firt year of 3 Bolt Necks?

TomGibbs · Post by **TomGibbs** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:14 pm

hey guys, Just trying to estimate the ages of Steve Vais sticker strat, and it has a CBS headstock, but has a 4 bolt neck, just trying to find out what year the 3 bolt was introduced??

Thanks

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:18 pm

Mid 70's? My first Strat I got while in High School had it.

TomGibbs · Post by **TomGibbs** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:19 pm

form googling pictures, it seems like 72/73 is when the 3 bolt came in,

Yngwie's 'Duck' is a 72 and has 4 bolt, but some 72's do have the three bolt, and all the 73's have the three.

So i guess Steve's is a '72, as he bought it in 1975, i doubt it was much earlier than a 72.

Thanks

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:24 am

Almost all of Yngwie's 3 bolt guitars are converted to 4 bolt mounting with the machine screw into neck mounted brass inserts.

yngwie308

MacGaden · Post by **MacGaden** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:25 am

From stratcollector.com:

"

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:47 pm

Yep, it was '71. Funny thing about '71 models was that in that year you have 3 different type maple neck constructions. 1)You still had ,very early in that year, the last of the 'round laminated' 'capped' maple fingerboard 4 bolt guitars. 2) You had one piece skunk stripe in the back construction maple necks, that again were 4 bolt. 3) And finally Fender unveiled the 3 bolt, 'bullet' truss rod models by the late summer/fall of that year. The vaneered rosewood board necks stayed the same that year,with the switch to 3 bolt and the truss rod being all that changed.

Guitar-Sam · Post by **Guitar-Sam** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:13 pm

What I find funny is 1979 stratocasters had the 3 bolt neck....but the 1979 anniversarys have the 4 bolt neck,with no bullet truss. But as far as I know the 3 bolt comtinued through like 80 or 81,right?

worldoftone · Post by **worldoftone** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:05 pm

'81 was when they finished up using all of the parts. You see a lot of the "S9XXXX" serial numbers, which were actually used through '81. You have to date the pots etc to see exactly what year it is.

So figure mid-'71 through '81.

- WOT

45auto · Post by **45auto** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:01 pm

what a terrible idea the micro tilt was. just compensated for bad maufacturing. my first strat, with an off center neck. i wanted to smash it. sold it instead.