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Post subject: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:28 am
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Hi all you Strat fans,

I am new to guitar playing AND guitar buying. Started to play as a retirement hobby (never touched a guitar in my life until I was 57). I'm loving every minute of it and learning all the time.

I've only recently decided to get into acquiring the 'more expensive' type of 'axe' (yes, I'm getting into the jargon aren't I). I have bought my first proper strat (the subject of this thread). This experience has opened my eyes to the wonderous and complicated world of the Fender Strat and am looking forward to spending time on this site with you guys 'n gals, learning as much as I can.

I hope you find my story worth reading and I would love to hear from anyone who is interested enough to reply.

I suspect most of you on here are from 'over there' whereas I am from 'across the pond'. Don't hold that against me (haha).

Cheers, Richard

Here's my 2 part story:

I have just bought a beautiful pristine, red sparkle finish 2000 'Roadhouse' Strat (which was replaced in 2000 by the 'American Strat Texas Special'). At least I thought it was, as advertised by the seller, a 'Roadhouse' - but is it?

Please be clear that I am NOT accusing anyone here of misrepresentation. When you examine the story of the Roadhouse/American Strat Texas Special it is quite understandable why people may get confused. If you go off pictures and published specs. on these models it is easy to justify the confusion. The official specs, even quite detailed ones, suggest a visual identity between the two. It was only my decision to research the ‘Roadhouse’ model, and probe fairly deeply into specification details, that helped me to nail down what model I had actually purchased. Part 1 tells how I reached a definite answer. I am now confident about the actual Strat model I now own. I also point to an evident flaw in (Part 2) the ‘Red Sparkle’ guitar story (a tale which I came across on the internet relating to the ‘finish’ of my new acquisition).

Part 1 - The ‘Roadhouse’ & ‘American Strat Texas Special’ Story
In the summer of 1997 Fender USA introduced a new lineup of "hotrodded" American Standard Stratocasters. This new trio of guitars included the "Lone Star", "Big Apple" and "Roadhouse". Basically these were Deluxe upgrades on the Standard Strat model (including pearloid or tortoise pickguards, Tolex hardshell cases, exclusive colors, and the choice of either a rosewood fretboard or fretted maple neck) together with ‘hot-rodded’ pickups.
The "Lonestar" featured 2 overwound "Texas Special" Custom Shop pickups and a Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" humbucker in the bridge position.
The "Big Apple" utilized a pair of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Plus humbucker pickups
The "Roadhouse" had 3 overwound "Texas Special" pickups in the traditional SSS form.
These “hot-rodded” models were produced 1997-2000 only, replaced by the American Strat Texas Special models (upgraded and hot–rodded versions of the new American ‘Series’ standard strats introduced in 2000 replacing the 1986-2000 ‘Standard’ production models).

The ‘Roadhouse’ became the ‘American Strat Texas Special’ (ASTS).
The ‘Lone Star’ became the ‘American Fat Strat Texas Special’.
The ‘Big Apple’ became the ‘American Double Fat Strat’.
All 3 models were discontinued in 2003.

So, is the ‘Roadhouse’ and ‘American Strat Texas Special’ (ASTS) one and the same, and simply differentiated by the year of production/serial number? (i.e. 1997-2000 – it must be a ‘Roadhouse’; 2000-2003 – it must be an ASTS) Of course not.
This is where I found it particularly puzzling and difficult as the generally available detailed visual specifications for both models seemed identical. Only burrowing down into ever more detailed specifications revealed the key visual difference – – it is the STRING TREE (1 or 2??)

But which model is which?
Answer: the ‘Roadhouse’ = TWO string trees; the ASTS = ONE string tree (The only source I found this information in was the “Interactive Fender Bible”, not even Fender’s official specification lists that I came across gave information about ‘string trees’, nor was it noted in the “Blue Book”)

So in fact I own an ASTS not a Roadhouse. How do I feel about that? I am not in the slightest bit disappointed that it is an ‘ASTS’ not a ‘Roadhouse’, nor am I vexed with the seller who genuinely believed it to be a ‘Roadhouse’ and understandably so.
BONUS: The Blue Book values the ‘ASTS’ higher than the ‘Roadhouse’ anyway – Yipeee!!!

