It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:50 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 3:31 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
I picked up an American Vintage 70's Strat today on a blowout deal for Boxing Day. This model seems tough to get info on as it is a FSR.

http://www.andertons.co.uk/solid-body-e ... -black.asp

Really happy with it so far but I want to find the specs on this...any help? What gauge strings are these originally strung with? 9's?

Also, if I look at the Fender site all the other American Vintage Strats should come with straps...I bring this up because the case candy seems a little sparse. A strap is a bit picky, but if it should come with a strap, it should come with a strap. Truss rod wrench?

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 4:42 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 2:39 pm
Posts: 1340
Probably these
- Series: Special Edition
- Body Material: Alder
- Body Finish: Gloss Urethane
- Neck: Maple, "U" Shape
- Neck Finish: Gloss Urethane
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" (18.41 cm)
- Frets: 21, Vintage-Style
- Position Inlays: White Dot
- Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
- Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
- String Nut: Synthetic Bone
- Truss Rod: "Bullet" Style
- Pickups: American Vintage Single-Coil Strat® (Bridge, Middle and Neck)
- Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Middle Pickup Position 3. Neck Pickup
- Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
- Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
- Tuning Machines: Fender® Vintage "F" Stamped
- Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
- Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment/Black/Parchment
- Strings: Fender® USA Super 250L, NPS (.009-.042 Gauges)
- Other Features: Matching Painted Large Headstock, White '70s Style Decal, "U" Shape Maple Neck, 3-Bolt Neck Plate with Micro-TiltTM Neck Adjustment, Single Wing String Tree

That is a good price for the UK
Lets see some pics .... we just love pics :D


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 2:19 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
I am not much of a photographer but there you go...

Image

Plus trying to photograph a black strat just doesn't seem to do justice. Infact any solid colored finish to me always is a little bland in photos. My PRS photographs much better ;)

That being said she sounds great and feels great. Even the U shaped neck is feeling pretty good so far. Very different feel but very nice as well.

Anyone have the info I was looking for about the case candy?

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2016 5:47 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Likely the case candy should've included a strap, a cord, an "ashtray" bridge cover, a polishing cloth, some picks, and the truss-rod wrench.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 3:50 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
Looks good! Why is it so cheap? Is it basically an American Special, which can be had over here (England) for about that price?

Mind you, I had a '79 Strat and wouldn't want it back, thanks!!! I'm sure this one's far better than that!

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 3:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
I contacted the store where I bought it and they were kind enough to send out a complete case candy pack, that was still sealed and did not appear to be ravaged by savages. Thanks for all the help.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 4:06 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
Peter S wrote:
Looks good! Why is it so cheap? Is it basically an American Special, which can be had over here (England) for about that price?

Mind you, I had a '79 Strat and wouldn't want it back, thanks!!! I'm sure this one's far better than that!

Cheers - Peter.


As for why it was so cheap, I got in from Andertons in the UK which is where I am located for the next little while. So it was 799£. I spoke with Lee Anderton about it when I was in the shop and he basically said that Andertons bought up all the models remaining in Europe so they got them for a good price and could sell them at a low price. Strangely, Fender told him, and his feedback from customers confirmed it was that the painted headstock that people just didn't like.

It is NOT and American Special, it is the American Vintage series. I am not sure when Fender ceased doing the 70s AVRI Strat but it is not on their website anymore, probably a year or two ago but that is a guess.

Their loss is my gain because it is a superb instrument. It feels wonderful and sounds great stock...though I did set it up for 10's vice 9's and put the two more springs in to essentially block the trem. I am also about to wire in the 5 way switch it came with and wire the neck tone control to the bridge pickup as well. The stock pickups are perfect, but I prefer to have tone control for the bridge as well just to roll off a bit of the high end sometimes.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 8:16 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
nicholsoni wrote:
Peter S wrote:
Looks good! Why is it so cheap? Is it basically an American Special, which can be had over here (England) for about that price?

Mind you, I had a '79 Strat and wouldn't want it back, thanks!!! I'm sure this one's far better than that!

Cheers - Peter.


As for why it was so cheap, I got in from Andertons in the UK which is where I am located for the next little while. So it was 799£. I spoke with Lee Anderton about it when I was in the shop and he basically said that Andertons bought up all the models remaining in Europe so they got them for a good price and could sell them at a low price. Strangely, Fender told him, and his feedback from customers confirmed it was that the painted headstock that people just didn't like.

It is NOT and American Special, it is the American Vintage series. I am not sure when Fender ceased doing the 70s AVRI Strat but it is not on their website anymore, probably a year or two ago but that is a guess.

Their loss is my gain because it is a superb instrument. It feels wonderful and sounds great stock...though I did set it up for 10's vice 9's and put the two more springs in to essentially block the trem. I am also about to wire in the 5 way switch it came with and wire the neck tone control to the bridge pickup as well. The stock pickups are perfect, but I prefer to have tone control for the bridge as well just to roll off a bit of the high end sometimes.


