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Post subject: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:11 am
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For my next guitar purchase this fall, I was planning on a black bodied, maple neck Strat--with a v-shaped neck. (like the Clapton, but without the $1600 price tag.) I was planning to buy the Classic Series 50's Stratocaster, but they discontinued that model in black. They also discontinued black in the Classic Player 50's Stratocaster (both the lacquer and poly versions.)

So, I thought, fine, I'll just buy another Jimmie Vaughan Strat (I already have one in Olympic White) and I'll swap out the pickups. Today, I learned from Musician's Friend that they seemed to have discontinued black in that model as well. (They also seem to have discontinued the Candy Apple Red JV, too.)

So, what's the deal? What do those guys have against black Strats? There now seems to be no v-shaped maple necked strats in the color except the Clapton model. (And a couple of other sig and custom shop models in that price range.)

I mean, am I the only guy who thinks a black Strat with a maple neck looks cool? Does everyone else just think "basic" black is boring? I mean, I know it's not Chartreuse Sparkle, but still.... I mean, I understand market-driven production, so I guess that basic black guitars don't sell well--but that sort of surprises me.

Does anyone know if Fender cycles colors in an out on any kind of schedule, or am I just back to looking for a used model?


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:04 pm
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There are many reasons for which a specific colour is discontinued.

None at Fender is against black Strats.


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:44 pm
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I think nothing, as I was just sent this from fender titled "The Darker-Side" :wink: http://www.fender.com/the-darker-side/
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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:30 pm
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chromeface wrote:
There are many reasons for which a specific colour is discontinued.

None at Fender is against black Strats.



Black Strats with V neck.


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:32 pm
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Everything is cyclical. Black was one of the first Custom Color finishes offered, so I don't think anyone at Fender is against Black V Neck Strats. Colors come and go from time to time, and it does seem Fender has been trying out some rather different ones recently through FSR's.

But a Clapton model is a great guitar and you can find good used ones for right around a grand.

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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:12 pm
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It wouldn't surprise me if Fender temporarily discontinued some colors when coming out with artist models of the same colors, in order to not draw sales from the more expensive products.
Can we think of an artist model in black that recently was released? Hmm...


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:59 am
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if they're not careful, if they keep this up, we might soon see an avoidable Fender public apology to BLM... :shock:


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:46 am
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They do still have the road worn '50s Strat in black (with the V-neck). But you have to live with the relicing on that one.

It kind of looks like they are either discontinuing the Classic Lacquer models, or they are just rotating out black and getting ready to bring out another color because each of them is only showing 1 color available.


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:59 am
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A quick search gives 64 black Strat models, so there's still some choice.

http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocas ... efv1=Black


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:34 pm
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Not sure where you are coming up with this but in the 3 Guitar Centers near me, Warwick R.I. / Manchester CT and New London CT all three have one or more versions of black stratocasters with maple necks. The FSR is still available ( its the upper strat. in the pic ...

Image

The other Strat is a 98 so black and maple have long been a feature. Bear in mind that they often do certain runs of guitars in certain colors depending on sales a swell as customer feedback...
I doubt black strats are away for any time other than temporarily.

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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 12:48 am
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I ended up having to put mine together from parts - Of course as soon as I'd made it, the Squier VM 70's came out :roll:

I love the Black on black/maple - It just looks "right"

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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 1:07 am
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A real eyecatcher, Broadwave!

8)

How does it play and sound?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:23 am
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To be more clear, I really should have titled the post "What does fender have against V-Neck Black Strats." But that just seemed a bit unwieldy. :)

It was actually triggered by that promo email Fender sent out about "The Dark Side" touting all the black Strat models. It was just ironic that they were pushing black in every model [i]except the ones I was actually planning to buy.[i] Those, they discontinued. :)

The reason I posted, was just that I was a bit surprised. Like I said, I understand market forces, so I'm assuming that they cut back on the black models because they weren't selling as well. So, I was wondering if I was the only one who liked the combination.

As to the Road Worn--I did notice that one, and I've heard it is a fine instrument, I just have a personal aversion to relic-ing. I do consider getting a used Clapton occasionally. It's just that they don't show up around here (St. Louis area) that often, and it's a little bit higher end of an instrument than I'm fully comfortable buying on Ebay.

I do like the FSR colors that have been appearing at GC (particularly Rangoon Red), but I'm still looking for the good black model, and am surprised that it may not be selling as well. I was just wondering if any one knew if Fender cycled colors in and out often. (Other than FSR's obviously.)

So, again, is basic black boring?


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:08 am
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Aw, c'mon already. There's not much basis to your "Fender thinks black is boring and hates V-necks" claim.
I sympathise with all my heart for you being late for your absolute dream model - but hey, that's living in the modern world economics. :wink:

Five Black Strats with Maple V-neck
from
26 Black Strats total, plus the Vintage Modified Squier...

I won't even start with the pre-owned or DIY-mod sections...


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Post subject: Re: What does Fender have against black Strats?
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:29 am
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:) Don't get me wrong--it's not a tragedy, and I'll definitely survive, I just thought the irony was funny. The email comes out pushing black Strats, at the same time that it was being discontinued in EVERY single model I was considering.

(And that list of five still includes the Jimmie Vaughan--it's actually just been discontinued.)

Really, I just thought it was ironic, is all.

There is still the used market. And I may just break down and buy the EC. (I'm pretty sure they will keep selling that one in black.) :)


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