I might be interested in trying to collect one of these. In addition to the set neck, the features I consider essential are a 'C' shaped neck and a 9.5" fingerboard radius or larger.

Were there any HSS models?

Dream feature: Did any of them have an ash veneer on the front and the back?

I know the one, true Blackmore signature stratocaster which was only sold in Japan had a set neck on it. It also came synth ready. I don't know any other details.

I can't believe I forgot to ask - does the Blue Book of guitars offer the details I desire? I don't have a problem with subscribing, as long as I get what I want.

I seen a pic of one that was a HSS, but it wasn't the typical looking strat, it didn't have a pickguard, so looked like a standard heavy metal floyd rose type guitar.

You should do a search for an original Showmaster. When Fender first introduced the Showmaster it was basically a highly modified version of a Strat and it was strictly a Custom Shop Only guitar. Many of these had set necks. Some had flame tops. Some had chambered bodies. Most came with HSS configuration.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I have quite a few Strats, but the only one with a set neck is my 2005 Showmaster QMT HH Set Neck Special Edition. I know that there are some "traditional" models with a set neck, but I am not familiar with them.
Also, I know the Custom shop makes a set neck version or two.

There were showmasters from mexico, japan, korea as well as customshop and squire models.

If you have very specific requests as to spec Skwisgaar. Then customshop is the way to go. They'll build you whatever you want.

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No no and no

The availability of non Custom Shop Showmasters is relatively new. Maybe the last 6 or 7 years or something close to that. The Showmaster used to be Custom Shop only.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

No they've been out of the productline for quite some time now. The customshop guitars lasted longer and started a year beforehand (98).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Showmaster

I remember trying them out in 06 and 00. Both productionline guitars from Korea.

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No no and no

Perhaps but I encountered a Custom Shop Showmaster in 1997. It was the first I'd ever heard of them. At first I wasn't even sure if it was an actual model or just a custom one-off with a custom label. At around the same time (perhaps a year later) I found the FDP on eesite and inquired about it. Mike Eldred and a few other FMIC guys used to frequent that site back then. They told me it was a team built guitar and that it was not a regular Fender production line model. I did not follow the history of the model after it ceased being custom shop only so you are quite likely correct. I only know it was at one time CS only. Either that or the FMIC guys at FDP in the early years mislead me.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

That would most likely have been the earlier stratocaster labeled guitar that was essentialy a showmaster. Same guitar as a showmaster just labeled as a strat.

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I was told the set neck option had disappeared from the price list.

Call me frugal, but if I can hope to pick up a custom shop issue (I wouldn't dream of touching an import model) on ebay that is most of what I want, that's the way I'll go.

Does anyone know if any of the custom shop issues had an alder body?

I've also seen a pic of a set neck strat that looked like a Strat Plus Ultra, it had the chrome tuners and rollernut, and the lace sensors with the dually red in the bridge, and a really nice flamed body. That one was pretty nice.

You can have whatever you specify from the customshop.

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No no and no

I have a set neck MIK Telecaster with a tune o matic bridge. Only set neck fender I have ever seen.