The "regular" AVRI '70s Strat was discontinued in August of 2012 when the majority of the AVRI series was replaced with the "pure vintage" AV series; they did continue the AVRI '69 Thinline Tele and the AVRI '72 Thinline Tele on into early 2013. There was also an FSR AVRI '72 Thinline Tele that had the modern radius and frets which continued through all of 2013 and possibly into 2014 that was not in the Fender Frontline catalogs but was on the Fender website until it was sold out.

During 2013 (and possibly early 2014) there were some FSR runs of other AVRI 1970s models; this Strat was one of them. There was also an FSR AVRI '72 Tele Custom from about that same time frame (these were black with a tortoise shell pickguard but didn't have the painted headstock).

Hope that helps.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 8:31 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
Thanks for the info.

I actually wasn't that concerned with the date of manufacture and Fenders site says to correctly date it I would need to check the date on the neck by removing it.

Though it was advertised as American Vintage not American Vintage Reissue. I am not really sure what the difference is.

Ultimately, I don't actually care about the date since I absolutely think the guitar is exceptional. Ultimately it is a high end American Strat which is interpretation of a 1970's style strat. The rest is just semantics.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:24 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
Yes, Anderton's is a good all-rounder of a music shop. Not usually the cheapest, though, so you definitely have a bit of a bargain!

I don't know if it's the case in the US, but it seems to be true that painted headstocks aren't that popular over here. Not that keen myself, to be honest (and I had a '95 in LPB) but yours looks good in black, I think!

Can I ask - what's the weight like? My genuine '79 was probably the world's heaviest Strat - and not in a good way!

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 6:30 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
I was at Andertons because of the Youtube videos they do with Rob Chapman. Apart from that, I am not familiar with many other music stores apart from the local shop close to me but they don't seem to do the volume to have lower costs. They also seem to specialize in pedals which seems to work for them because it is not the same overhead as having a bunch of high end guitars hanging around. Any other suggestions of shops would be much appreciated.

I have never been a fan of painted headstocks but usually they seem to be in stranger finished than plain black. Example I just saw a Classic Vibe in burgundy mist with a painted headstock...maybe I'll see if that one goes on sale for 50% off then it might be ok.

Weight wise I can really only describe it as a comfortable weight. I also have a Squier Standard Strat I have had for about 10 years and I swear it weighs as much as a LP. It's not as heavy as that one. I also have a couple PRS right now and it is on par with a PRS Custom 24. So it's not super light nor is it super heavy, just comfortable.

I looked at buying a 1975(?) Strat once and it was absurdly heavy and the neck was enormous...this one is more comfortable all around.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:26 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
nicholsoni wrote:

. . .
Though it was advertised as American Vintage not American Vintage Reissue. I am not really sure what the difference is.

. . .


Actually that is just semantics as well. The series has been called "American Vintage" since the 1998 update, but the individual models in the 1998-August 2012 series were called "American Vintage Reissue XX Stratocaster" (or whatever the instrument is) in the Fender catalogs - with the XX being the year in question. The model name has become shorthanded as "AVRI".

When they did the August 2012 update Fender dropped the word "Reissue" from the catalog name, so the current models are just called "American Vintage XX Stratocaster", which is shorthanded "AV".

We've been using "AVRI" for the old series, and "AV" for the new series. Although these FSRs came out after the AV series was released, the specs are based on the old AVRIs. I'm pretty sure that Fender just used their current "American Vintage" name for these and didn't put the word "Reissue" in the name.

It really only matters when you're discussing the '52 Telecaster model, as it is the only one that crosses over between the older AVRI series and the current AV series.

Basically we're just getting tangled up in Fender's marketing lingo.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 2:50 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
Yes, nicholsoni, that '75 sounds like my '79!

If you're at Rickmansworth, Coda Music at Stevenage (with another branch at Luton) is worth a visit. I haven't been for a couple of years, but they've always had a good selection of guitars and amps at fair prices. Parking's OK at both, although I prefer Stevenage.

Otherwise, there's Peach Guitars, about 10 miles east of Stansted airport. A bit out in the wilds, but easy to get to and park. They've got stuff, like Suhr, that's a bit harder to find in England.

And if you're going to Anderton's at Guildford, you must try Guitar Village at Farnham! Again, easy parking. I bought my CS Strat from there - well worth a day out from Cambridge!

Cheers - Peter.


PS: Can someone please tell me how to include part of someone else's post as a 'quote' in my post!!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 9:46 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
Peter S wrote:
PS: Can someone please tell me how to include part of someone else's post as a 'quote' in my post!!!

There is a quote button below every post on the right side. Just click it and it will open a reply window with the appropriate HTML codes inserted to do the quote.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: American Vintage FSR 70's Strat - Info Please
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 9:57 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:57 pm
Posts: 1089
Location: Rossendale UK
Peter S wrote:
PS: Can someone please tell me how to include part of someone else's post as a 'quote' in my post!!!


As nicholsoni says, click on the quote button at the lower right of the page.
A new page will appear, and at the top left and bottom right of the text you'll see the word "quote" and a few other bits of information in squared parentheses - you need to keep the stuff in parentheses intact, but you can edit down the rest to just show the comment you want to quote and reply to.

_________________
Chris :)

Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: