It's my 1st post here so greeting to You all I'm Piotr from Poland, 36, currently visiting US and willing to buy US made Stratocaster. On a CL I've found this one described below. Could you please comment if this is original Am Std '91 (E-serial number...) and if the fretboard with fret job done and other things are ok? That it is worth in USD - what should be the price range acceptable for it? I've tried to google some opinions about 1991 Strats but there is no clear message...

Thanks,
Kind Regards,
Peter.


Original owner decription:

'91 American Standard Stratocaster

- Brand new fret job by local luthier, plays perfectly and sounds great, medium jumbo frets.
- Fender did a bass boost / treble boost on the second tone knob on the higher-end American made Strats in this year, which this guitar has.
- Has upgraded bridge and a bone nut added. Everything else about the guitar is original.
- I've kept the original roller nut from Fender, and the tremelo bar. The trem is not blocked, but I have a tool that can easily block it that I can provide with the guitar.
- Original hardshell case included, as shown in picture.

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/5932/p101001.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9947/p1010013he.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9884/p1010015mp.jpg
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5661/p1010016wd.jpg
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/4302/p1010017b.jpg
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/4562/p1010018vf.jpg
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1971/p1010019q.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5612/p1010020kx.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6608/p1010021nr.jpg

I'm not a expert, but not all original, looks good. If it plays good and you like it I'd say $700 range. Hopefully some of the more versed gents/ladies here can be more help.
Keep us posted.

_________________

I don't think this is a 1991 - I'm fairly certain that Fender had used up the E serial numbers by then. It should have an "N1" for 1991 serial number, or it could have an "N0" for 1990 or possibly an "N9" - they used some N9XXXXX numbers by accident circa 1990-1991. It is of course possible that the seller bought the guitar in 1991 new from a dealer but it was a 1989 or 1990 model.

Based on the photos - it looks like someone wasn't happy with the trem stability so they put on the LSR roller nut (those weren't available until mid-to-late 1993) and some type of graphite bridge saddles. Of course those were common mods and also fairly easily returned to standard - they've already changed the nut back to a standard nut.

The case isn't standard - they were typically molded plastic back then but you could always buy a tolex one instead.

I'll concur - no more than $700 with the mods, particularly since it's a very common color.

It looks like the nut slot has been enlarged quite a bit, and the bridge screws and saddles don't look original. It will be a very late 80's or early 1990 strat. With the guitar like it is, I'd offer $550 or $600. I bought a similar 1990 model a couple years ago for $399, and it was completely stock, just well played and worn a little.

Thank you All. The Seller decided to lower the price from $700 to $600 so I'm seriously considering buying it. Still, a bit afraid of fret job and bridge - I guess there could be a problem with staying in tune... Is my concern pointless?

Thanks again,
Peter.

If you go to see the guitar, tune it up and play it a moment.....if there is an intonation problem from a botched fret job, it will be apparent. I am more worried about the nut.....the nut slot seems really wide.....and I wonder if the new replacement nut is located properly. I think you can get the price lower still. Offer $550 or $500

Hello,

I finally ended up buying the other one, unmodified, 2001 with an original hsc, papers, etc. from the 1st owner. I was a bit afraid about this tremolo mods, fret job, etc. As it is 2001, I guess I should call it American Series Stratocaster instead of American Standard, am I right? What are the differences between these two? I've try to find any comparing review but I couldn't find any. It sounds ok, but I could try it only on a small amp, so I'll learn more when I get home and try it with my amp. Anyway, the 2,4,5 positions sound as expected and this was what I was looking for. The neck feels good in my hand so I'm pretty happy with it. Paid $600.

Thanks for your help!
Peter.

$600 is a good deal on an American Series Strat.

If I'm remembering correctly the major changes for the American Series Strat versus the original (1986-2000) American Standards were:

Body contours - the American Series returned to vintage-style (i.e. "rounder") contours; it also market a return of the little "Original Contoured Body" decal to the end of the headstock.

Neck - the American Series has rolled fingerboard edges for a more "broken-in" feel.

Tuners/string tree - the American Series has staggered-height tuners (the posts on the high strings have the holes for the string lower on the post than the other tuners) and one string tree (original American Standards have 2 string trees and equal-height tuner posts).

Pickups - American Series pickups have staggered-height polepieces while original American Standards have flat polepiece pickups.

The American Series and original American Standards had the same trem - 2-post with cast saddles and a relatively small trem block.

The "new" American Standards that came out in January 2008 have more updates to the American Series:

Neck shape - slightly revised shape from the American Series

Pickups - supposedly "revised" but there were only slight changes

Tremolo - new trem with bent saddles and a lager trem block (that includes copper in the metal mix the block is made from).

Hope that helps.

The guitar in the pick should have a 2 point tremolo instead of a 6 screw trem.

It appears the OP took a pass on the guitar pictured in the first post and wound up getting a 2001 American Series Strat instead.

The feature description you've provided fits my guitar. The body looks like a single piece of wood (vs 3-piece of the previous one). Here are pix of the new one.

Thanks!
Peter.

[img=http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/1310/p1010630.th.jpg]
[img=http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/289/p1010629x.th.jpg]
[img=http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2148/p1010628j.th.jpg]
[img=http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/928/p1010627b.th.jpg]
[img=http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/6131/p1010632.th.jpg]