There’s a line of thinking you hear in guitar circles that says the quality of Fender Stratocasters dropped off a cliff during the 1970s. But like much of the received wisdom in electric guitar, that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Yes, as the decade wore on the finishes got thicker, the X-1 single coil wasn’t to everyone’s taste and they changed the belly cuts, but the decade is well worth reappraising. There are many great instruments to be had. And when you consider how overheated the vintage market has become, it is more important than ever to be able to spot a diamond in the rough.
