Natural finished Esparto.

From the late 1965 to the early 1982 was the large head period of Fender Stratocaster.  The popularity of natural finished Stratocaster in the mid 1970’s must be brought by Richie Blackmore.  He played natural finished one from 1973 to 1975, the 3rd period of Deep Purple.  When once you search a Stratocaster of those days, you will become noticed natural finished ones are majority.

Fender changed specification of Stratocaster in 1971.  Then 3-bolt neck and bullet bolt were newly adapted.

Japanese companies started producing imitations of Stratocaster from around 1973.  Only Tokai and Fernandes produced 3-bolt models.  Greco, Aria Pro II and ESP continued to use 4-bolt.  I don’t know the reason.

The large headed Espartos seem to have been made as imitations of Fender Stratocaster with CBS logo decal manufactured from 1968 to 1970.  But Esparto has so-called skunk stripe even on rosewood fingerboard model.  It’s different from Fender. 3.45kg(includes strings). (Updated 2016.8.25)