A Unique Surprise on this 70s Strat! | 1979 25th Anniversary Stratocaster Silver Review + Demo

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I Tried a 70s Strat Again... | 1979 25th Anniversary Stratocaster Silver Review + Demo
I wouldn't say I had better luck this time, but it was fun to experience history and document a relatively clean example of this anniversary Stratocaster. I truly believe this thing is a professional tune-up away from being a nice player!
🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:24 Short Stratocaster History
0:45 Returning to Vintage Specs
1:46 This Model's Finish
2:33 Gibson's Sister Birthday Model
3:25 Case / Case Candy
4:01 Condition
4:39 My First Stratocaster
5:34 Inside Look / Specs
14:02 Clean Tones
16:26 Dirty Tones
18:14 Final Thoughts
19:10 What to Watch Next!
🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
0:34 1976 Fender Stratocaster Hardtail Mocha Brown
• Are 70s Strats Really ...
2:22 1977 Gibson TRUE 25th Anniversary Les Paul Silver
• The Rarest Anniversary...
2:52 1979 Gibson 25/50 Anniversary Les Paul Custom Tobacco Sunburst
• I Love the Neck On Thi...
4:39 1979 Fender Antigua Stratocaster
• 1979 Fender Antigua St...
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[@Trog]

If you're up for a minor project - this one is on my website for what I believe is a pretty stellar deal! 🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/

[@hkguitar1984]

Back in 1979 I purchased one of the first 25th Anniversary Strats in the Pearl White finish. After only 2 years the finish didn't check but instead turned orange. I refinished the guitar myself and gigged with it for 6 years. After 8 years of ownership I reached out to Fender and they paid to have it correctly refinished and restored to factory new (with the Anniversary decal). Fender chose Lay's in Akron Ohio to perform the restoration. From I understand, the reason for the finish failure was that Fender had just switched to a new water-based poly finish to comply with California's revised EPA Regulations. In their haste to implement the new finish it was unknown that the pearl would react with the poly top-coats. They were expensive guitars when new, I paid $1200 for mine (w/included HSC). After I had the guitar restored my best friend purchased the guitar (still with Certificate) from me. That guitar saw lots of action and held up really well, no complaints at all.

[@jocadamotoca916]

Hey man, watch out for the Paul Stanley guitars, his selling a few ones that he played at the final tour, all signed and dated on the back, a lot of Ibanez Iceman's and one Gibson flying V custom that could be the one you sell for them!

[@BackstageMusicChannel]

Big Fender guy here....this one doesn't exactly shake my whammy bar, but I do love the Fender vids, keep them comin'! 🔥🎸

[@mboyer68]

That's great! Never heard 'shake my whammy bar' before 😅

[@melvins1992]

Rory Gallagher was given one of these by Fender. Rory almost never played it live, but according to lore it was used extensively in the studio from the time he was gifted the guitar up until his death.

[@pamelaarmstrong3612]

I have a 79 basic strat I got back then with that awesome case. I remember drooling over this Anniversary in the music store back when it came out.

[@mightyV444]

Me, too! 😀 Along with all-black Tele Deluxes 😁 I was only 9 then 😊

[@donbuttaccio4464]

Am a huge fan of the large headstock version.

[@scottenglert4083]

I have a 1979 hardtail strat - natural finish... It is pretty heavy - the frets are *wiped out* - mostly from whoever had it long before I did. I love the neck on it actually, the real old school 7.25" radius just feels good to me (I have smaller hands). The wood grain on mine has some really cool character to it - I dig it...

[@rockhead69]

I've got the anniversary Les Paul as a bday gift from my wife...second hand but near mint...have loved that guitar since...and yeah...it has turned gold...it's been my main gig guitar...it shares the stage with another Les Paul and an 89 Strat plus.

[@darvinclement8404]

My local music store back in the day had two of the white ones. They started checking before they even got sold. He got two silver replacements and I bought one of those. I put a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in the bridge after a few years. Pretty sure the neck shape on them isn’t vintage. I love the feel of the neck. I foolishly sold mine. I blocked the trem and had zero qc issues. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!

