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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:50 pm
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Hi grownupboy,
For the most part, a glowing review.... and of course, that stuff is always good to hear. So, thanks!

To be forthcoming with you, from any description (as opposed to seeing in person) its hard to determine what's going on, so I'll just put a couple of things out there and do the best I can.
I will tell you right off that the finish on this new series--in keeping with the "Pure Vintage"
feel that we want....is quite a bit different than anything we've done to date. We feel that this is part of what makes your positive comments possible.

The finishes are not as "pretty" or "shiny" as any of our other production guitars--past Vintage Reissues included. You will see some orange peel, you will see some grain lines. etc. due to the "thinskin". Offhand (I haven't seen the process personally), I would say that these are (purposely) probably sanded and buffed less than our other series to achieve what we are going for. Please understand that I'm not diminishing your observation on possible oversanding......just wondering if the rougher, less polished finish is what's going on.

On the pickguard screws, again, I'm not sure what you are seeing....especially since your pick guard is 3-ply and not 1-ply. 1-plys sometimes have to be messed with a bit, as the top side can gap fairly easily. But 3-plys, being pretty sturdy....not so much.
The screws on all of the series you mention (Am Std.- Previous VRI's) are being handled by the same people using the same methods for all. Again, not discounting your comments in any way...as a matter of fact, as you suggest, we'll be looking closer at details like that.

So...of course, I'm hoping that the aesthetics are more "not what you're used to", particularly the finish, and this helps a bit on that score.

Over and above all that of course,as mentioned at the start, if you're playing it and enjoying it, I'm happy to hear that.

Thanks again grownupboy! Much appreciated!

All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:28 pm
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hi rob, thanks for your reply...

it's hard to describe - i'm not talking about the finish which definitely can be seen as "sinking into the grain" a bit... don't mind that. this appears as if the body as a 1/4 inch wide by 3 inch long indent along (where i believe the seam to be). a small indent can be seen up on the horn along the same line as the the previously mentioned dip.

this isn't just a rough finish issue but the body of the guitar itself is "dug out" a bit in these spots. this is what lead me to describe this as "not something you should see in a guitar of this quality)...

i actually love the thinner finish and am looking forward to seeing it age - so it's not a "not shiney" thing i'm responding to ;)

as for the screws... the pickguard lays flat. but the screws themselves seem to be screwed through the pickguard at odd angles. this is pretty sever along the lower bout - you can almost imagine whoever worked on this particular guitar reaching over his body if he was right handed and inserting the screws at an angle -- presumptious i know... but by way of explanation only...

the screws are not so horrible but definitely something i noticed.

again, let me stress... really digging the guitar. the neck is a dream - in fact, i've never played a strat neck i've felt more comfortable playing. the pickups sound amazing... this particular guitar is light and resonant and sounds great.

this being said i would have returned it and looked for another version of the same guitar if i hadn't accidentally put a small knick on the back of the body. it's a bit upsetting but i'm getting over it... hehe.

i might even take it out back and bash it around a bit so i feel less inclined to notice that dip in the body!

glad to hear someone from fender is listening... how would you feel about just shipping me a new body without these cosmetic issues? LOL~

karl


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:06 pm
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hey again rob,

just to be clear - totally kidding on the replacement body. not the point of this discussion at all!

really, i bonded with this guitar because of it's crazy good sound, resonance and beautiful neck (did i mention the light flame on the maple on the back of this neck?) the issues i didn't "notice in the store" had nothing to do with my buying decision and don't affect the sound or playability.

would i have returned it if i could? probably, ya. but it's not the end of the world having a few little irksome bits on my guitar.

but really... get the guys to screw those screws in straight at least! LOL!

thanks for listening!
karl


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:08 pm
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Hiya again Karl!

GAHHH!! you posted again before my post below!!! ;O)....s'ok..still works. Straight screws.......got it!! ;O) and agree!

********************************************************

Let me answer your last question with another question ;O)

While I'm certainly no guitar god or even close, i HAVE played an awful lot of Fenders over the years (as a living for the first 6 or so years here) and i swear each and every one is just a bit different from the next.
So...if the weight is good, the sound is good and more importantly the playing is good.....How would YOU feel about me shipping you a new body?

