83 strat owners- I have a question

[squeally dan]

FOr my main gigging guitar I have been using an 83 strat. Its the od one with the 2 knobs and input on the front of the guitar. I love the pickups because they are all useable but I have noticed they seem a bit more buzzy than my SRV strat. They also feedback real easy. I'm curious if any other 83 strat owners have run in to this. Is there a solution besides removing the pickups? I really don't want to change them. Can they be shielded or something?

Here it is just for clarification:

[Madison]

Mine buzzes, but only because it needs to be cleaned up inside, never buzzed before I messed around with it. I bought it brand new in 83 and added a TBX control about 10 years ago, then took it back out, hence the piece of tape covering the hole.

Since we're a rare few, here's a pic of mine I just took!:

[squeally dan]

Very cool w/ the maple neck! How do you like the neck?

[Madison]

It's wide, radius is flatter than my American deluxe strat, and the frets are huge. After all these years it still has that sticky finish, that makes it a bit harder to get around on compared to the newer model. I've softened it some with fine steel wool, but still its there pretty thick.

I actually have one song I recorded with this guitar, you can hear the hum and noise along with the music. Mostly this guitar stays in the case:

83 Strat

[jezzzz2003]

Ive got an old 83 that I never play anymore, I cant comment on the pickups though because they were never stock since Ive had possession of the guitar, it used to belong to my dad but he handed it over to me,

He had a warmoth body put on because the stock body was just terrible sounding he claims, it was a salmon pink finish, looked great! now CAR, it has a very slim neck and I like the cracked relic look the neck has but it doesnt have much tone, thick laquer and thin neck probarbly, plus, Im only into maple boards.

[LP Deluxe]

Wow...I've got the exact same year and colour...I haven't seen another one of these around. A very under-rated guitar in my opinion. I haven't played it much in the last few years as I'm now very much into semi-hollows. It is a nice guitar though. I like the neck...wide with big frets. I did replace the pups with Texas Specials and have been very happy with the tone. Not that I thought anything was wrong with the originals, I was just very into SRV years ago when I got it. Actually a friend, whose musical opinion I respect, said that there was something really special about the original pups.

I bought mine brand new...in '93. The guitar shop that I bought it from had kept a couple of them stashed away back in the eighties when Fender production moved to Japan thinking that they might be worth something in the future. He ended up selling the lot in '93 when he realized that they just weren't apreciating. Got it for $650...same asthe original 1983 retail.

Dave

Originally Posted by squeally dan

FOr my main gigging guitar I have been using an 83 strat. Its the od one with the 2 knobs and input on the front of the guitar. I love the pickups because they are all useable but I have noticed they seem a bit more buzzy than my SRV strat. They also feedback real easy. I'm curious if any other 83 strat owners have run in to this. Is there a solution besides removing the pickups? I really don't want to change them. Can they be shielded or something?

Here it is just for clarification:

[squeally dan]

Cool. I agree, the stock pickups are great sounding. I find all 5 positions real useable. I can't say theat for all strats I have played. I am starting to get used to the neck.

Whats been you guys experience with the tremlo system. Mine feels ok but it seems to knock the guitar out of tune.

[tybone]

Here is a picture of mine. It was my main guitar when I was playing funk with Phase IV. A VERY straty sounding strat until I removed the pickups and put in fat 50's. It is still very straty but has a little more punch and mids and RWRP middle pickup for hum canceling. Here is what I have learned about this fine guitar.

1) The trem is not as stable as a standard strat trem. This is becuause of the way the strings are anchored to the bridge. I rarely use it and have the trem flat to the body.

2) The finish is thicker the the earths crust.

3) Aren't these vintage guitars now?

4) Shield the pickup cavity and the back of the pickguard.

When I replaced the stock pickups I got the rewound at songbird to 1962 specs and put them in a JV62 reissue.

Cheers.
LB

[squeally dan]

Someone on here told me mine was actually an 84 because they didn't come with the rosewood in 83, but I've seen several on Ebay with rosewood and listed as 83's. Not that that means its correct. Anyone know? I also saw one or two go for around $800.

[Pietro]

I had one. The pickups sucked. I swapped them all out... then sold the guitar... stupid me...

[clmazza]

I love my 83 Strat....! 25yrs young next year! Vintage for sure

Mine rings like the proverbial bell. I think a lot has to do with the back of the body not being routed for a traditional trem. Adds some bulk but really makes the tone sweet IMHO.

Here's a pic of mine when it had a Hot Rails in the bridge. I swapped pup covers and knobs for black ones (I was going thru a phase I suppose). I have since returned it to stock. I actually really like the stock pups... glad I never sold them!

Enjoy yours... She's a beauty and I'm pretty sure it's an 83 as well.

[woof*]

Originally Posted by squeally dan

Someone on here told me mine was actually an 84 because they didn't come with the rosewood in 83, but I've seen several on Ebay with rosewood and listed as 83's. Not that that means its correct. Anyone know? I also saw one or two go for around $800.

i dont know about the two knob strats, but i own a rosewood 83 1962 RI neck. maybe thats the deal? maybe no two knob"the strat" models? they made 62 reissue's in 83 for sure. last year for fullertons. heres a site that has alot of info on this era of strats:
http://www.stratcollector.com/forums/

[Drew816]

I have an '82 Olympic White that's a regular setup (chrome input jack and not on the pickguard). The original pickups were pulled from the guitar a LONG time ago so I can't help you there, I thinking of putting Lollars in it now for a bit of a change.

Not sure why your's is noisy besides the normal suspects; try a Suhr BPSSC system and that will solve that problem once and for all!

[83stratman]

The only two knobber I still have is a '83 two knob hardtail in ivory/maple. The guitar is all stock. It is probably the lightest guitar I own. The pickups are GREAT IMO. Mine needs a setup/fret level/crown and polish at this point. The two knobbers in general sound better to me than the typical/average American Standard/Series.

[squeally dan]

Originally Posted by 83stratman

The only two knobber I still have is a '83 two knob hardtail in ivory/maple. The guitar is all stock. It is probably the lightest guitar I own. The pickups are GREAT IMO. Mine needs a setup/fret level/crown and polish at this point. The two knobbers in general sound better to me than the typical/average American Standard/Series.

Something about having that 3rd knob just subtracts from the tone!

Anyone have any luck using the trem. system on these and staying in tune at the seame time?