Heavy strat...sounds dead?

[Farkus]

After a long time away from it, I am playing my '76 Ash Strat again. I had it in storage for a couple of years because of a move. Since the move, I bought an American Series Ash Strat. So, I was comparing them. The '76 sounds very 'dead' compared to my Ash American Series Strat. I was wondering if the weight of the guitar would have anything to do with this? I weighed it today and it's a little over 10 pounds. My '75 is Ash and is a few pounds lighter-sounds killer. I even put the electronics from the new strat on the '76 to see if that was the deal...but it still doesn't come close to the newer axe.

It sounds so bad by comparison that I'm wondering if I need to change the bridge, or maybe even get a body custom made for it (it's a 3 bolt, so not too easy to find an American made replacement). I like the feel of the neck and would prefer to hold on to the guitar.

Any ideas?

Mark

[the guy who invented fire]

IMO that is a problem typical of 70's Fenders...northern Ash is VERY heavy and just doesn't sound as good most of the time...I have played some that sound great but as a general rule they sound dead. If you feel like going to the trouble to get a body for that neck and pickups both USACG and Warmoth offer 3 bolt bodies...

[ArtieToo]

Is there any chance that the place it was stored was very humid? I'm guessing that excessive moisture could add both weight and "deadness".

Just a thought.

[Farkus]

IMO that is a problem typical of 70's Fenders...northern Ash is VERY heavy and just doesn't sound as good most of the time...I have played some that sound great but as a general rule they sound dead. If you feel like going to the trouble to get a body for that neck and pickups both USACG and Warmoth offer 3 bolt bodies...

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting a body but I'm a little afraid to. I wonder if they're making the bodies based on old hardware or the new reissue hardware? I got some replacement tuners for the '76 and they wouldn't fit. Just for information, I heard later that they changed the hardware in about '79 so the reissue hardware won't fit the older 70's guitars. Of course, the neck hardware may or may not have been changed, but I'm not exactly ready to be stuck with a body that doesn't fit if that's the case (it would be a special order).

I really like the USACG bodies that I've seen, but with the out of house painting and all that it seems like it may be more of a hassle. May go Warmoth. I've been very happy with the pickguards they've made for me.

I've even considered converting the neck to go on my Malmsteen Strat body I've got laying around. That thing is all of 4 lbs and is in good shape. At the same time, I don't really want to destroy the resale of the '76 either.

Mark

[Farkus]

Is there any chance that the place it was stored was very humid? I'm guessing that excessive moisture could add both weight and "deadness".

Just a thought.

Never thought about that. It was stored in a house, so I don't think so. The weight isn't that different than I remember it.

Mark

[Hot _Grits]

Heavy ash 70s fenders generally sound cold and nasty in the upper midrange/treble. I'd either keep it as a 'vintage' piece or offload it. That's what I did with my '76 strat: swapped it for something I'd actually use.

-I find it ironic that 70s fenders have a growing vintage value, as they are, along with Norlin era gibsons, the whole reason the vintage market began in the first place: players wanting older guitars that sounded and were made better.

[Farkus]

Heavy ash 70s fenders generally sound cold and nasty in the upper midrange/treble. I'd either keep it as a 'vintage' piece or offload it. That's what I did with my '76 strat: swapped it for something I'd actually use.
.

Yeah, that's why I thought about the new Warmoth body (since they'll make a 3 bolt) as I could return it to stock should I want to sell it.

You know, the guitars are highly variable though. My '75, also Ash, sounds great.

Mark

[Gearjoneser]

Sell it for a high vintage price on Ebay, and use the money to get another strat or tele.....maybe a Custom Shop or Deluxe? Life's too short to hang onto 'so-so' guitars.
If you like your new ash strat, maybe a Fender in alder would be a good choice.

[the guy who invented fire]

if my memory serves me, Mark is pretty fond of the neck on this guitar, and if that's the case i say grab a 3 bolt body, dump the guts and neck into the warmoth body and roll with it...you'll be much happier!

[Hot _Grits]

Yeah, that's why I thought about the new Warmoth body (since they'll make a 3 bolt) as I could return it to stock should I want to sell it.

You know, the guitars are highly variable though. My '75, also Ash, sounds great.

Mark

True. I'd say maybe 2 in every 10 70s fender solidbodies I've tried are good sounding guitars. The thinline guitars seem to fare better...

[Farkus]

Sell it for a high vintage price on Ebay, and use the money to get another strat or tele.....maybe a Custom Shop or Deluxe? Life's too short to hang onto 'so-so' guitars.
If you like your new ash strat, maybe a Fender in alder would be a good choice.

Yeah, I thought about that, but I like the feel of the neck as a change from my much thinner American Series neck. Of course, I do have the '75...

If my memory serves me, Mark is pretty fond of the neck on this guitar, and if that's the case i say grab a 3 bolt body, dump the guts and neck into the warmoth body and roll with it...you'll be much happier!

Yep,I think I might just do that. At the same time I'm thinking about getting a custom shop Strat, so maybe I could get the 70's style neck on that one, if they'll do it.

Mark