For my part, I'm confident you would still end up with an awesome looking, playing, sounding guitar. The caveat being...perhaps not quite the same depending on your own sensitivities to feel, harmonics etc etc. Again, I can only tell you that I love the Fenders that I have, but I remember distinctly~ that feeling of inspecting a run of guitars and picking one up that just blew me away~~ and I hated to see leave my workstation cause I'm selfish and narcissistic like that sometimes ;O). The same...yet different.

End of story and bottom line......We're really proud of what we do here and it makes us feel really good when folks like yourself dig it. If you're not diggin it like you should...PM me and I will definately see what I can do.

Thanks again for the comments!
Best regards,
rob

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:17 pm
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yup, pretty much what i was thinking too.

all things aside - i bonded with this guitar because of what it was. so swapping it out would be a risk that doesn't make sense... my ocd obsession with the niggly bits will have to take a back seat on this one..

the big lesson for me is to stop, and take a second and third look at the guitar to make sure "everything" is good after the sound and playibility are checked out. i remember thinking in the store.. "it will be fine, don't worry about it... it's all about the tone!". LOL

all a matter of perception i guess.

glad my message on the screws got through - remember someone else going off on the crooked scews earlier in this thread. but as an owner of a brand new 59 reissue i can say.. ya i noticed it. but i bought it anyway.

funny thing - been back to the shop since picking my guitar up... and looked at the 65 strat they had on the wall. body smooth and clean and screws all straight. it's almost like the forces of the universe aligned to get me this specific guitar... warts and all!

thanks again, and have a good weekend!

karl


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:56 pm
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+1 grownupboy

Have a great weekend too Karl. :O)

Cheers!
rob

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:31 pm
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I would like to throw in my request for you to please add an early to mid-60's Jazz with custom colors and matching headstocks. Please!!


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars!
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 4:54 pm
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Brad Traweek - Fender wrote:
For those asking about upcoming additions to the series ... my lips are sealed but I can certainly put in a good word. :-)


A beautiful 1956 stratocaster with fiesta red finish would be classic!


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars!
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:08 am
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rossg87 wrote:
Brad Traweek - Fender wrote:
For those asking about upcoming additions to the series ... my lips are sealed but I can certainly put in a good word. :-)


A beautiful 1956 stratocaster with fiesta red finish would be classic!

"He said we should really have a black one in the range"..[.Lee Dickson attributed to Eric Clapton when discussing the the first black signature series guitar.]

.......Err ahhh....That would be a period correct '57 Brad.

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 5:14 pm
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Love the Special Edition colors they always put out for the American Vintage Stratocasters, I just hope Fiesta Red would make it to the '56 or '59 with a maple board, I think that would be classic and well beloved. I think it was '56 or '57 that custom color was first used.


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:48 am
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So I'm really debating getting one of these American Vintage Strats. However, if I'm going to drop this much money on one, I just wanted to get a few things straight. I hope anyone can shed some light on these inquiries:

1) To my understanding, the new Fender Flash Coat is nitro, but has a thin polyurethane base coat? Similar to the previous American Vintage series, but thinner? Or are these Strats pure nitro with no poly base coat?
2) Are the round lam boards on the '65 Strats thicker than on actual vintage '65s? It just seems like they're much thicker on these reissues versus actual vintage examples:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-2012-Ame ... 460755d491
vs.
http://www.eddievegas.com/store/details ... --NECK.php
3) Are there any differences that anyone notices on the '59s versus vintage specs? The dots, thickness of the rosewood slab, etc?
4) One last question...on actual '59s and '65s, did either have Fullerplast or Homoclad base coats? Or were they pure nitro during that time?

These are NOT critiques of any kind of these models or meant to be trolls of any kind. These models are a great idea, that's why I'm considering buying one. However, it's a lot of money and I wanted to get clarity on exactly what I'm paying for and how they differ from the originals. I know that Fender put a lot of time and money into thee, but my inquiries are from naked eye observations, which is making me thin harder about my future purchase. Hope some of you guys can help! Whoo!


