Any chart out there that lists and compares the specs on all the different strat models out there. I'm more specifically interested in the custom shop / vintage models, year '55, '56, '57 etc. It seems for the fifties and sixties models the main difference in the models is the neck shape?

Would be handy to have all those details listed clearly somewhere.

I saw a chart like that in an old Frontline mag from Fender. I think it was the '04 edition. Very nice.

In general, '50's Strat's have a V-shaped neck. The very early ones, so I've heard, had no particular neck shape. I've seen at least one '50's reissue, I think a CS '54, that had a U shaped neck. Anyway, by at least October of '56, they were using a V neck. Some are bigger than others. I played a '56 Time Machine Strat and it's neck was much bigger than my Road Worn '50's Strat or my American Vintage '57.

Fender started using C shaped necks sometime in '58 I think, and rosewood fretboards at least by '59 if not the previous year. Most Strats from '59 through '65 had rosewood fretboards.

The fretboard radius on vintage Fender's is 7.25". I don't know when it changed to the modern 9.5" radius but I'm guessing around the early '80's. Some of Fender's reissues have the vintage radius, but some have a modern radius. The American Vintage Series, Road Worn Series (not the Road Worn Player Series), the Mexican made Classic Series, and the Custom Shop Time Machine Series all have the vintage radius. Others, like the Vintage Hot Rod Series, Classic Player Series, and many of the Custom Shop's reissues aside from the Time Machine line all have the modern 9.5" radius.

Thanks midniterambler for the reply. I'm surprised Fender doesn't have a chart like this somewhere on their website. I have a '56 Time Machine and It's not always clear how different all the other year models might be. I do like the neck on it.

Shewww.......I've got a '56 Time Machine on the brain right now. I found one awhile back in a store for what I felt was a decent price. There's actually a separate thread about it. Anyway, I wasn't anywhere close to being able to afford it at the time. Went back to the guitar shop around a month ago and it was still there. Turns out it's been there for over a year, maybe two. It's a sunburst "relic" finish, which I'm not crazy about. I love the color, but would rather have a Closet Classic or NOS finish. Anyway, I've played it multiple times and LOVE the feel of it. I'm going to a vintage guitar show on May 7th and if I don't find anything there that I HAVE to have, then I'ma go back and buy the '56 relic if it's still there.


What color and finish (relic, closet classic, NOS?) do you have?

NOS Oly White

Tried posting an image. Can't get it to work.

That's ok. I love a white Strat.

You mean like this?

http://www.fender.com/products/productC ... on=guitars

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Bill

Take a look at this... the last page details the specs of the various CS base models.

http://support.fendercs.com/downloads/FCS%20Consumer%20Quote%20Sheet042011.pdf

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

That looks like what I was looking for. Thanks!

That's handy! Thanks Voodoo!

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

That's great and thanks!

I posted asking a similar thing and was pretty much blown off and told that if I can't find what I'm looking for then I'll have to spend my money on a custom shop guitar.

We just want to know what guitar has what spec! That's all. The table makes it nice so I can find the color and radius that I'm interested in......

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)