I was told it was a 2004 Fender American Standard, but I am unsure. I know it was made in the Corona plant between 2004-2005, but thats it. I would like to know if it is an American Standard or not. I gave $350.00 for it last weekend. I am 43 and this is my 1st guitar and will be a hand me down in about a year when my 10yr old son gets better from taking his guitar lessons...thanks


The Ser# is Z4023041

Hi ftgokie, welcome to the Forum.

You are going to have to tell us plenty more about it than that. The serial number just confirms that it was made at Corona 2004-5 - as you say. (Though the absence of a D in the SN means my money's on it being an American Series, but...)

Show us some pictures and then we'll know more. Guitar front and back, same with a close-up of the headstock. That'll get us a way down the road.

Cheers - C

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Thanks. I was told it was an American Standard. But on the Strat forum there were people saying things that caused me to think otherwise. So I just want to be sure. I only gave $350.00 for this guitar so either way I dont think I am gonna lose anything. But everyone on that site has said this guitar never came out with a black pick guard, only white...I have searched some, and I cant find any with a black pick guard either..it came with a black Fender hardshell case also. I am new at submitting images, so hopefully this works

If the images wont work, I have them on my facebook "sorry"
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... .526553480

Hi again ftgokie: your pictures are not currently displaying here and I seem to be locked out of your Facebook page - don't know if others are able to view it?

Anyhow. During most of the 2000 decade there officially was no American Standard. That position in the catalog was filled by the American Series Strat, which I expect is what you have. 22 frets and a walnut surround to the trussrod entry hole above the nut in the headstock? Sounds like an Am Series to me - unless it's a Deluxe, which I don't think it is without a D alongside the Z in the SN.

I guess Fender thought people would confuse the American Standard with the Standard Strat, which was and is made in Mexico. So at the beginning of the century they renamed the Am Standard the Am Series. However, in 2008 (do I have that year right, guys?) they changed their minds again and renamed the Series back to the Am Std.

Confused? You will be...

Anyhow. Till we know otherwise (and can see some pictures) I'm betting you have a 2004-05 American Series. Which is an Am Std by any other name. I have one from that year too. Good guitar, and at $350 you got it for an excellent price.

Cheers - C

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Ok, 1 last time. If it doesnt work, I will have to upload pics from home tonight.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... .526553480#!/photo.php?fbid=10150206218678481&set=a.10150206218578481.306520.526553480&type=1&theater

OK, got an email from Fender...this is what I have...thanks everyone

Model Name: American Stratocaster®
Model Number: 011-7400-(Color #) and 011-7402-(Color #)
Series: American Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape,
(Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Rosewood (p/n 011-7400) or Maple (p/n 011-7402), 9.5” Radius (241mm)
No. of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.6875” (43 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Bridge: American 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Stainless Steel Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment On:
(700)* 3-Color Sunburst, add $50.00,
(705) Olympic White,
(706) Black,
(712) Candy Cola,
(744) Shoreline Gold,
(769) Charcoal Frost Metallic,
1-Ply Black On:
(750) Butterscotch Blonde
Pickups: 3 American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. New Delta ToneTM
(“Delta Tone” system includes high output bridge pickup and special No-Load tone control for Middle and Bridge Pickups)
Colors: (700)* 3-Color Sunburst, *add $50.00,
(712) Candy Cola,
(705) Olympic White,
(706) Black,
(744) Shoreline Gold,
(750) Butterscotch Blonde,
(769) Charcoal Frost Metallic,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Strings: Fender® Super Bullets® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-3250-003
Unique Features: “Parchment” Knobs and Pickup Covers,
Original Headstock Shape,
Original Body Shape with “Original Contour Body” Decal on Headstock,
Rolled Fingerboard Edges,
H/S/H Pickup Routing
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Standard Molded Case
U.S. MSRP: $1,327.99
NOTICE: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice
INTRODUCED: 6/2000
DISCONTINUED: 1/2008
DISCONTINUED COLORS: (725) Chrome Red, Parchment PG, 1/2007,
(795) Chrome Blue, BWB PG, 7/2006,
(751) Sky Blue, 7/2003
(703)** 2-Color Sunburst, Ash Body, (available on 011-7402 Maple neck only) 7/2002,
(701)** White Blonde, Ash Body, 1/2002,
(715) Hot Rod Red, 1/2002,
(721)** Natural, Ash Body, 1/2002,
(774) Aqua Marine Metallic, 1/2002,
COMMENTS: Uses Case P/N 0996101106,
Replaces the American Standard Stratocaster 6/2000,
American Series Stratocasters built in 2004 will have a special 50th Anniversary commemorative neck plate.
WRENCH SIZES: Truss Rod/Tilt Adjust Wrench #0023811000 (1/8” Hex),
Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench #0018531000 (.050” Hex)

There ya go.

