Bill Alston

Fender CBS Era

The CBS Years

CBS bought Fender in January 1965 and sold it in March 1985. There is much debate about the quality of guitars produced during those years and quality control was poor at times but some very good guitars were made during that era as well. It was the era which started Fender Japan and gave us the first vintage reissues so we must give them credit for that.

Standard Models and variations

There are 5 standard stratocasters during the CBS era with some special editions or variations.These are:

Model	Special Editions
60s CBS Stratocaster 1965 to 1971	None
70s Stratocaster 1971 to 1981	Rhinestone, Antigua, 25th Anniversary and International clour
The Strat 1980 to 1983	Gold on Gold and Walnut
Standard v1 1981 to 1983	None
Standard v2 1983 1984	Bowling Bowl or Marble

The names I have used are not necessarily official or generally recognised names it's just to differentiate in these pages.

CBS 60s Stratocaster

This covers the start of the CBS era up until the headstock change in 1971
Details

Body Usually Alder some Ash on Blonde or Custom Models Nitrocellulose until around 1968 when polyester Some late 60s will have Nitro with a thin coat of polyester over
Neck Maple some U profile some full C but others exist also
Fretboard Rosewood or Maple (67-69) boards Fretted Maple neck available no skunk stripe (67-69) Bound Rosewood neck available (65-68)7.25" radius 21 Vintage Frets
Headstock Enlarged 1 string tree truss rod adjust at body end Transition Logo until around 1967 when Thick black CBS logo with Stratocaster written in bold capitals always Nitrocellulose finished.
Tuners 64-67 Nickel plated Kluson Deluxe stamped twice thereafter Fender Schaller Chrome plated F stamped
Pickups 3 white 6 polepiece single coils
Controls I volume 2 Tone white 3 way selector many retro fitted with a 5 way later
Nut Varies according to the code on the neck A=1.5" B the most common = 1.625" C =1.75" D = 1.875"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 6 pivot vibrato or 6 saddle small hardtail through body stringing
Pickguard White 11 screw laminated some with tortoiseshell until 1967
Colours Sunburst and various colours

1967 Strat

1966 tuners and 1968 tuners

CBS 70s Stratocaster

This is the standard stratocaster from 1971 to 1981.
Body Ash and Alder both used Ash on the natural finish then in late 70s nearly all Ash back to Alder in the 80s Polyester finish
Neck Now 3 bolt with microtilt skunk stripe at rear fretted maple or rosewood board U shaped getting a little flatter towards the end of this period
Fretboard 7.25" radius 21 frets
Headstock Large CBS thick black logo mainly 2 string trees although some were produced in 1971 with one string tree Bullet truss rod adjust
Tuners Fender Schaller Chrome plated F stamped said to change from open type to close type in 1975 not sure I can see the difference can anyone help?
Pickups 3 single coils white or black staggered polepieces except in 1975/6 when flush polepieces
Controls to match pickguard see below except in 1976 white knobs on black guard 1 volume 2 tone 3 way switch to 1977 5 way thereafter.
Nut 1.625" to 1.5625"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 6 pivot vibrato or 6 saddle small hardtail through body stringing
Pickguard 11 screw laminated plastic white 1971 to 1975 black 1976 to 1981
Colours Sunburst and colours

78 strat

Tuners from a late 70s strat

Variations on the 70s stratocaster

Rhinestone
Designed by the Sculptor John Douglas in 1975 suggested by Arbiter the Fender UK distributor. This is the same specs except it has a bonded metal and fibreglass body. Relief floral and leaf scroll design inset with Rhinestones. Very rare there are around 27 in existence.

Rhinestone body the headstock was fairly standard

Antigua
Specs just as the Standard the only difference is the Antigua colour loved by some hated by others.

The Antigua Colour

25th Anniversary
Again the same as the standard except Fretted Maple 4 bolt neck, truss rod adjustment at body commemorative neckplate white or silver body with Anniversary written on in black.

The Anniversary Strat

International Colour 1981

No significant spec differences white pickguard with black screws and controls and the international colours. Arctic White, Morocco Red, Monaco Yellow, Maui Blue, Capri Orange, Sahara Taupe, Cathay Ebony there also appears to be a Cherry Sunburst

The Strat

Launched in 1980 this guitar was completely different from the CBS models that went before.

Body Some Alder some Ash Gloss Finish
Neck Maple with Rosewood board or fretted Maple Skunk Stripe U, D and C shapes all available
Fretboard 21 Frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Small but not the same shape quite as pre CBS Matches body colour 2 string trees transition logo and STRAT written in black
Tuners Sealed Fender Brass some chrome
Pickups The Bridge has hotter X1 pickup than the other two positions 3 single coils
Controls F stamped 1 volume 1 tone and 1 4 way rotary switch plus standrd 5 way switch
Nut
Hardware 9ct Gold Plated
Bridge 6 pivot gold extra massive vibrato
Pickguard Black 3 ply 11 gold screw
Colours Lake Placid Blue Candy Apple Red and said to be Arctic White but I haven't seen one
Pickup combinations As well as the usual 5 way switch positions the rotary gave the following options:
neck and middle pickups in series - humbucking
middle and bridge pickups in series - humbucking
neck and bridge pickups in parallel
neck and bridge pickups in parellel, with the middle pickup in series

The launch advert and an LPB headstock with chrome tuners