Introduced at the 1980 NAMM show, The Strat was Fender's attempt to blend classic features with modern electronics and give the concept a much needed boost. Designer Gregg Wilson, with Dan Armstrong acting as consultant reintroduced the smaller pre-CBS headstock shape (not entirely accurate as they were using old worn tooling), pre-CBS truss rod and four bolt neck, combining them with a hotter bridge pickup (the X-1) and a new circuit arrangement. Married to this came the new 22 carat gold electroplated brass hardware (plated at a hundred microns like fine jewellery, dubbed the Brassmaster Series) and a choice of either Candy Apple Red or Lake Placid Blue finishes with matching headstock. 

By replacing the middle pickup tone control with a twin mode rotary switch, The Strat yielded a total of 9 tones, the five standard Stratocaster positions with the addition of - 

neck and middle pickups in series – humbucking
middle and bridge pickups in series – humbucking
neck and bridge pickups in parallel
neck and bridge pickups in parellel, with the middle pickup in series

This made The Strat arguably the most versatile Stratocaster of any era prior to the introduction of the S-1 switching system. 

Manufactured between 1980 and 1983, poor sales, the additional cost of the hardware and time it took to assemble the wiring proved The Strat's downfall along with the move by the company to acknowledge the growing vintage, introducing the  AVRI series in 1982. 

Some The Strat trivia: In a magazine interview shortly before his death, John Lennon spoke of a new strat he was using as 'the cats pyjamas' with the picture showing him holding a Lake Placid Blue The Strat. Its rumoured that Fender where trying to get an endorsement from him before his untimely death.

This guitar is in stunning condition with hardly a mark on it. There are a few paint chips around the periphery but as a whole the poly finish has withstood the test of time and retained its rich colour with out fading.

The neck too has retained its gloss finish which has escaped yellowing. The fretboard and frets are in great shape. An interesting feature of this guitar that marks it out as an early example is that it has chrome tuners and a white selector switch. It seems that in a rush to get the guitars out there were shortages of gold plated parts so some left with chrome or plain plastic bits.

The plastics are in great shape too as is the hardware with only a little discolouration on the tailpiece. 

Electrically everything looks correct with all solder joints undisturbed.

The guitar comes with its  correct fitted Fender hardshell case.

Tonally this guitar does not disappoint. All 5 standard positions yield the classic strat tones of the era with a bit more oomph provided by the x-1 bridge pickup. Engaging the rotary switch ramps things up a notch adding some really usable tones to the Stratocaster palette.

Looking for a start with a little extra spice or filling an 80's sized hole in the collections? This could be the guitar for you.