair them up, should the time come when I need a guitar.