Purchased an American Deluxe HSS strat back in '06, at the Guitar Center in sherman Oaks, CA. (Serial No: DZ 6104958)

Was trying to explain to someone exactly what kind of guitar I had, so I looked up my model and paint scheme on the fender site, and found this:

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0101500723

Was curious. In the "View Specs" section it mentions these guitars are made with alder bodies, however I distinctly remember there was a card in the case when I bought it saying it was made with swamp ash.

If it is ash, it's ash with a rosewood fingerboard, and I'm told that's an unusual combination. Curious if there's any way of determining what the guitar is actually made of.

Also, was curious about the meaning of the number "80" written in thick black ink on the wood under the backplate.

Hi leathan, welcome to the Forum.

If your guitar has a sunburst or other transparent finish then show us pics and we'll almost certainly be able to tell you. If it's a solid finish then that card you found is your best guide - unless you have amazing ears that can tell the difference in a "blind tasting".

Someone'll probably know about that number 80 - but we'd be happy to look at pictures of that too.

We like pictures round here!

Cheers - C

I would not put a lot of stock in a card found in a case you got from GC. Even if it came with your guitar. When I got my 08 AM STD home, all the cards in the case, none of them matched my guitar. I think they grabed the case that came with another guitar. The only ash body that currently comes with the AM deluxe and AM STD is the Sienna SB.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

firstrat
Try weighing you guitar. I have two ash bodied strats and they weigh 8 pounds plus.

Jim Mez

I prefer the ash and I think its heavier, I love heavy guitars because they sustain more and have nicer tone. The strat I built my first one not the 1980 I have which weighs just over 7 pounds the crafted one I put together weighs wait for this 10 and a half pounds its an experimental strat and the body is over 40 years old I think but the sound surpasses even a Les Paul in tone and sustain.

vinnypop
Ten and a half pounds, wow, the sustain must be awesome!

Jim Mez

My Mustang has an ash body and a rosewood board.
the other Mustang at the store at that time also had an ash body, but a maple board.

Ash normally has more of a grain than alder. Alder is normally a plainer looking wood.

But looks ain't everything.

I prefer ash, but if I get a Strat I may get an alder body--for variety compared to my ash Mustang.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

Ash body guitars can vary more then most woods. Also it depends on what type of Ash, Most Ash is heavy but guitars made from Swamp Ash will be light and it is not as dense as other Ash woods.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I am going to guess no, your guitar is not ash... It is alder body. I think the store guys mixed up cases... I think you got the case to an american standard strat maybe? (sienna sunburst to be exact).

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0110402747
If you veiw the specs that color has an ash body.

You got a nice strat there, the white one? post us some photos man...

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explorationx

Thaks for all the responses. Y'know, I have to agree with some others here, I probably just got a mis-matched case at Guitar Center.

Honestly, just how heinous would a swamp ash/rosewood fretboard guitar be. John Suhr's site mentions you have to ask specifically for it, as they'd never choose that combination themselves. What would be the problem, too bright sounding?

Good Lord, what's that all about?

We gotta take the proclivities of master builders with a pinch of salt, sometimes.

For example, both the Fender Custom Shop and Warmoth (who claim to use as much figured timber as anyone in the business) often use flamed maple in their necks and say there are no issues with it at all. John Suhr on the other hand (who used to be a Fender CS builder) believes there are stability issues with figured wood and said in a recent interview that he was considering withdrawing it as an option for necks on his guitars.

Or look at the ludicrous bust ups between Ed Roman and Paul Reed Smith over the issue of grain filler on body wood. Utterly bizarre.

Don't get too hung up on this stuff. Fender currently offer options on rosewood fingerboards with ash bodies in their American and American Deluxe models. Ash varies a lot from one piece to another, but swamp ash ain't so totally different that there's going to be a problem. Not one I've ever heard of, anyhow.

Cheers - C

Not exactly on topic but I have a Fender Factory Special Run P-Bass that's ash w/a rosewood neck...and I love it! It's unreal how light it is, especially for a bass.

To be honest, I was a little disappointed with it when I went to trade my old bass for it, cause I wanted a maple neck. I just didn't like the color combo. But I've since gotten over it and it's a great player.

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1992 MIJ 70s RI Stratocaster Natural w/CS69s
1996 CIJ Jazzmaster Sunburst w/Jason Lollars
2001 Hot Rod Deluxe
2008 Mustang Bass CIJ
2008 Precision Bass FSR Natural Ash w/DiMarzios
2009 Telecaster, Callaham bridge & Bare Knuckle Pickups

Agreed. In the end It's always the player, not the gear, that makes the sound!

I have a 2000 Am Deluxe that was refinished when I bought it so I am trying to determine what type of wood it is. This Strat is the only Fender I've ever owned (btw it's become my main axe). The sucker's heavier than my '98 LP Dbl Cutaway which surprised me. Given the rep of Pauls as being heavier than dung and Strats less so (or so all my Strat using mates have so often postulated.)

Anyone know if Fender was using alder back in '00 like they say they are today?

I own a 2006 Deluxe Player's Strat in blond color with a maple neck. It has an ash body and it is very light in weight. It's a joy to play, especially on those gigs that last for hours. I just picked up a 2005 American Deluxe Strat in 3 tone sunburst with a rosewood board. That guitar is made of alder and it is heavier. Both guitars ring nicely acoustically. I always look for that myself. I prefer swamp ash only for it generally being lighter in weight. I cannot say if it is a better tone wood. Some think so.