[@bdonova1]

In 79, I jammed with a couple guys from work, who I didn't know that well, but the one who wasn't a drummer had a brand new 25th Anniversary Strat. He was a much better player than I, but I thought it was a cool looking and sounding guitar. He moved away and unfortunately passed in the 90s. I hope his family still has the guitar.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

That's a cool story

[@mp-rock7871]

The first electric guitar I ever got to play was my uncle's 1977 Strat. My 14 year old self felt so cool playing 0-3-5 on that guitar. That was the first time I ever made real noise and I haven't stopped making noise since then.🤘🏻

[@mightyV444]

Very cool! 😁👍 The first electric guitar I had ever played on _also_ was an uncle's, and it must've been around 1980, when I was 10: It was 'only' a Les Paul copy by Ibanez, but it also was all-black and had gold-chrome hardware and looked and felt really cool 🤩 He didn't plug it into his Marshall amp for me, though 😏😅

[@solaris70]

they had one with rosewood 🌹 fretboard and aLL black at school i got to play a few times in 3rd grade i still haven't found a 77 yet i almost bought one about 4 years ago was nearly mint case queen w/ohsc really good serial number and decals listed for around $1750.⁰⁰ nØw they are all around 2300.⁰⁰ & up usually all of them are maple fretboard tøø i fell asleep on an eBay auction for a complete bridge that someone won for about $75.⁰⁰ a week before Christmas usually they around 200.⁰⁰ minimum

[@mnemonik61]

About par for the course for Fender in the 70s, aka 'the dark years.' My first electric was a used '74 3 color burst in ash (I knew relatively nothing about guitars at the time, I just knew I wanted a Strat 'cause you know, Hendrix, lol). It was heavy af and the neck was a huge baseball bat, but it did sound pretty good. It pretty quickly became my "experimental" guitar as I was learning about setups, electronics etc. I even scalloped the original neck at one point! 😆 Fortunately Warmoth already existed back then, and the replacement neck with 60s headstock was a dream in comparison. _And_ it had 22 frets! 😁 I did so many evil things to that guitar; even put EMGs in it at one point. When I finally sold it on in the early 90s, the dude who bought it was actually bummed that I didn't have the original neck. I told him "Dude, trust me-- you would _not_ have enjoyed playing it!"

[@BrockOfBodom]

Funny that you upload this today, when I just ordered another clean silver strat… the 75 Anniversary MIM! Stoked to get my first actual Fender Strat!

[@nickp1548]

Looking at that neck pocket, it's easy to understand why the early eighties Japanese Squiers were so highly thought of.

[@jeffhuehn1903]

In 1979, with some savings and a little birthday money, I went to go buy one of these Anniversary Strats. I ended up passing on 3 of them (all heavy and kind of dead sounding) for a much livelier wine red hardtail. 44 years later I still have it. No regrets at all on missing out on that "limited edition".

[@marcreno893]

I’m definitely more of a Gibson lover but you can’t deny Fender makes some great guitars too that sound phenomenal. I just picked up a brand new American pro ii Telecaster the other week and the neck plays so beautifully and I got about 8 hours on it and only had to tune it twice. I can’t say that about really any of my Gibsons although my 05 LPJ stays In tune very well

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Well said! Similar here too. I picked up an American Pro II Strat second hand like new and it plays phenomenally

[@Gordanovich02]

It's definitely a 70s Strat... chunky neck, sloppy neck pocket, rough routing, Friday afternoon body contours. If you're ever able to lay your hands on a 1982 "Dan Smith" Strat I think that would be a cool video.

[@pjevans854]

The sitar sound is due to a worn nut groove. All you need to do is file the nut at a 45 degree angle to towards the top of the headstock so that the string isn’t sitting flat in the slot. This can happen on LP too…you should learn some of these skills so that you don’t have to list it as “worn sitar nut.” …easily fixable.

[@snapfinger1]

Passed on the Silver & bought the 40th anniversary ‘94 w/ a tiny red white & blue 40 emblem on the headstock. Period correct in black.

[@digiwalsh2784]

Can't get past that neck pocket gap. I've recently discovered Strats myself and recently purchased a 98 Crimson Red Transparent Fender Deluxe Strat. Believe it's the first year. They returned once again to vintage specs body and neck wise. Has an S2 circuit built in for additional tones. You would love the sound and specs on these, check one out and let me know.

[@jmledesma88]

Hey, did you try to put the stiff tuners in naphta and re lubing them afterwards? Also, the sitar effect, if it goes away fretting the first fret then it comes from the nut, otherwise the saddle. If it's the nut it would take like half a sec with the correct file to get it away but best left to a luthier if you don't feel comfortable about doing it.

