all I can say is YIKES...I'd love to pinch just one note on it..

Money is money but music is forever....

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Just purchased this book:

"MILLION DOLLAR LES PAUL: In Search Of The Most Valuable Guitar In The World" (and I would add: that wasn't played by Jimi Hendrix) by Tony Bacon. It is a very interesting read (I am skipping around in it).

Here is some of what is said in the introduction (in case you might be interested in getting it): "...Fifty years ago, almost to the day as I write this, the Gibson guitar company made a small and apparently insignificant change to one (sic) its models. Today, examples of that model, made from mid 1958 and in production for less than three years, have become among the most revered and the most valuable electric guitars of all time. ... Instruments built in that year are seen by most players and expert collectors as the peak of perfection in a Les Paul guitar. ... The sunburst Les Paul has gradually increased in value over the years since it was introduced to become an instrument that now sells regularly for well into six figures. In this book, my quest has been to see whether there is such a thing as a million-dollar Les Paul." Back cover: "It seems only a matter of time before a Burst sells for a million dollars. By the time you read this book, in fact, it may already have happened."

Here some info about people playing relics this is in the band i now play in..
1..Myself Vocal's & Rhythm guitar 73 standard
2..Rudy Lead guitar 62 Standard & 65 Gibson ES 137
3..Dew Keyboards, backing vocals ,lead guitar 61 Tele
4..Carmelo Bass ..Fender Jazz 69 & 71
5..Dorsey's sax is a 1943 something or another his harmonicas are even older like early 1900's
And we are nothing more than a Carnival/Fair/Casino band so you can imagine what the big boys play

[quote="masterhacker"]Last night on AR-a 1954 Strat, serial number #47, with the pickup covers and the knobs replaced-------$50,000 to $70,000 !!!

Last Saturday night I had dinner with friends among whom was a 'vintage' journeyman musician, still working full-time, who includes a well worn '55 in his stage arsenal. When I learned of this, I immediatedly offered to refer him to a reputable specialist in mental illness for a head examination but his only retort was "Thank you! I deeply appreciate your concern." Only to add "Now would you kindly pass the soy sauce?"

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"Another day in paradise!"

Yeah, but with a Swiss Army Knife screwdriver blade fer Chrissake!

That is a pretty old episode and you can see that plus a host of other finds on youtube taken from AR. Of course there are guys out there who would pay a hell of a lot more for that ax. This year we had someone post an ebay link to these guys selling a Daphne Blue 62 I believe it was and asking for $100,000 while everyone was laughing two hours later someone bought it. Probably my lawyer lol though he does play well. He there is a serious market for vintage axes. Me I would rather throw down some serious money on some new Master built custom shop axes. I like beauty.

Seems to me that as long as people are prepared to throw down tens of thousands for old guitars they will be removed from the hands of players and end up in glass cases. Guitar sellers have to take some blame for pricing players out of the vintage market too, asking increasing piles of loot...

A second hand guitar dealer in San Francisco told me about a group of Japanese businessmen who came in and asked him to pull out every 60s and 70s Fender and Gibson he had and charge them whatever he wanted. He sold the lot for way more than they were currently worth, thinking he did a great deal. A few years later he's complaining that he now can't afford 60s and 70s Fenders because the prices have jacked up so far, and he can't find them because they've disappeared into private collections.

Those guitars were made to be played, taken out to smoky bars, leant against a wall in your bedroom, loaned to your little nephew when he starts to play - not to end up on display in a climate controlled cabinet in some rich guy's boardroom. That's not very rock n roll.

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"...Compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees, I am an Apeman."

Its a free country.
Its funny what becomes valuable in a capitalist nation. There are baseball cards that are worth thousands (literally a piece of cardboard). a bottle of 1947 Chateau Petrus is worth 10s of thousands, when the 47 Figeac (basically the winery next door) is likely every bit as good and worth only a few hundred dollars.
If some rich guy wants a 57 Stratocaster to display in his living room, more power to him. For a git to throw in the trenches, I would rather have a 2008 than a 1958 anyway. Fender and Gibson are currently making the best guitars in their histories, so whats the big deal if you can never own an original sunburst Les Paul.

Many have one-piece ash bodies. They were much more hand made (which can be good and bad).



The plastic used on the '54s (pickguards, covers, knobs) was pretty bad. There aren't many around with their original plastic parts. Manufacturing tolerances weren't as tight; many necks suffer E String Fall Off.

Age plus Supply and Demand equals high prices.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I'm with you part of the way - The guitars Fender are making right now are great instruments that do everything I want. I love the fact that anyone (with a job I guess) can own an American made guitar as good as the ones their musical inspirations play/played and get busy with making music. I personally don't want a 50s Fender or Gibson - I couldn't afford the insurance. But I still don't like that so many older instruments are taken out of the hands of players to be used as investments and 'cool' accessories. Ultimately tho, who cares? Someone who can write a song on a $50 nylon string has something a vintage collector can't buy right? (uh, unless they buy the publishing...)

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"...Compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees, I am an Apeman."

Call me crazy but i would LOVE to have a Fender Broadcaster. Yeah sure it is a seemingly waste of money to most people but assuming i was a millionaire i know for a fact my woman would buy it for me and i wouldnt complain one bit.

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My lot:
2003 white/white Fender Strat mim
2007 natural ibanez af 105 hollow body
1991 ibanez 12 string acoustic
roland micro cube amp