This summer, I'm going to do a Rt.66 roadtrip from Chicago to LA. One of the stops along the way to Santa Monica is going to be a visit to the Fender factory and visitor center in Corona, CA. I'm actually hoping to take advantage of the "design experience" and have Fender put together the perfect souvenir for this trip - perhaps something along the lines of an all-black Stratocaster with a nicely flamed or birds-eye maple neck (it'd be the perfect place to put those vintage Rt.66 water transfer decals I recently bought on E-bay).

Please share your experiences with the Fender factory tour, visitor center, "design experience," and Rt.66 roadtrips!!!

Later,
Midlife

Cool.

I traveled a lot of the old route several times, mostly the replacement though, I-40
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/rt66

Corona in 02
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/fmic

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Awesome!

That's one of my dreams to get over there and do that trip, a stop at the Fender factory would be icing on the cake.

Snowy

I can't speak for most of the trip, but Route 66 in Arizona is mostly the memory of parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents.

There are a few sad remnants of buildings and the original road, but if one expects to see the movie 'Cars' come to real life, one is going to be very disappointed. It is mostly Interstate 40 now.

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Sent from my K&E slide rule.

That will be an awesome experience !

Be sure to post lots of pics... especially the new axe !

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

+1

The road from Kingman to Flagstaff is still dotted with the settlements of yore but I-40 bypassed many of them. Thus, if you're expecting that Martin-Milner-and-George-Maharis open-roadster vibe, it's gonna be a major let-down.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Take pictures....

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"Another day in paradise!"

Bummer, I was hoping to take a tour like this.
http://route66tours.com.au/

So, picking out a nice stratocaster while at the Factory would be considered one layer of icing, upon a second layer of icing (on the cake)?

Yeah, most of the old buildings and many of the towns are gone, some relegated to ghost town status or ruins. But, something around 85% of the old road remains in good and driveable condition, with lots of great original stops to keep you busy. Check out some of the tour guide books and info on the web for details in planning a trip. I live in Illinois and have driven just about every mile of the remaining road here, and there is still plenty of vitality along the road - including some great places to eat and sleep. There are quite a few original motor courts / motels along the way that have been restored and give travelers an authentic place to stop along the "mother road" for a nights rest, and there are also quite a few old diners that provide great alternatives to chain restaurants.

My trip plans so far include stops and side trips to see many of the traditional Rt. 66 sights, including the St. Louis Arch, Meramac Caverns, Cadillac Ranch, the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater, and the super-twisty road from Kingman to Oatman (AZ). My visit to SoCal is going to incorporate a visit to the original Shelby American building on Princeton Ave, and of course Fender. I'm planning a more northerly route home, with stops in Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and Boulder, CO - home of the Shelby American Collection museum.

The old Rt.66 is nothing but a memory, but the road is still the road and for those who enjoy a good road trip (and the music that will make the soundtrack of the ride), it still has some of the old magic.

+1

Top off the tank and stuff the iPod with your favorite tuneage......road trips are very therapeutic for one's soul!

Rawk on!



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Driving an old Corvette????

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"Another day in paradise!"

Remember, get your kicks..............

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I Can't Explain

Sort of... it's a C6 Z06. It is a few years old, though.

Excellent...

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"Another day in paradise!"