I recieved a '57 reissue stratocaster as a gift (crazy, i know) from a friend and I'm trying to determine if it's in fact a vintage 1957 reissue. It has all the correct appointments; 3-position pickup selector with avail upgrade kit, V###### serial number, single-ply pickguard, maple neck, vintage tuners, etc.

But what's throwing me it's shoreline gold in color, which I don't see as an option. Does anyone know if this was a color choice at some point? Or is this some other '57 model I don't know of?

Thanks in advance. Chris.

Its not on the american vintage 57 model at the moment but is on the mexican 50's model. It could be a discontinued colour on a old stock guitar.

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If it's Shoreline Gold from the current catalog then it must be the Classic Player '50s, I think?

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0141102344

Calinke, does your guitar have a two-point trem like the one on that page?

Cheers - C

The V###### neckplate is from a vintage reissue though. Something fishy could be afoot.

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No, it has the synchronized tremelo like the vintage series. I did a little research via the google, and it appears shoreline gold was an available color once upon a time, but has been discontinued. It's not a brand new guitar, so I think it's probable it is the vintage series.

Whats the first 3 numbers of the serial no'. I understand you not wanting to disclose the full number but you can roughly date the guitar from the first few numbers.

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V098###.

Does that make it a 1998?

I cant get a conclusive result. Try entering the code into this site.
http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

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Ah, well that explains it. Colors come and go from different parts of the catalog. Don't know when Shoreline Gold was last available in the American Vintage series. If the online Dater Project doesn't give you a satisfactory answer send an email with the full Serial Number and all other identifying information to Fender's Customer Services and they'll probably be able to tell you about it.

Now calinke: stop toying with us and post some pictures of your Strat so's we can admire it with you, please!

Cheers - C

Thanks for everyone's input. I did try the very cool guitar dater site, which confirmed it was a vintage series but the only true way to date a vintage series is to remove the neck and check the stamped date -- something I don't intend to do anytime soon!

I'll add a pic soon!

If you don't want to take off the neck (and I don't blame you), you could try looking under the pickguard. There could be a date sticker there and should be able to find a date code (yr/wk) on the back of the pots. That would get you to the right year and perhaps right month.

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My other guitar is a Strat.

I can't locate my Fender Stratocaster book, but if memory serves, Shoreline Gold was offered in the early to mid-90's.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