[@aandromaliuss]

Pretty sure that finish is called Inca Silver, one of my absolute favorite fender finishes, the hint of green is so attractive

[@timlaine6268]

A high school friend had that strat. Loved it.

[@marions.120]

Let’s do this! When there were new I played quite a few, but never felt comfortable with them. Ended up go Les Paul and never looked back!

[@johnrasmussen3559]

Mine has gone through many lives. It weighs a ton! Literally. I love it because it has a great setup , but the first owner added a floyd rose tremolo and custom pickups. It was pretty horrible until I had it refinished and Rio Grande pickups added. No, not original, but it is a very nice guitar.

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

Cool-cool-neato-cool !...love the ashtray bridge cover , also love the silver turned gold Les Paul , right on, right on man , never liked the big 70's headstock yet its growing on me just like the silver finish...Thanks Trog !

[@forresthouser5807]

YES....I've owned one, and would gladly own another. I can tell you that the color change has a lot to do with the environment. Heavy smokers will cause a bit of green to creep into the typical gold. I'm not sure if they're all this way, but the one I had was thicker at the comfort carves than most strats.

[@mightyV444]

Please send that to me as a Christmas present, dear Austin! 😁 I was 9 when these were made, in '79, and I was drooling so hard that I made my own one from a sheet of plywood for the body and headstock and a bar of wood for the neck 😊 I can't believe that was nearly *45* years ago! 🤯😅

[@user-ei4iq7gl5l]

I bought a 25th anniversary strat a couple of years ago. The neck pocket is sloopy, it's heavy as hell, but the whammy bar is very smooth. I swapped out the original pickups for pickups that originally were in my Squier classic vibe 70's strat. (My Squier strat now has Seymour Duncan Jimi Hendrix signature pickups in it.) But I have to say, my 25th anniversary strat plays amazingly, especially with the Squier pickups in there. It now sounds as vintage as it looks. I set it up pretty good. I play it everyday. The serial number on mine is 258000. Lucky me. Great review on this guitar, Trogly.

[@acatwiththreenames3658]

Thank you Trogly for giving Fenders some love!

[@TheEMOkid66613]

My favorite color on fenders is Inca Silver, so I love this color!

[@jonathanhudak2059]

I wish this guitar had been properly set up to get a better demo out of it. That being said its cool seeing you play a Strat Austin! I love my Gibson SGs and Firebirds but I also love a good Strat!

[@ereimul1444]

its a freshing to see Fender once in awhile pop up in Trogly's content

[@robyates136]

When I was a teenager in the 80s music shops couldn’t give those things away. That ridiculous “ANNIVERSARY” that didn’t line up with the curves and looked like someone had put it on with a Dollar Store stencil kit.

[@phillipvisnaw2355]

My old buddy in Anchorage bought one to learn how to play.. it was a cool guitar, rare in that era for fender.

[@pjevans854]

Intonation is off because the frets need a recrown most likely. Assuming you have the bridge saddles set properly. And the buzzy low E means the action is too low and or neck needs an adjustment. All easy fixes that you should be able to do!

[@MarkEdward-bl6cr]

Fender Friday nice return how bout keeping it up for those Fender people 🤘

[@MrDevins]

In the 80s, every used wall in a music shop and pawn shop had one of these. They always weighed a ton up from what I recall.

[@AdvenuringTime]

Could of bought a thousand of these in the 90’s for a few hundred bucks each!

[@RevRance42]

I have a 78 hardtail. It had the high E ping because the nut was too low and I had to get the neck pocket shimmed due to the neck pocket being too wide. It’s actually pretty solid now.

[@solaris70]

did you have to replace the nut ? or just shim the neck pocket ? was it difficult ? or expensive ? some of the stuff i will do myself- but there is some repair setup 📐 i will take to a guitar tech & pay them , especially the acoustic stuff

[@SAsh2015]

Trogly, long time fan here. Now that you've done a fender episode again, I need to know... HOW did you not review the John 5 Ghost Telecaster? I get it, I get it, you're stocking up for the future museum and focusing on mainly Gibson pieces right now. A lot of the other brands are new guitar day. BLAH BLAH BLAH This thing is bright white. It has a red knob and red switch tip in the classic LP location. It has a matching all-white neck. Uniquely colored humbuckers. And, Troggles my friend, it has a RED KILLSWITCH. This is the Fender version of the Buckethead signature!!!! And I didn't hear a peep from you about it. Its not too late to rectify this situation. Do the Fender review that you were born to do. Sincerely, A Concerned Fan That Unfortunately Lives Too Far From Ohio to Visit The Museum

[@adnandaghastanli3621]

As a Brazilian who loves Brazilian guitars, this is funny to see. This Fender guitar has the same problems our ‘70s guitars had to. Poorly cut neck pockets, unaligned necks, skunk stripe separation, incompletely dried woods, poor tuners, intonation issues… I always thought we were making a terrible job of copying American guitars, but it’s the opposite, they were exactly the same hahaha.

