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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:55 am
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Rock Star
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I know you all know this, but just for the record (after all, this is the Fender forum where such things are important):
Before 1987, "just" Stratocasters,
1987-1999 the model series was called American Standard Stratocaster,
2000-2007 it was just American Stratocaster (often called "American Series Stratocaster")
2008-present, American Standard Stratocaster again.
Marketing names, that's all.

And since this topic seems to be drifting, the devoted aficionado quiz: when did Fender start putting "Made in U.S.A." on the headstocks..?
8)


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 7:55 pm
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jmattis wrote:
And since this topic seems to be drifting, the devoted aficionado quiz: when did Fender start putting "Made in U.S.A." on the headstocks..?
8)


Easy, I was 16 and well into my Hendrix fascination :D
1976 Fender relocated serial numbers onto the headstock and added the words 'MADE IN USA'

Yay yay aaaaagggh woooh! wadidiwin?

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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:30 am
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Quote:
Marketing names, that's all.


Exactly, that's why I don't find it important really...


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:15 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Cambridge UK
Watch the finish on your new Special, JACSTRAT!

I've only had mine 5 minutes and already managed to chip the body near the lower strap button! Don't even know how I did it. Appears the thinskin finish on the AmStd is also on the Special; my older AmStds haven't got a mark on them...

Of course, you may want a few dings, in which case, great!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 10:22 am
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Location: Southern California
Thanks for the tip! No I don't want chips or dings on my new Special. From experience I see wear marks on my 1978 Mustang which I pulled out of the box new and shiny. I also did not take care of it when I was younger. I got my Mustang when I was 21 and now I'm 60. In my heart I'm still 14 however. LOL.


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:39 am
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Location: Kansas
jmattis wrote:
I know you all know this, but just for the record (after all, this is the Fender forum where such things are important):
Before 1987, "just" Stratocasters,
1987-1999 the model series was called American Standard Stratocaster,
2000-2007 it was just American Stratocaster (often called "American Series Stratocaster")
2008-present, American Standard Stratocaster again.
Marketing names, that's all.

And since this topic seems to be drifting, the devoted aficionado quiz: when did Fender start putting "Made in U.S.A." on the headstocks..?
8)


True, but you missed a couple of things:

In 1982 the "regular" Stratocaster was renamed the "Standard Stratocaster" - this is the one that has been called the "Smith Strat", with the return to the 4-bolt neck, no bullet, and small headstock. As you say, it's a Marketing thing, primarily because they brought out the "U.S. Vintage" '57 and '62 Stratocasters that year, plus they were still making "The STRAT" and "The Walnut STRAT".

1983-1984 you had a revised "Standard Stratocaster" - that was the 2-knob model, and the "Elite Stratocaster" (in "regular", "Gold", and "Walnut") was added to the lineup (replacing "The STRAT" models).

As for the other question, I think the "Made in USA" was added to the headstock decal in 1976, when the patent numbers went away and the serial number moved to the headstock. At least I think that is when it happened.


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:09 am
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Rock Star
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Thanks, I was too much focused on the "plain" American/American Standard years and just lumped the pre-1987's from that standpoint.
The only thing in my defence is that no Dan Smith Strat owner would just call it a Standard...
:lol:

And I agree with both Johns (Soniq&C) above, AFAIK the "Made in U.S.A." appeared in 1976.
I wonder if it was because of foreign copies starting to pop up, or because of the Bicentennial..?


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 11:46 pm
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I went and got an SKB case for my American Special Strat. It just needed a bit of slight tuning out of the box. This is the second Fender guitar I ever got straight out of the box (which I'm saving). I forgot if I put up any picture of it yet. If I forgot I'll put them up now. The SDB case is really nice for something under $70.


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:19 am
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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:25 am
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2007 Deluxe V Neck Strat
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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:20 am
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JACSTRAT wrote:
Image

I very much like WHITE...

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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:23 pm
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JACSTRAT wrote:
Image


Pretty :shock:
I like big headstocks and I cannot lie...


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 9:07 pm
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nyquilcoma wrote:
Exactly. In 1979 there were just, wait for it....Stratocasters. And imitation Stratocasters. Fender Japan didn't get started until '81/'82 and Fender MIM got cranked up in '89/'90. Prior to that a Strat is a Strat, other than the odd ducks-" The Strat", Custom Shop orders, and a maybe a few artists sig models.

As I remember, now showing my age, back up until about 1983 was when all fender's were made in USA and all Squires were made in Japan.

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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 1:01 am
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With all due respect sir it is spelled Squier. They've made/make Fenders and Squiers in Japan, China, Korea, Indornesia and the USA. These are the places off the top of my head I know they make them. I have at least five USA Fenders, One China Squier, On Indonesia Squier and I use to have a Korean Squier Strat I wish I would have hung on to.


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Post subject: Re: New American Special Strat
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 4:17 pm
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My white Special has become my "go to" electric. I'm starting to bond with my Les Paul Standard more since yesterday. I got a new pedal that has that Les Paul "Texas Blues" tone to my Standard now. I have not played it through my other Lester with 490/498 pups yet. It sounds good with the P90s third Les Paul except for the extra noise that comes with P90s. The tone is marvelous however. My Strat Special sounds way nice going through wahs also. I love Teles but, this Special has me keeping the Tele in the case put away. For a truly killer tone play a Strat Special through a DSL5C for a pleasant tone. Sorry about the rambling guys, just sharing!


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