Hmmm...the 70's weren't really a classic time for either Gibson or Fender, they were both having a hard time defending themselves from the likes of Ibanez and Yamaha and such, as a result they took their eye off the quality ball and their guitars were not a patch on the early 60's, but as you know, prices for things like an early 60's Stratocaster are stratospheric.
If you want to be a bit different, I'm surprising myself here recommending a Japanese product but one of the really tasty guitars from around the mid 70's was a Yamaha SG2000 - typically 70's in being decked out with mother of pearl inlays and quite fancy, but hey, that was the fashion of that era. However, it was also made of quality tonewoods, the like of which you don't get much these days what with conservation of rainforests, with a flame or quilted maple top (nice warm honey colour not too white) on a mahogany body. It had a huge great brass 'sustain block' under the bridge and would sustain until next Christmas. A guitarist in the band I was playing with at the time had one and he reckoned that the sound and the sustain was like a Les Paul on steroids. Certainly seemed to live up to that.
That's my tuppence worth, but what do I know, I'm a Bass player, with only 5 basses - and my 1973 Ricky 4001 ain't never going to be sold, when I get too old to play I'm going to go out and watch a few bands and donate it to someone who will truly appreciate it and cherish it like I've done.
Jools
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