I picked up a 2001 Fender Tabacco Sunburst Strat w/ Maple neck. Neck identifies itself as an American but what about the body? Well I took it apart to find some clues...

When I took off the neck the i found the following stamped digits on the body: 54015

Under the backgaurd: T23 circular sticker and painted on "12" (under 5 alterating colored springs black and metallic.)

Body itself under the pick gaurd with a sticker and bar code: 0064016-703

In the individual pickup pockets: M 3112 and B C 2-21

On the neck base that meets the body: 0056216-980 "AC" "CH" and "Leticia"...Yes Leticia Its sort of like some kind of sticker.

The Serial # on the back of the headstock: Z1006039 the zero just after the six looks funky as if it was stamped on an odd angle? not quite sure. Anyways i'll post some pics because regardless it is a very pretty and very well put together strat. Thanks for the help and enjoy the pics.

Congrats on the Strat!

Looks legit to me judging from your descriptions and pics. If you are still worried, post pics of the front and back of the headstock and we'll let you know.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

Hi angelburst,

Judging from the 22-fret neck, black fret dots, two-point trem with the block saddles, and pickup poles stagger, it looks like an American Standard to me. I know at some point the American Standard changed to bent-steel saddles (like my '08 came, that might be the first year), but in '01 I think that they had block saddles. Yes, pictures of the front an back of the headstock, the neck pocket, and under the pick guard would make for a more positive ID, but from the pics that you posted it looks legit. Someone probably added some springs, as they only come with three installed (black I think). If you email Fender with your serial number, they can tell you the way that your guitar came from the factory, including the body color and other options.

Edit: BTW, beautiful guitar! Very nice looking!

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

It's a circa 2001 American Series to be exact. You're correct that in '08 the American Series switched back to the American Standard name and one of the changes was the saddles.

Block saddles were used from the mid 80's to 1999 in the American Standard, and 2000 to 2007 as the American Series.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

the final confirmation on the body should be the routing. An American Series body should be routed HSH and it should be painted with some kind of sheilding paint inside the routes.

From the photos it looks like you picked up a nice American Series Strat.

That is true starting from '08 and forward. I could be wrong, but I believe that prior to '08, the Am Ser/Std had the infamous "swimming pool", or universal route.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

American Series (2000-2007) have H-S-H. The American Standards around 1999 and before have the swimming pool route.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

I took it down gently to add more pics to help identify the guitar. Have a look MIA experts:



Sorry for the blurry image, it has the body numbers stamped and they are listed in the original post. It also has a red M painted or markered inside it.(uh-oh)













What do you believe this particular guitar is worth? Thanks guys.

It's an American Series Strat. How many times do you need to hear it from us? Now put it back together and play the darn thing.



I see American Series for sale on craigslist ranging from $550 to $800. Not sure what they actually sell at. Check completed ebay listings.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

To build on metropolis74's post Fender started switching from the swimming pool route to the HSH route in 1998. The American Deluxe was introduced in 1998; that model always has had the HSH routing. Fender then started "phasing in" the HSH route on the American Standards (as well as the Lone Star, Roadhouse, and Big Apple varients) during the year. Fender produces and stockpiles parts like bodies, so for example when they used up the black bodies with swimming pool routes the next batch would be cut with the HSH route. During 1998 you would find two guitars with the same assembly month but one color might have the HSH route while another color would have the swimming pool route. By mid-1999 they should all have the HSH route.

hi i have the exact same guitar but mine is a year 2000 , im so glad you posted details of your guitar because mine has the same sticker Leticia on the back of the neck ,and was wondering if it was genuine, i can confirm my bar-code on the neck is 0056216-980 and the body is 0054015-999 you have an american series stratocaster with an ash body ,i checked the barcodes on fenders spec page and its all there

Cool guitar, congrats. The best thing is you already have a name for her

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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It is legit, and a sweet American Stratocaster. The color is actually not tobacco sunburst, it is simply 2 tone sunburst. These are excellent guitars.