[@mantinizz]

Glad to see the Fender review. However, would be great to see the neck pocket and back of the neck. Also, I would like to know what type of finish does this guitar have.

[@nigellacey559]

When i was at school someone got one brand new bought by his dad. I was jel.

[@darrinjackman804]

I love guitars have Gibson Les Pauls and fender Strats They both make me feel good

[@georgeoh-well8116]

Seems a shame that you can't find a guitar tech locally that you can trust and is competent. I know how it is though. I ended up getting tools and learning to do it myself partly for that reason.

[@michaelgriffith104]

I always thought they didn't start shielding the entire pickguard until sometime in 1980. I wouldn't surprise me either way, as you said, that era was not known for quality control. Mismatched serials, older stock on newer, etc. This also led to their serial numbering scheme not being as cut and dry as they'd have had folks believe at the time. You could see S8 serials on 79s, s9s on 80-82s. It really was the wild west at Fender.

[@geezberry8889]

i love those late 70's boat anchor 10lb strats

[@tymanngruter1808]

I have the 1979 25theannuversary model, from the 6 month i bought this guitar it Went back to the Cage, all kind of problems started! I bought the guitar in 1981, Can you tell me the price i have to pay now? This was a Job you learned me a lot! Thank you so much, GREATINGS FROM HOLLAND! 🤔😃

[@Kahuna54]

I gotta say the 25/50 LP is way more awesome looking!

[@jayartz8562]

I remember in the late 80's my local guitar shop had one of these that would never sell, they were pretty bad. I'm sure if they'd seen a proper luthier a couple of times in the last 40 years they'd be pretty good though.

[@fretlessed25]

Fender released the Esquire in 1950, 2 years before the Les Paul, but perhaps that tribute must have been specifically for the Stratocaster release.

[@dw7704]

It was Strat specific

[@ERAPOSORESERVA]

Big Fender buff here. Do a MIJ 62 reissue Stratocaster and you won’t regret it.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I inherited a black 1976 strat. It needs some work, but it’s pretty awesome.

[@hunter37334]

I remember this one. Lead singer for The Outlaws played one.

[@eyeballroomer]

2:50 I am shocked to be just now finding this out for the first time.

[@sporez]

Loved the clean tone funk workout in todays ep 👍

[@ralphwest8156]

Have successfully set up worse, this one sounds very nice, it's worth an extra bit of time to get that neck corrected.

[@laynehorner9680]

Heya man, love the content over here in the U.K.

[@germancarluv]

It's not just your example. I played in a band with a guy who had one back in the old days...... it wasn't anything to write home about either. It does look cool though.

[@JamieRowlandthejamieusrowlando]

I had an old music tutor that had one of these. I remember the massive headstock and aged silver color. They're not as rare as I thought they were ahaha.

[@hippiebiker3399]

I love the big 70’s headstock on a Strat. I do have a 2003 reissue of the 70’s Strat. Really don’t like the look of the skinny headstock . Plus, I don’t like the maple fretboards. Rosewood fretboards are better, in my opinion. Guess that’s why I have mostly Gibsons, Ibanez, Hamers and Tokai guitars.

[@mightyV444]

This 25th Anniversary Strat was one of the first guitars to ever catch my attention (I was 9 then), and I've preferred the bigger headstock myself ever since 😊

[@AndrewAHayes]

I dont know about the US but in the UK we no longer have smokey bars as smoking is not allowed anywhere in enclosed public places. Ergo no more nicotine and tar stained guitars!

[@joeyracano1]

Well done on this episode Austin.

[@jimscutt907]

would love to see you document a 59 - 65 pre cbs strat

[@Ochoduckie]

If Fender Fridays is back, less teles and strats, more offsets please!

[@jeffamichaels3216]

That Strat is a dog, woof, and I'm a Strat guy

[@gearViewmirror]

Not a wonder that it's never been played much....

