In a message to MARK VANSICKLE  Rich Lockyer wrote:
RL>  Production quality was a problem.  CBS pushed for volume, and quality
RL>  suffered. It got worse and worse as time went on and production
RL>  increased.  Neck shapes were inconsistent (I've played some real
RL>  dreams and some real dogs), body cuts were inconsistent (the basic
RL>  shape was okay, but Strat reliefs varied from vintage depth to barely
RL>  there), and the pickups sucked.  The tilt-neck was only a problem on
RL>  guitars where the neck pocket fit wasn't tight.  Some paint colors
RL>  tended to age poorly, checking and cracking.
RL>
RL>  If you find a CBS era Fender that you like the feel of, has a tight
RL>  neck, and is still cosmetically acceptable today, then it's going to
RL>  be as good as anything available then or now.
Did they make the tilt necks tight?  A friend had a Tele Thinline which had 
miserable neck fit.  I had a 74 Strat which I bought new, and it was the 
worst piece of crap I've owned.  I ended up giving it away about 15 years 
o.
Conversly, I now own a mid-80's Japanese 62 Reissue which plays better than 
my original 64, and I LIKED my 64.
Which begs the question:  How do the Japanese Fenders differ from the Mexican 
or American?  I had looked for one of the 62 Reissues simply because I liked 
my 64, but was leary when I found out that this one was Japanese made.  I was 
pleasantly surprised.  I would like to get a REAL switch on it, though.  This 
one is wearing out, and I never liked this unnatural 5-way switch business 
anyway.  
 
--- GEcho 1.00
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