But I'd like to point out; you heard it here first.

Cheers - C

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I'll point out that the person who told you it was an American Standard probably wasn't trying to deceive you. The 'American Series' was only a temporary rebranding of the line that had been known as the American Standard, and is once again called by that same name.

Ceri basically said that, but it was worth clarifying. Whoever you got it from wasn't trying to represent your guitar as a more expensive model or anything.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Note that Fender says that all 2004 American Standard strats have the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Neck plate. Do you have that?

This isn't true. Only the 50th Anniversary American Series, the Deluxe and MIM Gold Strat have the neck plate. The regular American Series Strats did not have the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Neck plate.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

The change from the American Standard to the American Series and back to American Standard was more than a little re-branding. There are quite a few differences between these guitars.

Am Std: Swimming pool pickup cavity, different pickups and slightly different body contours. Different neck shape. Different Bridge saddles. '80s Fender logo until '96 (or there abouts) when the Fender logo changed back to the vintage style.

Am Series: Return to the three pickup cavity (bridge position had a slightly bigger cavity for HBs). Rounded "broken in" neck. Staggered tuning keys. more authentic body contours. Return to the vintage bridge block and saddles. Updated pickups.

As to the new Am Std. I'm not sure about them. I no knowledge on them. Also this is not a comprehensive list of changes. I'm going by memory.
Now if you mean “re-branding” as all the changes made to the Strat than forgive me for writing this. This post is not meant to be critical of the quoted person’s post, but trying to clarify the post.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

Well, actually, it is true. This is no big deal and I hope you don't think I am trying to be argumentative. I am just trying to help. I have two plain (vanilla) American Standard 2004 Stratocasters with the 50th Anniversary neck plate. This topic has been discussed here many times.

Here is a regular American Standard like mine. If you scroll way down, you will see the neck plate:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-Fender-Stratoc ... 6492wt_948

Also note the email Fender sent the member that started this thread. Towards the bottom of the info, they mention the neck plate on American Series Stratocasters.

Pretty good on the timeline. However, I would like to point out that Fender switched to the HSH body routes (not HSS on this model) on the American Standards sometime during 1998. That routing debuted on the American Deluxes in March 1998 and Fender kind of changed the American Standards (and the Roadhouse/Lone Star/Big Apple variants) as the year wore on. Fender of course makes bodies in batches; for new 1998 colors they would have the HSH route early on; for other colors they would switch once they used up the existing bodies. It wouldn't be unusual for someone to have a pool route in one color made later in the year than an HSH route in a different color. By the end of the year they would all be HSH routed.

The American Series kept the HSH routing but changed the body contours to be closer to the 50s-style (more rounded) contours when it came out in July 2000.

Like you I'm not sure about additional changes between the American Series and the 2008 American Standards regarding the body routes or shapes.

Than I stand corrected. That's a new one on me.

Hi guys: to the best of my knowledge there were no changes to the routes or contours when the Am Series was redesignated the Am Std in 2008.

As far as I recall the changes included replacing the block saddles with vintage style bent steel ones; bringing in the "copper infused" bridge block; and adding a slight tint to the neck lacquer. And no doubt some new body finishes to go with the "up-grade". Also, I have the HSS 2005 Am Series and that harness came with the S1 switch: that switch option was dropped in 2008 as well.

What I don't remember is whether the headstock logo was changed in 2008 as well? It would make sense - and someone here will know.

Just for reference, here's some pics from the files of my 2005 Am Series, so's we can see what we're talking about. I don't have it with me at this second so can't do a front on close-up on the headstock:









Cheers - C

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