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Post subject: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 11:41 am
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We inherited an old strat from a distant relative, and I'm trying to find out some information about it.

I don't know anything about it's history, other than that the previous owner was not known to be player...
It appears to be a 57 reissue, and I have trouble deciphering the date on the neck. Looks like maybe '88?

The [candy apple?] red body is in great shape. Some of the finish on the maple fretboard is cracked and lifted near the frets, but it doesn't impact playability (at least for my limited abilities).

I'm curious to learn more about the guitar in general, and about how to best care for it. For example, is it OK to leave the fretboard as is? And, how can I tell if all parts are original?

Thanks in advance!

Here are some pics:

Image
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And, all pics combined in one page:

http://imgur.com/a/R87yt


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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 11:55 am
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It looks to be a late '80s or early '90s AVRI '57 Strat in Candy Apple Red. The detail pics seem to suggest it's totally original and unmolested. The minor lacquer wear of the fretboard is atypical for an instrument of this age and affects neither the playability nor the value. If you contact Fender's consumer relations department and submit the serial number stamped on the neck plate, they should be able to provide more specific information regarding the build date.

These are really fine guitars -- some of Fender's best work.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:36 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
It looks to be a late '80s or early '90s AVRI '57 Strat in Candy Apple Red. The detail pics seem to suggest it's totally original and unmolested....These are really fine guitars -- some of Fender's best work.

Arjay


+1....The Vintage Reissues of this time frame were very well made! The OP has a beauty on his hands!

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 8:26 pm
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cstucker, I feel pretty safe to say that you have a 1988 Vintage Reissue '57 Stratocaster there, and a very nice 28 year old example at that.


Last edited by Blue Notes on Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 4:56 am
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Wow! It doesn't get much better than that; unless you are the sort of person who finds a dollar and is then disappointed it isnt five - in which case, what a shame it isn't an actual 57 ;-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 8:59 pm
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Hi all,
Thanks for the feedback. I'm quite happy to learn that the guitar appears to be legit, and I feel quite fortunate to have had such luck! It's been fun to learn about, and it's really nice to play as well!

FYI, the fender consumer relations contact indicated that the guitar pre-dates the databases that they have, and so no specific record could be found...


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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 10:20 pm
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cstucker wrote:
FYI, the fender consumer relations contact indicated that the guitar pre-dates the databases that they have, and so no specific record could be found...


Be that as it may, I'd rely on the penciled date code found on the heel of the neck and call the guitar an '88 model. Further supporting evidence may lie in the date codes stamped on the housings of the control pots.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 7:33 am
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I haven't run across a decoder ring for the codes on the pots... Is there such a thing?


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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 9:32 am
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Post the codes, I'll be happy to "de-code" them.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 8:25 am
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Here is a picture of one of the pots; as far as I can tell they all have the same numbers:

R1378837 013446 250K A

Image


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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:26 am
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That pot was manufactured by CTS in the 37th week of 1988.

Thus, I'd feel extremely confident that your guitar was built that same year.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:44 am
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Yep, just as I said, a 1988 model. It's in the dates, and serial number.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 3:42 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
These are really fine guitars -- some of Fender's best work.

Arjay

I agree with you on this call, Arjay...but I have a slightly off-topic question for you;

I have a 1992 '62AVRI Strat that I bought new in 1993. Some cork-sniffers have looked down their nose at my axe, stating, "It's too bad it's not a late '80s version...those are better."

Is there a difference between the late 80's and early 90's models?

Was there a moment where the switch flipped and the AVRIs became "lesser"?

...or is it a case of jackassery, as I often suspect?

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Post subject: Re: Looking for info about this strat...
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 6:48 pm
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Screamin Armadillo wrote:
Is there a difference between the late 80's and early 90's models?


None that I'm aware of, SA.

Screamin Armadillo wrote:
...or is it a case of jackassery, as I often suspect?


The likely culprit. They really need to move out of their momma's basement and start doing their own laundry.

:lol:

Arjay

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