Hi everyone, Id just like to share that I think after years of trying out fenders like underwear (well the closest thing I can come up with) I think I've finally found one that meets my needs.That is a 62 reissue.But there's some intrigue to it as I found something out yesterday.I was at guitar center purchasing strings and I decided I wanted to buy a new neckplate as well one with the F logo.Anyways as I removed it, I found an logo that had been carved/stamped stating my body is indeed an "GENUINE FENDER REPLACEMENT BODY" I was like wtf??I thought I owned a 2004 mim but the clerk there was a fender afficinado like myself and verified that my body was indeed american and it was stamped twice once missing the (j) but figured it to be jan 8, 2000 and the later clearly stated jan 20, 2000.2 dates???y??Also. found 2 more stamps in the routing.In the neck I see an "SB" in the middle pickup route an "F".I know a fender when I see one and its the real deal folks.But soon more clerks gathered around scratching there heads on how and why this logo exists.Because they could only confirm what I already knew and that is only companys can license fender products per allparts might mite etc. So I left without an answer.SO I hope someone has some insight too this as I am intersted.Maybe I have something special mabe some cruel guitar geek was clever I really don't know.I just think if fender parted out there own supply parts why the hell would they still make guitars???Average people like me could afford them.Wow!!Imagine that!!!!!!!!

Indeed, Fender used to sell replacement bodies direct to retail. They offered Strat, Tele, P-Bass, and J-Bass in a limited number of colors (mainly sunbursts, which accounts for the "SB" in your pickup cavity). During this era they also offered necks for the same models (both rosewood and maple fretboards except for the Tele which was maple only), with the headstocks marked simply "Fender" and sans the typical model designations. I believe these bodies and necks were catalogued up until around 2002.

HTH

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Thanks nevin for the quick reply and link.Yes my body is exactly like that one only that ones a little better condition.I may refin it now knowing i didnt own a peice of history.Thanks man!

thanx too retro.Ive been playing fenders since 16 now 28 and i never saw a retaild body.Or catalog for that matter.But unfortunately never had a great music store either until gc came to town.That is cool though.Did you order these online too?my guitar is black so it mustve been refin'd either by fender or the person i got this from.So for better or worse I guess Im content with the body.Its lightweight, still a fender has a story.I'm stoked.So if it was a limited time run than I'm holding on to it for sure.My only complaint about the guitar like all 62 is that the one screw is up closer to the neck i touch it often but like the knobs your hand will learn to avoid contact over time.

yes it is i tried it to thanks.What swayed me was the fact it is nitro i owned a highway one and it is good, however then I played this guitar at a band practice i didnt have time to bring my guitar and borrowed a friend of a friends what i thought was a mim reissue was what the story was but it grew on me so that I either was going to trade in my first born or what hhaaaha.I had to own it as it felt so damn good on me.He didnt want to sell but he finally gave in so I traded my highway and some cash so i knew my near 10 year search was over for that main fender of mine.So im down to 2 now but ive owned or played every model fender except the reissues or an original going 1962 and back.Uncle had a 1968 fender would freak out if I breathed on it.

You're quite welcome, Freddy.

I typed the previous "on the fly". Thumbing through my collection of catalogs just now, these bodies were initially advertised in the Frontline #27 (2000 model year) and there were a few other options available:

Bodies......

'57 Strat body -- 2TSB
'62 Strat body -- 3TSB, Black, Candy Apple Red
'52 Tele body -- Butterscotch blonde
'57 P-Bass -- 2TSB
'62 P-Bass -- 3TSB
'62 J-Bass -- 3TSB, Black

Necks......

Vintage Strat -- Maple, Rosewood
Vintage Tele -- Maple
Vintage P-Bass -- Maple, Rosewood
Vintage J-Bass -- Rosewood

I can't seem to find my 2001 catalog at the moment but the 2002 Frontline (#29) does not list these parts. Thus, your body is somewhat rare. And the black is probably a factory-applied finish.

