Seems I have purchased my first ever Strat on eBay for $675, a good (?) price for a 99.9% near-new 2007 unit.

My problem is that I have perused the Fender 2007 catalog on this Fender site and it does not show an American Standard in the catalog. What's up with that? Did I get scammed? Is the catalog incomplete?

Also, I am confused about the bridge/tremelo? I do not have the unit in hand as yet, but the photos show a hole for a tremelo bar but no bar. Does the bar usually come uninstalled in the case?

Lastly, what about bridge covers? There seems to be one for the Vintage tremelo but not for the standard. Why is that? Are they significantly different?

Hopefully, all these questions will be answered when this guitar finally reaches my hands. I've been playing with an Aria Diamonds (circa 1975) ES-335 copy out of Japan with a Cube 30X amp.

1 - Fender stopped making the American "Standard" series from 1999 -2008 and the MIA standard guitars were just called American Series guitars. They made some upgrades to the American Series strat in '08 and went back to the name American Standard strats.

2 - The trem arm just screws into the hole. It is completly removeable and it might not come with the guitar you bought (shouldv'e asked) They are relatively cheap to buy if it doesn't come with it.

3 - The American 2 point trem bridge does not have an "ashtray" bridge cover. Only the vintage 6 point trem bridge. To the best of my knowledge they don't really serve a purpose and is simply asthetic.

Hope this helps.

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2005 Fender American Stratocaster W/Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge and Seymour Duncan SSL-5 in neck.
1995 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
Line 6 Spider II 150 watt head W/Ampeg 4x12 Cab
Laney Pro-Linebacker PL65R