Fender 1974 Stratocaster Hardtail Sunburst Near Mint w/Case

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

Finding a 1974 Fender Stratocaster in near mint condition is unusual enough. Finding one in the hardtail configuration with original staggered-pole, grey-bottom pickups, original strap, bridge cover, and original hardshell case is a different category of unusual. This guitar has barely been played.  Furthermore, it weighs just 7 pounds, 2.5 ounces.

1974 is the final year Fender used staggered pole pieces in the Stratocaster — the graduated magnet heights that Leo Fender designed to compensate for the different string gauges and playing characteristics of the era, and that have been chased by vintage Strat enthusiasts ever since. Late in 1974 Fender switched to flush pole pieces, altering the magnetic field geometry and changing the tonal character of the pickups. This guitar's grey-bottom staggered pickups — reading 5.55k bridge, 5.69k middle, and 5.51k neck — are the same basic pickup design that Fender had been refining since 1964, built to the specification that defined the sound of the instrument through its most musically important decade. 

The hardtail configuration is a specific variant that a dedicated subset of Stratocaster players seeks out deliberately. With the bridge plate bolted directly to the body and the strings anchored through the body rather than through a floating tremolo block, the hardtail transfers string energy differently — more direct, with a different sustain character and resonance than the tremolo version. Players who have used both often describe the hardtail as having a more immediate, piano-like attack and a tighter low end. For anyone who doesn't use the tremolo, it is considered by many to be the superior configuration.

The ash body in sunburst is correct for 1974 — Fender used both alder and ash in this period, with ash producing a slightly brighter, more open-grained tonewood character visible under the sunburst finish. The maple neck carries the large CBS-era headstock with black "F" logo Schaller-made tuners, bullet truss rod, and the C profile at .887" at the first fret and .95" at the twelfth — substantial and comfortable. The original 3-ply white pickguard, original pots, original 3-way switch are in place.

The near mint condition means that you get original frets with essentially no wear, only the lightest marks on the body or neck, and the finish intact throughout. Action is set at 2/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. Original hardshell case, original strap, and original bridge cover are all included — the complete package for a guitar that has been preserved rather than played.

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Excerpts from Real Online User Reviews:

• "1974 is the last year Fender used staggered grey-bottom pickups — these are the coveted transitional pickups that are the same as what Fender used throughout the 1960s." — Black Book Guitars
• "The hardtail Stratocaster is actively sought out by players who want the direct string-to-body transfer without the compromises of a floating tremolo." — Stratocaster Guitar Forum
• "Grey bottom staggered CBS-era pickups from '68 through '74 are the real deal — woody, pure Stratty, and silky smooth on overdrive." — Reverb community
• "A near mint 1974 Strat with original case, strap, and bridge cover is exactly the kind of time capsule find that does not come along regularly." — Vintage Guitar Magazine

SPECS:

• Color: Sunburst
• Weight: 7lbs 2.5oz
  
• Body: Ash
  
• Body Date/Code: See pics
• Neck: Maple
  
• Neck Profile: C
• Neck Date/Code: See pics
• Fretboard: Maple
  
• Inlays: Black Dot
  
• Frets: Original
  
• Fret Count: 21
  
• Nut: Original
  
• Nut width: 1-5/8"
  
• Radius: 7.25"
  
• Scale: 25.5"
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .887"
• Neck thickness at 12th Fret: .95"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
  
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
  
• Overall length: 38-3/8"
  
• Lower bout: 12-5/8"
  
• Waist: 9-1/4"
  
• Upper bout: 11"
  
• Body depth/thickness: 1-3/4"
  
• String gauge: .010-.046
  
• Hardware Color: Nickel, chrome
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Grey-bottom single coil
• Pickup Reading: 5.55k
• Original?: Yes
• Middle Pickup/Brand: Grey-bottom single coil
• Pickup Reading: 5.69k
• Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Grey-bottom single coil
• Pickup Reading: 5.51k
• Original?: Yes
  
• Bridge: Fixed, hardtail bridge, string-through-body w/ cover
• Tuners: Origibal F logo
• Knobs: Original
  
• Switch: 3 Way
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: OHSC
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.