[@yogiguitar1]

thats my guitar! 25 anniversary love it! mine has a green tinge to it now

[@barrypearson1047]

Sounds bloody damn good

[@paultrombetta]

Clean tones are shaweeeeeet!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

@Trogoly. Was this guitar owned by Don Knott the actor?

[@gitarboi6760]

I remember seeing this in the window of Sam ash on 48th street I’d love one of these

[@analogshoes]

I bought it used in 1982 at Cintioli's in Philadelphia

[@chrisghiardi117]

Umm...locking tuners not factory on that guitar. "Fender neck adjustment" van correct string alignment. Cut screen material or sandpaper for neck pocket to keep neck from shifting.

[@Steve.Cutler]

My local music store has one of these that they bought new back in 79, hanging on the wall. Not sure if its even for sale..

[@garyseavolt7990]

The Sitar ring is probably a improper nut slot cut or a saddle may need dressed

[@djhoneylove5710]

Not up to present day quality. You can tell watching him play it. It's a struggle. Just like my 79 strat. It looks great, but these guitars were the inspiration for new management at Fender.

[@robyates136]

Can’t see who in their right mind would think this is anything other than a $500 pawn shop strat.

[@sirbaronvoncount4147]

I don’t like Strat bridge pickups and this one was no exception but the other 4 tones were great I thought. Very clear

[@tinystar3010]

The tones are easy to setup yet no one tries. Just lower the bridge pickup some away from the strings and it reduces the overbite and output some. That alone usually balances a Strat out. Then just drop a touch of highs and a touch of mids on the amp. After that, it's like butter. I always got huge compliments on my Strat tones live. Everyone would come up to me and ask about mine, some even tried it a couple mins and just loved the setup I had.

[@mightyV444]

​@@tinystar3010 - Connecting the bridge pick-up to one of the Tone controls is also an effective and easy modification 🙂👍

[@jameshughes6049]

Evening all!!

[@samiam5557]

FENDER Friday!

[@dw7704]

The serial number on the pickguard is not exclusive to this model Fender did that on other guitars in at least the late 70s/early 80s They may have done it for longer though I have seen that on some different Fender models

[@timscarrow9151]

I remember when those came out, I wanted One, they were about 600$ then.

[@Kahuna54]

That’s a fine looking Strat!

[@Cyclops1973]

What’s fun about the middle readings Trogly?

[@shannoncp]

I have one of these!

[@bagatuuri8070]

Most common "collector" strat, seen them around word many.

[@kovellimusic2169]

Looks very similar to the 75 anniversary diamond edition

[@samparker1637]

I nearly bought one in 79 but just out of my price range at £450 in the UK

[@jeffshockey9456]

You got Don Knotts anniversary strat lol 😆

[@RobertS-oh9bq]

Big headstocks are the best.

[@gordonbezanson4710]

My silver 1983 challenger 2 is gold 😂

[@davegallagher7428]

Love the big headstock and I thought the pups sounded good.

[@solaris70]

thank you trogly 🐲🐉🐲 ❗❗❗ this was rAd 🔥⚡🤘😎 mY favorite are the 77 rosewood 🌹 Strats i found a 75th Anniversary Fender American Performer Stratocaster a couple of weeks ago, that is out of this world ømg omGwd it's Arctic White with rosewood 🌹 fretboard it's the best ever eVrr everything else i have are used very good level conditions i found a 2017 Gibson LP Studio Tribute HP w/Faded Honey burst in June last summer i really need to and want to refinish it one day

[@ohZayno]

I have one of thoes at my shop 😃

[@robertlathan4639]

Fender Friday back?? Probably not but we can hope!!!

[@matthewsommerville88]

I wonder, seriously, considering 70’s era Fender is divisive it puzzles me that they seem to re-issue or borrow from them in the modern line a healthy bit.

[@kellyswoodyard]

It's at least 43 years old, what do you want, T? Showroom perfect?

[@georgeoh-well8116]

Maybe something that is playable, not filthy and doesn't have somebody's name scribbled on the bottom 🤔

[@RobertS-oh9bq]

They left off the circular Original contour body stencil after the word Stratocaster.

[@andye3684]

👍

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Greetings Andy

[@andye3684]

@@sgt.grinch3299 Howdy Sgt

[@smokintee117]

All you have to do is put a shim in it to make it align right

[@christianhunter777]

Stoner-kid in high school named Gary who I jammed with a few time had one of these anniversary Fenders. It weighed a ton, and played and sounded like shit.