1973 Fender Stratocaster
The 1973 Stratocaster — CBS era. Accessible vintage Fender.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Alder (Ash for transparent finishes) |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Maple or Indian Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 25.500" |
| Frets | 21 |
| Pickup Config | SSS |
| Bridge | Synchronized tremolo (3-bolt micro-tilt neck on some) |
| Tuners | F-stamped tuners |
| Finish Options | Sunburst, Custom colors, Natural |
| Est. Production | 18,000 |
Pickups & Electronics
Three single-coil pickups. 3-way switch (players modified to 5-way).
What Changed in 1973
Peak CBS-era production. Wide variety of finishes.
Collector's Notes
CBS-era Strats offer excellent player value. 3-bolt vs 4-bolt is key identifier.
How to Authenticate a 1973 Fender Stratocaster
The 1973 Stratocaster represents peak CBS-era production volume. Three-bolt neck, bullet truss rod, polyester finish, large headstock. A wide variety of finish options. Bodies tend to be heavy. Natural ash-body versions are the most collected from this period. Serial numbers on the neck plate (six or seven digits, typically with no letter prefix in the early 1970s, though some have an F prefix). For 1973, serials should match documented CBS-era ranges. Starting around 1976, serials moved to the headstock decal on some models. Neck date stamps (ink stamp on heel) and potentiometer date codes (EIA format: source code + year digits + week number) remain the best dating tools. Three-bolt neck plate with micro-tilt. Bullet truss rod. F-stamped tuners. Pot codes should show 72 or 73 dates. Polyester finish. Check for the correct saddle type — stamped steel saddles are period-correct. Original CBS-era pickups. The three-way switch (not five-way) is correct for 1973. The finish may be nitrocellulose lacquer or thick polyester (poly became standard through the 1970s). Polyester finishes are noticeably thicker, harder, and do not check or wear like nitro. Poly-finished guitars tend to be slightly heavier. A thick, glossy, chip-resistant finish with no checking is consistent with CBS-era polyester. If the finish shows nitro-style checking on a claimed 1973 instrument, verify carefully — it may be a refinish or misidentified earlier guitar. At lower price points, CBS-era Strats attract fewer fakes, but parts-guitar assembly is common. Verify that the neck and body dates are within a reasonable range. Filled screw holes around the pickguard suggest a different-era guard was previously installed. Many 1970s Strats have been modified by players — aftermarket pickups, switches, and tuners are common. The 1973 is effectively identical to the 1972 and 1974 in specifications. It differs from 1977 in not having the 5-way switch standard. Peak production volume means more available examples but also more opportunities for parts mixing.