The 1973 Stratocaster is the '70s Strat: the large headstock with two string trees, a bullet truss rod nut and a three-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt adjustment. Ash body in gloss polyurethane, three Pure Vintage '73 single-coils with staggered poles, "F" stamped tuners and the "Ash Tray" bridge cover.
The 1973 "C" neck has a 7.25" radius and vintage tall frets. Micro-Tilt lets you change neck angle with a hex key rather than shims, and the bullet nut makes truss rod adjustments without taking the neck off. The board depends on the finish: Mocha and Lake Placid Blue come with maple, Aged Natural with round-laminated rosewood, Olympic White with rosewood. Mocha was the first Strat custom colour with a black pickguard.
For the early '60s Strat with a slab board and alder body, see the 1961 Stratocaster. The Limited Edition American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster is a variation on this one.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA
Body Material: Ash
Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black or 3-Ply Parchment (by finish)
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Construction: 3-Bolt
Neck Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Shape: 1973 "C"
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" (184.1 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple, Round-Laminated Rosewood or Rosewood (by finish)
Position Inlays: Black Dot or White Pearloid Dot - 7 mm (by finish)
Side Dots: Black or White (by finish)
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Vintage Tall
Truss Rod: Bullet Style
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Pure Vintage '73 Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup: Pure Vintage '73 Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: Pure Vintage '73 Single-Coil Strat
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
HARDWARE
Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with “Ash Tray” Bridge Cover
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Pure Vintage Fender “F” Stamped
Tremolo Arm: Screw-In
Pickup Covers: Aged White
Control Knobs: Aged White
Strap Buttons: Vintage-Style
Strings: Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges), PN 0730250406
CASE
Case: Vintage-Style Black (Orange Interior)