FENDER STRATOCASTER THREE-BOLT NECK (CBS MFG. 1971-1981)

- offset double cutaway alder or ash body with smaller body contours, bolt-on three-screw one-piece 21-fret maple neck with black dot inlays, or maple neck with 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with clay off-white dot inlays, large Strat-style headstock with two string guides and truss rod adjustment at bottom, six-on-one-side tuners, tremolo bridgeor six-saddle hardtail bridge with STB, white laminated (1971-75, 1981) or black laminated (1975-1981) pickguard, three single coil staggered height (1971-late 1974) or flatpole (late 1974-1981) pickups with white covers (1971-75, 1979-1981) or black covers (1975-1981), three knobs (v, two tone), three-way (1971-77) or five-way (1977-1981) pickup switch, jack angled into the top, nickel hardware, available in standard 3-Tone Sunburst finish or various custom color finishes, 25.5 in. scale, mfg. 1971-1981.

During Leo Fender's five-year consultant contract with CBS/Fender, he developed a neck adjustment system in 1970 that corrected the pitch of the neck in the neck pocket with a micro adjustment in the neckplate (rather than the old-fashioned method of using shims). This device, along with the three-bolt neck plate, were installed on Stratocasters beginning in mid-1971. Ash bodies became more predominent in guitar production during the 1970s. In 1980, the Fender X-1 lead pickup (hotter output) replaced original parts/design.

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FENDER STRATOCASTER THREE-BOLT NECK (CBS MFG. 1971-1981)