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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:26 am
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Hey how about each year we get a custom color on each bass model. I know the guitars used to get them, but the basses rarely ever saw them. Grab the custom colors for 57 (I know there wasn't an "official one") and 62 and just start making your way down each year. Come on! :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:40 am
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StratLovesLenny wrote:
So I'm really debating getting one of these American Vintage Strats. However, if I'm going to drop this much money on one, I just wanted to get a few things straight. I hope anyone can shed some light on these inquiries:


Hi StratLovesLenny,
Fender's Chris Fleming and George Blanda were kind enough to help me out answering your questions. I hope I paraphrased them ok. (and hope that it leans you into deciding positively!!)

all the best,
rob

Quote:
1) To my understanding, the new Fender Flash Coat is nitro, but has a thin polyurethane base coat? Similar to the previous American Vintage series, but thinner? Or are these Strats pure nitro with no poly base coat?


The Flash Coats are all nitro:
• Nitro Sanding sealer
• Nitro color
• Nitro topcoat.

Quote:
2) Are the round lam boards on the '65 Strats thicker than on actual vintage '65s? It just seems like they're much thicker on these reissues versus actual vintage examples:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-2012-Ame ... 460755d491
vs.
http://www.eddievegas.com/store/details ... --NECK.php
3) Are there any differences that anyone notices on the '59s versus vintage specs? The dots, thickness of the rosewood slab, etc?


The 59 Strat's spec's are correct as far as the dots etc are concerned. On the slab and round lam boards, the actual vintage ones varied from .100 to .125 and the new Vintage ones are closer to the top of that scale. We're talking about .025, which is about the thickness of a Fender Medium Pick, but this helps in production by giving us a bit of room in machining and sanding, with the benefit that down the road they can be refretted a time or two before becoming noticeably thin.

Quote:
4) One last question...on actual '59s and '65s, did either have Fullerplast or Homoclad base coats? Or were they pure nitro during that time?


Fullerplast or Homoclad were used in the sixties (though it's debated how much)--but are highly toxic and basically a poly product-----we like lacquer better.

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:28 pm
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[quote="Rob Schwarz]-Fenderall the best,
[The 59 Strat's spec's are correct as far as the dots etc are concerned. On the slab and round lam boards, the actual vintage ones varied from .100 to .125 and the new Vintage ones are closer to the top of that scale. We're talking about .025, which is about the thickness of a Fender Medium Pick, but this helps in production by giving us a bit of room in machining and sanding, with the benefit that down the road they can be refretted a time or two before becoming noticeably thin. quote]
Rob, if I read your numbers correctly [and I can till draw two lines paralell to each other exactly 1mm apart] something doesn't jibe with your numbers and your description. The new boards are thinner. Hence, does the 'top of your scale start at 0.000? If so, it would make sense to me.

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Post subject: Re: NEW American Vintage Series Guitars: Pure Vintage!
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:49 pm
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Rob Schwarz-Fender wrote:
Hi StratLovesLenny,
Fender's Chris Fleming and George Blanda were kind enough to help me out answering your questions. I hope I paraphrased them ok. (and hope that it leans you into deciding positively!!)

all the best,
rob

Quote:
4) One last question...on actual '59s and '65s, did either have Fullerplast or Homoclad base coats? Or were they pure nitro during that time?


Fullerplast or Homoclad were used in the sixties (though it's debated how much)--but are highly toxic and basically a poly product-----we like lacquer better.


Hi Rob,
When I read the Fullerplast/Homoclad thing, I literally laughed out loud, hahaha. Thank you for the afternoon laugh. Also, thank you very much for even calling outside help to give accurate answers. Definitely wouldn't be considered in most businesses to give that kind of response, and I humbly appreciate it. You definitely are helping me lean toward the Sonic Blue '59.

The reason why I'm so interested in these is that they're so similar to a certain Strat. The #1 guitar on my wish list for me has always been the John English (RIP) MB '59 Sonic Blue Strat. This ONE in particular I've gasped at for a couple years: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=556531

The screws aren't exactly overlapping or anything, but it's basically the closest I've seen. Also, the closest I've seen without paying $5K for a Strat. I'll be off on my way looking for the '59 for me. Thanks again, Rob!

ZZDoc:
Sorry, did you mean that the new boards are thinner or thicker? My concern was that they're thicker because of the pictures I've seen of old '65s that look REAL thin, but I can't fathom the new ones being any thinner than that. Not that I could answer the question, but just to get the question clear. Interesting stuff. =]


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