1973 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Guitar Natural, Near-Mint w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1973 Fender Stratocaster in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This exceedingly well-kept Strat features a gloss Natural finish over an ash body, loaded with the original trio of staggered pole alnico magnet gray bobbin single coils, sporting a professional refret, partial re-radius, and upgraded five-way pickup selector.

Weighing 8lbs 4oz, the ash body and one-piece maple neck yields plenty of treble detail, complex midrange, and round, focused bass register punch. The gray bobbin pickups deliver a distinct sound in each position on the upgraded five-way switch; the neck pickup is bold and deep, with a clear and spanky middle position, and a bridge pickup that offers both plenty of body and treble zing, with a fuller midrange character than most Strat bridge pickups, and the in-between positions yield a particularly honky quack. This Stratocaster benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple

-Shape: Medium U, measuring .840” 1st fret, .935” 12th fret

-Fretboard: Maple, compound 7 1/4” to 9 1/2” radius (re-radiused)

-Frets: Medium jumbo, refret, pristine

-Scale Length: 25 1/2”

-Nut: 1 9/16"

-Tuners: "F"-stamped

-Serialization: Six-digit stamp on F neck plate

-Factory Markings: Green ‘70s date stamp on neck heel, stamps in pocket

Body Specs:

-Wood: Ash

-Pickups: Gray bobbin single coil x3

-Harness: CTS pots date to the 49th week of ‘72 and 10th week of ‘73

-Controls: Volume, Tone x2, Five-way pickup selector (replacement)

-Hardware: Synchronized Tremolo with block saddles, jack cup, “ashtray” bridge cover.

-Plastics: Three-ply white pickguard, white knobs with greened text

-Factory Markings: "Natural" stamp in neck pickup cavity

The gloss Natural finish is extremely clean, with a bit of vertical checking central to the back, light buckle scuffing on the back (largely relegated to the trem cavity cover) and just a few faint marks on the top and body perimeter. The original finish on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with a worn-in, easy-playing feel, while the fingerboard was refinished as part of the refret process.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included. Two of the original latches are functional, the original handle is intact, and the raised Fender logo is present on the lid.