Part 2 next >>>>>>

Part 2 - The Story of the ‘Red & Teal Sparkle’ (2000) Guitar
In 2000 it is told that Fender made 100 teal sparkle and 100 red sparkle special custom finish (including painted headstock with Silver Fender decal) versions of the SSS ‘hot-rodded’ strat. These were commissioned by the Mars Music Store chain – one for each store. The retail price was $1500. Mars Music went bankrupt in 2002. So, there are evidently only 200 (100 red/100 teal) of these particular guitars in existence, and I own one of them. All references I have found so far on the internet links this story with the ‘Roadhouse’ (1997-2000) model. This is quite understandable given that the ‘Roadhouse’ was still in production until Summer 2000, so it was the ‘known’ model having been in circulation for 3 years. However, the replacement ASTS model also commenced production in 2000. So which of the 2 ‘hot-rodded’ models was involved? From the above analysis It appears evident that the story actually relates to the American Strat Texas Special model (identifiable by its single string tree) not the ‘Roadhouse’ model. It seems to me highly unlikely that Mars would have commissioned these special guitars in both Roadhouse and ASTS models. Consequently, unless and until someone turns up with a ‘2 string tree’ version of this ‘special’ guitar, or some other plausible explanation, I rest my case in favour of the ASTS model.

Findings
• ‘Official’ information sources don’t/can’t supply all necessary details
• In some cases (like this) model mis-naming by sellers can be understandable

Conclusions (one simple solution)

Why don’t Fender (and others) explicitly ‘Label’ each guitar with the model name/number?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:31 am
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First of all, welcome to the Forum!

Second of all, I'm glad to see someone who uses proper grammar and spelling. That was a well-written post...it's all too rare in this day and age.

To answer your question about "Why don't they label their guitars with the specific model..."; I have often wondered that myself. If there were a nameplate or a label saying,

STRATOCASTER
Roadhouse Model (or '62 Re-issue or Zippa-De-Doo-Dah Model or whatever)

somewhere on the guitar, that would make a lot of sense.

The only reason I can think is to vex counterfeiters a bit more. If a dishonest person were to get a hold of the neck (or nameplate) of a higher-end model and put it on a lower-end model, they could conceivably take advantage of ill-informed buyers...of course, that already happens, so I guess this point is moot.

Necks, neckplates, Waterslide labels (illegal and/or unethical), bridges, pickups, switching schemes, pickguards and a dozen more parts are readily interchangable or replaceable, which is great for the guy who wants to customize their axe, but bad for the second or third buyer who ends up with these Frankensteins and then wants to know what their baby started out as...

That is a cool idea, though, to have the guitar labelled in an inconspicuous spot that is not readily exchangable with the specific model name or classification.

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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:51 am
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Interesting story and welcome to the forum! Yes, I think most of us are Americans, but you guys "across the pond" are as welcome here as anyone!

Looks like you've gotten the pedigree of your Strat figured out pretty well now, so that's all good. Hope you're planning to hang onto that guitar. Sounds like it might be worth some serious money one of these days. The fewer units of a given model that were made, generally, the more they'll be worth in a few years. Of course, if you love playing it, you won't want to sell it at all.

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"It's about sound and sound alone. Looks are irrelevant. You can have the best-looking guitar on earth, but if the sound isn't there it is nothing more than a beautiful piece of trash. The sound it makes is the soul of any guitar."


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:03 pm
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Welcome to the Forum. I have often wondered this as well. HGope you keep that guitar for a long time. I know on cars you can figure out the specific information from a VIN. Maybe guitars should have a GIN on them as well.

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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:28 pm
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Many thanks for your comments, suggestions and the 'welcomes', very much appreciated.
Yes I am planning to love and cherish my ASTS. My local guitar craftsman is going to do a full set up on it soon. He also spotted a very, very slight kink in the neck which he is going to fix. He has an excellent reputation for high quality work so I trust I will have a really good guitar to hang on to for the long run. Cheers and keep rockin'. Richard


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:41 pm
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its because all fender endorsees (us) speak slang because we know all of the terms lol. The proper name is the Fender American Special Stratocaster. Roadworn guitars are build MIM.


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:47 pm
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OldieNewbie52 wrote:
Many thanks for your comments, suggestions and the 'welcomes', very much appreciated.
Yes I am planning to love and cherish my ASTS. My local guitar craftsman is going to do a full set up on it soon. He also spotted a very, very slight kink in the neck which he is going to fix. He has an excellent reputation for high quality work so I trust I will have a really good guitar to hang on to for the long run. Cheers and keep rockin'. Richard


Pics are necessary!

If it's 2000 or before, it's a Roadhouse. If it's 2001-2003, it's a Texas Special.

Identical guitars except for the colours they were available in- the standard lineup used to be Shoreline Gold, Candy Apple Red & Teal Green Metallic with the white pearloid pickguard, and the Black & Olympic White ones used tortoiseshell. These were for the Roadhouse (SSS), Lone Star (HSS) and Big Apple (HH) Strats.

From 2001-2003, you got Sienna Sunburst, Surf Pearl (which I love!), Chrome Silver, Black & 3 Colour Sunburst. That was for the Hot-Rodded Texas Special series.

I'm a fellow UKer with a Lone Star. Love it. I'd actually go as far to say it's the best Strat I've owned...

