I've been trying to find one of the old Master Series guitars myself -- Esprit, Elite, Flame, or the Robben Ford sig model -- at an 'affordable' price. I found an Esprit in a shop in Ft. Lauderdale a few years ago. It was bright yellow (not my favorite color, but it had been years since I'd actually saw one in person so I was excited) and they wanted $4,000 for it.

They wouldn't let me play it.

How about the Fender Electric XII. It was a 12-string with a Jag-like body, split p/u's, and it had that strange "hockey stick" head stock. I used to see them in the store when I was a kid. Today they fetch $1000s.

Wow that Fender Esprit is one killer looking ax, and it figures Alain would have it. I dont even recall ever seeing one of those or know when they were even produced. But I cant understand how that guitar flopped, it is just a beautiful looking guitar and would have to imagine it sounds and plays great. Can someone give me some insight on this ax and why you think it was dropped.

Well I looked it up in the Blue book and answered my own question. The series had a standard,elite and ultra model that were only made one year 1984 from Fender Japan. This was Fenders getting back on its feet period and what a shame it was only made one year. If I saw that coming out of the factory this year I would be very excited as that is right up my alley.

Stratmansteve did you say you were interested, or did they want you to use your ESP powers to know how it sounded and played. Some of these stores are just a joke.

Tommy Shaw plays one.

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Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

I wasn't that upset because I knew (and I'm sure they suspected) that I didn't have $4K in my pocket for a new guitar. I didn't want a yellow one anyway. Also, it really is a great store. When the pros come to town and need to pick up some gear, this is the place they come to.

It's a shame these were discontinued, but they were issued at exactly the wrong time in Fender's modern history -- right at the time when the company was being sold. For the longest time I even considered picking up the Squier version of the guitar, but the mixed reviews scared me away.

FWIW, I have seen prices dropping on these, so maybe the dream isn't dead just yet.

I've seen a '76 Starcaster for sale here in Australia recently... not many of them come up, but this one looks as nice as... as a Starcaster can look. I expect they're making their way back onto the radar as a "Jonny Greenwood out of radiohead" guitar (like the Tele Plus)...

Turns out that some of my favourite music over the last ten years or so has been produced with a Starcaster; I'm sure there are many others (with more money than I) who feel the same way...