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Post subject: 1954 50th Anniversary Stratocaster SCORE!
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:22 pm
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Long winded story to follow but...

1954 Master Built Custom Shop 50th Anniversary Stratocaster:

Less than 2500

Missing some items but I got:
1. 50th Anniversary Brown reproduction of 1954 case (did not get the crappy molded case)
2. COA
3. Tremelo Bar
4. 1954 Fender Reproduced Catalog

Now here's the story.

Been chasing after this guitar for a while looking at ebay and craigslist.
Did a search on Tuesday for all 1954 Guitars on the GC used area on their website.

TWO came up at Fountain Valley. Both said 1954 Mst Blt Cst Shop. Nothing about 50th anniversary models. But I knew they had to be them. Below 2500 cost for both.

Went to GC on Wednesday. Looked at the guitars. The Dennis Galuszka Built guitar was in nice clean condition.

The John Cruz strat looked like a kid had banged on the front and back with a screwdriver. Pockmarks all over. Also a piece of paint chipped off on the front. Really bad shape.

I asked the salesguy are these the 50th and do they come with the case and COA. Answer: "Uh I don't know but we can get you a case" But DUDE! the 50th Anniv case is special!!

In front of the guy, I go to their price match computer, find the Fender Website (Jesus, I'm doing this guy's job for him!!) get the customer relations number and call them on my dime/cell.

I had a 99.99% feeling that these were both 50s especially when I saw the serial numbers were on the trem plate. Fender confirms that both are 50th Anniversary CS Strats.

I tell the guy, they're both 50ths and I should get a better price cause you don't even have the case or COA. His answer "uh it's already at a low price, can't do anything for you".

I walk out of the store. I WANT that Dennis Galuszka it's in great shape but that price HAS to come down.

I go back in the store and say "can I please speak to the manager"

They get the manager. I say "look you don't have the collectable case, the COA or any of the case candy. We have to get a better price here"

Manager says "I think we have the case" I start jumping up and down on the inside but stay cool on the outside.

The manager doesn't even ask any of the salesguys to get it cause they are clueless. HE goes to find the case.

Manager brings out the case, it's the collectable reissue case, we open it up the COA is inside for the Dennis Galuszka and the reissued 54 catalog.

I stop the negotiating at this point and say I'll buy it. It’s a great deal. I had just dropped out of the bidding for one that went for over 2800 on ebay.

BUT NOW HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY...

Later that night I go to the GC website to print the page where the 54 strat was advertised.

My eyes pop as I see PRICE DROP and the guitar was now a good deal lower.

It must take 24 hours for the guitar to be taken down once sold, cause today it's no longer there.

I print the dated page (on the page it says "as of June 30 we have xxxx number of used gear).

I call the manager and say "hey the price went down, can you give me a refund on the overpayment?" After investigating he said he would give me a refund.

I give him my credit card over the phone to credit my card.

Today I still did not see the credit when I called the bank. So to be on the safe side, I trucked it on back (on July 4th getaway traffic) to Fountain Valley and just casually asked for a revised reciept.

It had not been done yet. So now with me standing there and credit card in hand, I got my refund. I wasn't even mad that they had dropped the ball and I had to check up on them because:

1. I was so happy to be getting the difference back and I just paid an incredibly low price for a Master Built strat/case/COA.

2. I got the guitar I've been lusting after ever since it came out. Waiting for the used market.

The manager told me price drops generally come from the corporate office. Both 54s had been in the store for a year. I think people did not know these were 50th anniversaries cause that was not put in the description.

Also the recession might also be a reason.

I turned 54 on Tuesday and bought a 54 on Wednesday.

In the words of Joe Walsh, "Life Is Good”


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:33 pm
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Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:18 pm
Posts: 426
Location: Seattle, WA
Love those kinds of stories.
Sned me some pix and I'll gladly add you to the site i maintain, which is an archive of pictures of all the other guitars from that series.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:55 am
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Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:23 am
Posts: 124
can't figure out how to insert pics?


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Post subject: Re: 1954 50th Anniversary Stratocaster SCORE!
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:41 am
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Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Quote:
strat56brownie wrote:
Long winded story to follow but...]

Makes you wonder. Such an involved project, detailed and so carefully developed and launched, and these two examples wind up in some limbo somewhere. Makes one wonder at the original purchasers and where they were at. :?
Rejoice at your acquisition. That guitar will be loved, and have a good home. Pity on the those left behind. :(

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:34 am
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Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:56 pm
Posts: 85
Great story, congrats. Can't believe its six years since mine (John Cruz #4110) arrived....its still my No.1 Strat now. IMO its the Ultimate Strat!


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Post subject: Re: 1954 50th Anniversary Stratocaster SCORE!
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:46 pm
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Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:23 am
Posts: 124
ZZDoc wrote:
Quote:
strat56brownie wrote:
Long winded story to follow but...]

Makes you wonder. Such an involved project, detailed and so carefully developed and launched, and these two examples wind up in some limbo somewhere. Makes one wonder at the original purchasers and where they were at. :?
Rejoice at your acquisition. That guitar will be loved, and have a good home. Pity on the those left behind. :(


Yes my 54 will be loved.

Here's what I think happened to the John Cruz strat. Someone's young child banged away on the strat when it was out. Father most likely was so upset decided to dump the strat at any price at GC. Maybe he even bought another one.

I think the price will go down yet again because the condition was pretty bad although it will play and sound fine.


The one I bought:
1. The guy ultimately didn't like the guitar
2. needed the money badly
3. decided to trade up at GC even with the trade in loss didn't want to hassle with ebay or craigslist.

There are lots of 1954 50th Masterbuilts out there for sale because unlike most masterbuilts, there is a good supply of these out there. Supply dictates the price.

Still I've been wanting this guitar for a while but could not afford the price. Finally got to my comfort level. Been playing it all week. FANTASTIC.


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