80's American strat or 2008 Mex. strat?

Question

I found a 1983 american stratocaster on craigslist. What have you heard about the american strats from this era? I've heard they had some kind of bad tremolo system called the "Freeflyte" tremolo. How can i make sure this axe doesn't have that? Were the pickups in the 83 model especially hot or weak?

I have a choice of either that or a brand new 2008 mex. stratocaster. I know they've made improvements on them. What do you think?

Answer 1

I think this is really really funny.  During the era of 1983, the only vintage fender guitars are the made in japan ones!!! and many, including myself, consider these to be the best fender guitars ever made.  In fact during this era, the squier stratocasters are even better than the american made ones, a vintage squier!  its pretty funny.  I own several made in japan guitars from the 80's and i can tell you that they consistently outperform my modern american fenders.  One of my most used guitars is a jaguar from the 80s mij as well as a telecaster and a squier stratocaster.  they just beat the pants off any other guitar! SO the american ones from back then are made with quality materials, except for the tremolos as you mentioned.  Theyre not especially bad, they just arent great, and certainly not as great as the japanese ones.  THe 83 model would just have standard pickups, njot exceptionally good or bad, but definitely not weak.  I say go for the American strat.

Answer 2

Since I'm mostly a Fender player, I would choose the American over the brand new Mexican, mostly because the American has had time to age gracefully. I have a 1982 re-issued "57" maple neck strat that I treasure because it has aged naturally and not aged from the factory. I have three other Fenders that are getting older...one more strat and 2 y2k telecasters....one Nashville and a re-issued "72" thinline. The only problem with buying from craigslist or any other online service is that you don't get to play it until you receive it. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Well the old '83 should be alright tremwise as long as it's been looked after (same goes for any trem guitar really.) But it is a Standard Strat right at the end of CBS ownership (or it's a Re-issue worth several thousand,) which was not really a highlight in the company's history.

And the p-ups were round about the same as modern standard ones I believe.

The thing is also, if you get the 1983, you won't lose money with it being a vintage, so if you aren't impressed, sell it on and get the mexi.