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Post subject: California Series
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:52 pm
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Ok, so maybe im the only one that cares, but i think that the california series guitars were some of the best guitars ever made. what do y'all think about 'em.


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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:26 pm
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I guess they were really good guitars. It was said they were a lot like the original '62 RI. I tried to buy one on eBay a few years ago because of their rep and their low price. Then that article in Vintage Guitar sent prices soaring so I never got one. I wonder how they compare to the Highway 1's before the latest changes? Same vintage style bridge, assembled in Corona and painted in Ensenada.


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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:42 am
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what did they say about the California series to vault the prices?


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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:29 pm
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Iggy12 wrote:
what did they say about the California series to vault the prices?


Basically, they said the Cal Series compared favorably to the '61 reissues yet they were half the price.

I hear prices are starting to come down on used guitars, but I'm not in the mkt for another one right now. Anyway, here is the link for the article.

http://www.vintageguitar.com/brands/details.asp?ID=178


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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:34 pm
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The article about the California series says they cut them from the lineup when they took sales from the American Standard. Could happen with the Highway 1. I hope not. It fills a gap between MX and the standard American guitars. Different people want different guitars and more variety is better so we can find the one that chooses us.


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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:59 pm
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I've heard several other reasons for pulling the line such as Fender was hurting its credibility among musicians by selling a "Made in USA" guitar that had a considerable amount of work performed in Mexico. That reason seems as lame as all of the others. I don't think we'll ever really know why.

The Cal Series lasted about 18 mos., but the Highway is well into year No. 5 so I don't see it going away anytime soon. And the '60s/'70s cosmetics of the new ones seem to be a hit, though, the other improvements are probably what sells them. I have a '03 Highway Strat that gets much more play than my Amer. Series Strat.

Strat58cat -- I agree. Without the Highway there is a large price gap between the MIM Deluxe and the American.


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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:18 am
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:) I just bought a 1997 Ca Special in Fiesta Red (looks like Salmon Pink) with a beautiful maple neck. I showed this to some major L.A. guitar techs and pro players and they went nuts over this thing. It plays great, and I'm thinking about some custom pick ups. I found it the day it hung on the wall at a GC; got it for 550.


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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:52 pm
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Fiesta Red with maple for $550?!?! Well done!!


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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:43 am
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If anyone here is interested, I have a Candy Apple Red Cali Fat Strat from 98 that I'm selling - make me an offer! Pics available here

http://picasaweb.google.com/armstrda/Strat#


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Post subject: CALIFORNIA SERIES STRAT
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:24 pm
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My first strat was a 98 California Series in black with the satin maple neck. I paid £350 for it brand new, it came with the delux soft case.

I only had it for less than a year cause upon closer examination i noticed how badly it was made. The frets weren't fitted very well, with uneven rough edges along the neck, the finish had a couple of paint run patched on it when put up to the light, and many of the screws were scuffed and rough, just gave me the impresssion that it was a rush job done.

But it did have a nice weight and feel to it, and very nice acoustic sound when played unplugged.

I sold it to get my vintage white, gloss maple neck 67 CIJ reissue in 1999, which blew it away in terms of build quality.

I admit the electrics were poor in me $@! strat in comparison, but i've since changed all the electrics for USA Pots and 5-way switch and CS 69s all wired with vintage waxed cloth wire.

Have never looked back and no regrets gettin rid of the california series strat, even if it is now rare, but then so is my CIJ 67 reissue, they only make them non export now. :D


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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:08 pm
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I've only come across one California Series Strat.

It was a fine guitar. A Strat!

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My other guitar is a Strat.

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