HTH

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Very Cool!!!If only I can now wonder why fender, the most commonly word associated name with guitar stopped selling these then.I mean who would not want to own one. They are amazing I think.I can see as the price point and that guitar center would take a hit in profits be the shortcomings.But what makes fender better than the rest are the immense options.And having part options should only solidify fender as a staple for the next near 70 years.I hope fender mods are reading this!!!I'm not in the business but my two cents is that fender should still sell there highway ones,am dlxs plusses etc etc and let the budding modders or pros own there own fender creations and if warmoth and others exist as i write this then let it be.I tried building my own guitar a few years back it was to be a strat like with tele contours,input,floating tremolo.It was to be my homage to fender never finished but it has been done by none other than chris flemming a fender master builder so as guitars exist so will knock offs.Anyone else feel this way?

It could be that those parts were discontinued because of a corporate change of heart......concern that too many folks (like me, heh heh) would assemble their own parts-o-casters. I remember seeing one of the Strat bodies in a store way back when. IIRC, the MSRP on it was $305. The replacement necks each came in a neat velvet/velour draw-string bag with a mini "COA" (I forget exactly what they cost).

One thing certain......as long as there are guitar players there will be Fender guitars. You can bank on it.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Retro,thats cool info really I guess there is alot i do not know. As In those years i was in college and took a short break from guitar.I was saying though fender should by all means sell there Fender featured guitars like the fender plus the fender artist series etc in a guitar center.Or like the fender 2011 series only at guitar center or store x.As i hope they are not done creating.I admit I thought the vg was rad!!Others no.But if you didnt have a grand for a guitar and didnt want a beginner like a squier but wanted something with the bedroom player in mind make parts out of different materials have alterations indicating its a fender replacement part or simply market the partcaster line.I apreciated fender and the am special series and the marketing was good and i can see this tying in with that.Give me an hour i could whip up a pitch to the higher ups.I can only see sales and demand skyrocket.It obviously didnt work the first time around as I somehow hadn't known about my body and or people at the store. As for people selling fenders, they were bought to begin with and people arent stupid who buy guitars. They know what they want.I know i have a small scale ebay thing.I have never sold a guitar and made profit.Nor am I pimp and would not cheat on that which i love to someone else. Again, Just my two cents and proud of my amendment rights as an american haaha!

I know what you mean, Freddy.

I just picked up an NOS '06 Deluxe Powerhouse Strat in Caramel Metallic with rosewood fretboard this afternoon. I haven't got my greedy dick-beaters on it yet (Ebay BIN purchase) but I'm really stoked to hear how the active 12dB boost sounds through one of my vintage amp rigs. It should arrive in a week or so.

Rawk on!

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Yeah that sounds cool.I dont own a vintage amp so would not feel the same but do tell how it is.

Also, I am looking at purchasing a new loaded pickguard.Not Liking whatever is here.However, It would require drilling an extra hole and possibly needing me to have this routed like an strat plus or ultra.So should I do it or leave it in the original factory condition???This is more of making it my own or ruining a rarer body.I know how tedius these things can be for collectors.Any suggestions???Thanks!!Also any information on how to get ahold of an fender neck like the one that you suggested from the frontline catalog.Or if possibly you can scan me any info about my body in that catalog I will even pay a little if needed thanks!

The info I posted earlier is all there is -- typed verbatim from the catalog.

If you want a hotter pickup than traditional single-coils, give the Seymore-Duncans or the DiMarzios a try. That way you won't have to perform any irreversible mods to the body. I have two Strats configured with the DiMarzio "Virtual Vintage" pickups (Area 58, Area 61, Solo Pro) and they're about as beefy as they come. Likewise, they're quiet as a church mouse -- totally noiseless. That's a major consideration for me due to the venues I sometimes play. Many of the building went up around the turn of the century......the twentieth century. And the wiring looks like some of Edison's original experiments.



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Yeah these are dimarzios f'n great pickups i do know a few people who play them.I play mostly any of the following styles neoclassical,blues,metal and psychodelica.Mostly the 2nd and the last are my niche.If I get a band together (all i need are people who want to explore my genres) Id love to get going I love the accoustics in an older place so being quiet is important.But if I had a swimming pool body I could easily switch pickguards so there is some beauty there.Xherfi a class act, is selling one he relisted on ebay I was bidding on it and winning than all of a sudden last min i made a final bid but lost.There is an art to the bay i guess.ANyways I know it can go either way with this.

I've had Ebay snipers shoot the wheels off my trolley many times -- it's all part of the game.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY