why are the 04s called 50th anniversary strats, and the 06s are called 60th anniversary strats.Im sure there's a simple explanation, but it has mannaged to stay beyond me.Please help,this is driving me nuts!Thx.

The Stratocaster was first introduced in 1954, so 2004 marked the 50th anniversary of the Strat.

The Fender Manufacturing Company was formed in 1946, so 2006 was the 60th anniversary of the company.

John

It's mostly a marketing thing. In 2014 they're going to have another 60th anniversary Strat.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Mike, many regular American Series & Amer. Deluxe Strats produced in '04 are erroneously identified as "50 Anniversary (of the Strat)" models simply because they feature a commemorative neckplate. But ALL American & Deluxe Series Strats produced in '04 received that neckplate! Any time I look on Ebay & see 3 auctions allegedly offering "50th Anniversary American Series Strats", 2 are guaranteed to be regular '04 Strats & not even close in specs to the real thing, i.e. 2-tone 'burst, maple board, single-ply parchment guard, CS '54 pups, G&G tweed case).

Further, trying to educate these people is an exercise in futility. No matter how gentle a correction is offered, the essence of typical response: "I don't care what you say or claim to know - the guy/salesman I bought it from told me it's a special Anniversary model, and it even has a special neckplate that says so!". OK pal, sure, I'm wrong, there must be another reason why your $800 guitar offered at a minimum $1,300 hasn't drawn a single bid all month

What's that saying about leading a horse to water...?

Somewhat similar situation in '06 with the 60th Anniversary (of Fender) vis a vis Teles as well as Strats.