Please contact me first, before making offers, if you are interested in this guitar.

1982 Fender Standard Stratocaster - Early 3-knob "Dan Smith"

Early Smith Strats have been climbing in reputation and price over the last years-- they are great instruments, finally getting recognized.  This is a particularly nice one, in the most desirable dark sunburst with the maple neck and fingerboard and aged white plastic.  Dan Smith was brought in to help Fender get back on track after CBS took over and thins went downhill.  Dubuting at NAMM in 1982 as the "standard Stratocaster", this early model was a "look back" to some pre-CBS Strat features:  most notably, the smaller headstock; a 4-bolt neck; and getting rid of the "bullet" truss rod and putting the adjustment screw back at neck end.

This is the "real deal" 3-knob Dan Smith Strat, serial  E212459.  Don't confuse it with the 2-knob "Smith" that came out in 1983... this is much more rare and more desirable.  It has a PRISTENE maple neck (especially the back) and weighs (yes!) just 6.91 lbs on my digital scale! Highly desirable Tobacco Sunburst in EX condition with maple fingerboard...  a great player, and 100% original!

This is an extremely nice Strat-- I'm a Gibson guy, but I love how this guitar plays. It is light-as-a-feather, and just FEELS nimble and has a fantastic feeling neck profile ("just right", as per GoldiRocks). It's set up with ancient very slinky strings. When I bought it, the prior owner had swapped the original white plastic for black-- probably because black also looks great with the darker sunburst this one has. I am happy to include both sets of plastic, if you want it, just mention it. I included some older pics that show the black pickguard, and how they show off the aged PU covers.  But the white plastic is original and was with the guitar when I acquired it 20+ years ago.

Overall EX (8.5) condition and all original.  One very cool feature on the top is what I call the "birthmark". It is a nice little "figure" that give personality.  There is one small wear spot on back, and one top ding, but finish is vibrant & nice! Has tremolo bar (screw-in) in the case, as well as the original hang/inspection tag. The guitar is 100% original. No routes. Neck is dated 12-20-82 and body is dated January 7 ’83; nice and light (Alder), 4-bolt neck, 21 frets, small headstock w/ old style logo. The frets are in good condition, just some slight wear, and perhaps could use a tiny bit of cleaning and work when guitar gets new strings and a minor setup. The plastic has nice aging, and the original pickguard is in great shape, because it was off the guitar for a long time (I just put it back on, it had been in case).  Three original spoke knobs (the VOLUME knob is missing the paint on lettering). As per the design of the Smiths, the jack is on top, not mounted to pickguard. Tuner covers have ’F’s on them and are pristine in condition. Pickups: all original (bridge X-1 has the yellow lead), they have black plastic bottoms, no dates. Pots: CTS 1378226 (week 26 of 1982); solder original. I checked out and cleaned all pots and switches.  Original bridge and tremolo bar (not stripped).   Original case has a crack in plastic, but is the older style 4-latch case, and protects the guitar well.  

Designed by Dan Smith, only made a year and a half, and a pretty rare and collectable Strat that will continue to appreciate in value.