Not looking for info from people who post here...looking for actual documentation from the source. Based on personal experience, I still maintain that Fender consumer relations doesn't try very hard to answer our questions. Have a real nice day...

Maybe you didn't notice this part:

Rob Schwarz
Director,Fender Customer Service
Proudly serving Fender Customers
for 30 years

It doesn't get much closer to "the source" than that.

Man, this was a cheery thread to start my day off with! I thought that Rob's post and offer to help was another excellent example of why I find Fender a first-rate company to deal with. Great guitars, great service, and can't say enough about this forum of helpful folks. Somebody's hemorrhoids are giving him problems today...

Rhetorically...why should I have to come to this forum and whine about inattentive customer service? Why doesn't FCR answer questions to the best of their ability when asked? I guess we'll never know. By the way, I own 3 USA Strats and 2 MIM Strats....not that it earns me anything....but does indicate my loyalty to FMIC.

Umm, sorry to be pedantic, but strictly speaking the history of the Stratocaster goes back to 1953 (design stage) with the first Stratocaters being made and sold in 1954. The Broadcaster/Tele was designed by Leo Fender who was a drummer not a guitarist, & hence the very basic utilitarian lines of the Broadcaster designed from a practicality perspective of easy production. But Tele players subsequently commented that (especially when sitting down) the Tele's sharp angular shape dug in. They also wanted more tonal versatility - so the Stratocaster was designed with the contoured body shape & 3 p/ups which is now the icon that we all know & love & is the most copied guitar shape in the world.

The lack of early technical specs was down to initially such a wide use of different woods & components. Even the early Dupont paint was left over from car manufacturers that Leo bought up cheap. Necessity was the mother of invention - if a sunburst finish didn't take Leo came up with the novel idea of respraying it with a 'custom' colour ....& then charging the customer 5% more for it! There was no consistency re p/ups that were originally hand-wound with a variety of differing magnet blocks, wire thicknesses and number of windings. Potentiometers also varied. That's why not all old Strats are necessarily 'great' sounding regardless of their perceived 'value'.

The guitar's modular construction (just like the Tele) meant that bodies and necks were made from different woods (often depending on what was available or could be bought at a good price - Leo used to buy up loads of offcuts!), and there was a lot of experimentation early on. Only later did some consistency of components come through as Leo & the team learned what worked best. So early records were much more sketchy and started off in handwritten notebooks.

When Fender started to put serial numbers on the neckplate, these used to be produced in bulk and kept in a big wooden box that were pulled out at random. So you could get easily at least a years difference between the 'date' from the serial number and the neck date - which is why its now commonly accepted that for older Strats, the neck date is the more accurate dating method.

In later years, Fender didn't help model identification when it had anniversaries etc. For example, in 2004 Fender brought out 3 USA Fender Stratocasters to commemorate the Strats 50th b'day plus one all gold coloured mexican Strat. Problem was, it made tons of 50th anniversary neck plates and put these on all their Strats in 2004 (or dealers added them) which encouraged sales of 50th anniversay strats that were just stock models & not a proper limited edition. The practice got so ridiculous that there's a special E-Bay article on that very subject warning potential buyers!

I've got a link to a great website at home re old Strats and how they were made etc which I'll post lthis evening if I remember. It's a really interesting read, with lots of photos!

Rich

_________________
"I started out with nothing ...and I've still got most of it left!" (Seasick Steve)

Then why don't you stop whining and shut the f----- up?
You got an answer from Rob Schwarz,Director,Fender Customer Service!,are you sure you even want answers?...or do you want to keep on whining?
So,you own 5 Strats and that shows your loyalty to the Fender company,big effin' deal!!....man,there are some of us here who have played Fender products since the 50's/60's!

am i missing something here? Wasnt it established pretty early on in the thread that fender has to ask for the serial number a few other minor things so as to avoid fakes being too easily made? Seems to make sense to me, im confused where chris` frustration is coming from? I`d second the hemorrhoids theory.

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`I prefer not to listen to music that I can't rip off or improve on` - Ian Dury

Rebelsoul - steady my friend - This is only about guitars not life or death, so let's all keep it friendly & helpful please!

_________________
"I started out with nothing ...and I've still got most of it left!" (Seasick Steve)

The issue is NOT with serial numbers. The frustration comes from their lack of knowledge about colors by year (modern years, not 50s, 60s, and 70s), and pickup values as wound by Fender. I have supplied proper serial numbers with each question, but still no info. Before readers become anonymously indignant over my frustration, get the whole story or ask the right questions before assuming something.

I opened this thread in an effort to gain further knowledge about Fender's products and possibly alert Fender to perceived shortcomings by their CS staff, not to see my own words written in an internet forum...to be read by people I'll never meet. I have no desire to "flame" or disparage anyone on this forum. As the blues tune says..."Before you 'cuse me, take a look at your-self".

Have a real nice day, y'all!

Well, you've certainly done an excellent job of doing exactly that.

I hearby nominate chriscarter for the "How (not) to win friends and influence people" award.

_________________
Bill

Rockcat.

You'd argue that the Strat was not a response to people who found the telecaster uncomfortable?

Chris, all you've done is whine, refused help, offered no information so anyone here that may be able to help, can help you.
This



Is completely negated by your unwillingness to share any information you do have. Either with us, or one of FMIC's best (offered on a personal, private level, yet you persist in complaining about a 'dont care attitude' from them???)

In fact this


Displays perfectly your nature. The fact that you won't provide serial details tells me you likely don't own the guitar. Or you are just not that bothered about gaining any information about it. Instead choosing to constantly, repetitively whine, like a kid.
Rob Schwarz has come through on these boards for users wanting info about their guitars. Time and time again. From the humblest Squier to the most gregarious Custom Shop guitars. He does this outside of his working hours, it's not in his job description. Yet you claim FMIC's nonchalance.

Despite being a bit stupid, that is very rude of you.

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No no and no

Rob, your a class act in my book.
I've always had good experience with customer service
, had a neck replaced on a cp 60s strat in 2 weeks.
As for the op , all I gotta say is hmmmmm.

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

_________________
"I started out with nothing ...and I've still got most of it left!" (Seasick Steve)

The OP has a guitar and states he can,t get info from fender. The next person to post just signed up and is basicly advertising his web site for getting such info. This sounds alittle fishy to me.

Thanks for your input, all of you. Still doesn't get any of my questions answered. Please reread my earlier post about serial numbers.....most of you seem to have missed the point.

Although I had no intention of "flaming" anyone, Mr Ninja's insulting and accusatory remarks now change that.

Mr Ninja, judging from the number of posts you have placed here (over 13,000)...you may want to get a girlfriend, a hobby, take some classes or engage in something to otherwise occupy your time. Just a thought. Only the relative anonymity of the internet allows people like you to create and perpetuate any online persona that satisfies your ego's requirements. Truly (in your own mind) "big fish in a small pond" mentality. Try reading what people write and not taking things out of context. Oh yea...you can't do that because if you did, you would be revealed as one who doesn't have much to say.

I will contact the CS guy from Fender in private and ask the same questions I posed to their consumer relations desk. I appreciate his gesture and will correspond with him directly. I see no reason to share my questions or his response with people such as Mr Ninja and his online sidekicks.

Again.....have a real nice day!


PS - Mr Ninja, if you don't understand some of the words I used, there are many free online dictionaries that may help you.