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:35 pm
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VladSoilerOfCarpets wrote:
OldieNewbie52 wrote:
Many thanks for your comments, suggestions and the 'welcomes', very much appreciated.
Yes I am planning to love and cherish my ASTS. My local guitar craftsman is going to do a full set up on it soon. He also spotted a very, very slight kink in the neck which he is going to fix. He has an excellent reputation for high quality work so I trust I will have a really good guitar to hang on to for the long run. Cheers and keep rockin'. Richard


Pics are necessary!

If it's 2000 or before, it's a Roadhouse. If it's 2001-2003, it's a Texas Special.

Identical guitars except for the colours they were available in- the standard lineup used to be Shoreline Gold, Candy Apple Red & Teal Green Metallic with the white pearloid pickguard, and the Black & Olympic White ones used tortoiseshell. These were for the Roadhouse (SSS), Lone Star (HSS) and Big Apple (HH) Strats.

From 2001-2003, you got Sienna Sunburst, Surf Pearl (which I love!), Chrome Silver, Black & 3 Colour Sunburst. That was for the Hot-Rodded Texas Special series.

I'm a fellow UKer with a Lone Star. Love it. I'd actually go as far to say it's the best Strat I've owned...


Vlad - it's a bit more confusing than that. The actual change-over from the Roadhouse to the American Texas Special was June 2000. The new American Series (and associated "hot rodded" models) were introduced at the summer NAMM show which fell in very early July that year. I'm sure it was just a bonus that Fender made a major product announcement at a show that took place in Nashville - essentially in Gibson's back yard!


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:57 pm
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John C wrote:
VladSoilerOfCarpets wrote:
OldieNewbie52 wrote:
Many thanks for your comments, suggestions and the 'welcomes', very much appreciated.
Yes I am planning to love and cherish my ASTS. My local guitar craftsman is going to do a full set up on it soon. He also spotted a very, very slight kink in the neck which he is going to fix. He has an excellent reputation for high quality work so I trust I will have a really good guitar to hang on to for the long run. Cheers and keep rockin'. Richard


Pics are necessary!

If it's 2000 or before, it's a Roadhouse. If it's 2001-2003, it's a Texas Special.

Identical guitars except for the colours they were available in- the standard lineup used to be Shoreline Gold, Candy Apple Red & Teal Green Metallic with the white pearloid pickguard, and the Black & Olympic White ones used tortoiseshell. These were for the Roadhouse (SSS), Lone Star (HSS) and Big Apple (HH) Strats.

From 2001-2003, you got Sienna Sunburst, Surf Pearl (which I love!), Chrome Silver, Black & 3 Colour Sunburst. That was for the Hot-Rodded Texas Special series.

I'm a fellow UKer with a Lone Star. Love it. I'd actually go as far to say it's the best Strat I've owned...


Vlad - it's a bit more confusing than that. The actual change-over from the Roadhouse to the American Texas Special was June 2000. The new American Series (and associated "hot rodded" models) were introduced at the summer NAMM show which fell in very early July that year. I'm sure it was just a bonus that Fender made a major product announcement at a show that took place in Nashville - essentially in Gibson's back yard!


Yeah- I've just checked my 2001 Frontline- they're called Texas Specials but with the old colours..??! Guess that means there was just one year of the 'new' colours- namely, Surf Pearl and Chrome Silver. No wonder they're as rare as rocking horse poop.

On a sidenote, bet Gibson loved that... :lol:

So, revision #1:

- Texas Specials entered halfway through 2000...
- ... but their associated colours didn't until 2002.

... :? :|

I do find this series fascinating. Such a bizarre history and method to these ones.

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'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:18 pm
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Having given this some further thought I tend to agree with Armadillo's above contribution to the labelling issue. Wasn't it an inbuilt design feature by Leo Fender to make a guitar that had fairly easily replaceable parts (bolt-on neck etc.)? Consequently, by its very design it lends itself to modification, minimal or significant, and therefore increases the incidence of a model bought in 'original' specification becoming 'something else' and 'something else' again etc. over its life time. So any form of initial model labelling would have to be in multiple form (e.g. on or inside neck, body, pick-ups etc.). Only if all numbers matched could it be verified that the guitar was an 'original'. Fascinating subject ......... Cheers, Richard


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:14 pm
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I know this is a really old post, but I have been searching all day for these details.

Now i can say that from my serial number, and the fact that my guitar has two string tree's that I am pretty sure it is a 1988 Roadhouse Strat

Image

Image

Thanks again for these old posts :)


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Post subject: Re: Is it a 'Roadhouse' or 'American Strat Texas Special'?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 1:09 am
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StevenDowd wrote:
I know this is a really old post, but I have been searching all day for these details.

Now i can say that from my serial number, and the fact that my guitar has two string tree's that I am pretty sure it is a 1988 Roadhouse Strat

Image

Image

Thanks again for these old posts :)


Sweet axe :)


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