TWO QUESTIONS

1) Is a reissue stratocaster much more expensive than a standard stratocaster? I just looked at the official Fender's wesbite, an American Vintage '57 Stratocaster Reissue model would cost $2400 dollar while the American Standard Stratocaster cost $700 dollar. That's like 3 times more! I don't get it, they look the same, just maybe a bit more vintage. I know TRUE vintage made from the very old times would be super expensive. But if it's a "reissue" of vintage stratocaster that's made recently, let's say made in 2005, and a standard stratocaster also made in 2005. How can the reissue be 3 times more expensive than the standard ones? I believe the same model looking guitar could have three types: True vintage made from the very old times ; Reissue of vintage made recently ; Standard. I believe the true vintage would be better and more expensive than the other two. BUT, how is the reissue better than standard that it can be 3 times more expensive?

2) Not too long ago I purchased a "Fender 1957 Reissue Stratocaster Made In Japan Since 1993." I bought it "Second-Handed" for 22000 baht ($714 dollar). Hopefully a reasonable price? And I could only find the price of made in America on the Fender's website. I'm wondering, how much would this exact reissue model same as mine cost if it's "Brand New"? And anyone knows how much does a standard (not reissue) Made In Japan Stratocaster cost brand new?

Good questions!

1st of all, you were looking at the manufacturer's suggested retail price (msrp), that isn't the actual price.
2nd, the $700 standard you were looking at was not an American standard. The American standards MSRP is listed as $1400-$1570.

The standard (not reissue) was the $700 msrp you were looking at, it sells for about $500 new in the stores. Some are made in Mexico, and some in Japan.
I'd guess that your reissue would sell for about $750-$900 if it were new.

The exact same model I have and Made In Japan it would sell for about $750-$900 ?! Then does that mean I paid too much for this model second-handed in Thailand for about $713 ... If a new one sells at $750, I'd imagine a second-handed would be much less than $713.... I could have just add a few dollar and bought it new then sigh : (

Many questions....let's see:

1. retail prices differ from country to country, because there's import taxes, shipping etc.
If it's 999$ in USA, it would be around 999 Euros (€) in Germany (=1315 US$). So you can't compare the prices in different countries. You can only compare to other sales in Thailand.

2. Re-issues are more expensive, because those old models are rarely to get and incredibly expensive. People either can't afford the original or just can't find one but they're HOT for those. So Fender builds what the customers want. Since the customers want them so badly, they can sell them more expensive. To be fair: they also have to do research on older models to exactly match the specs of the old ones (or close to exact), the machinery has to be set appropriate, the proper materials and finishes have to be puchased or done .... bla, bla, bla you get the point. So I'd say it's a mixture of higher production costs and intelligent business management, with the latter being the biggest part of it.
Same goes for relics, but that's another story.

Just my personal point of view.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

One thing that Smoken' Frets missed in his rundown is that the USA reissues are finished in nitrocelulose lacquer like the originals. However, that finish is very environmentally unfriendly, and California has some of the strictest environment protection laws in the USA. Therefore Fender has to have a separate spray facility that contains and recycles all the nitro lacquer - a very expensive process.

If you look at the prices the Eric Johnson Strat is also more than the other USA Signatures partially due to the nitro finish.

Also, even though an AV '57 lists for $2,400 they sell for more like $1,680 here in the USA.

John is right!
I kinda quickcovered his longer post by saying "the proper materials and finishes have to be purchased or done".

I didn't know about that particular law though.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

I read somewhere about the special spray booth and all the hoops Fender has to jump through to be able to shoot nitro in California.

It's tougher than other states, and it was one of the factors in Don Grosh moving his operation from California to Colorado. John Suhr actually sends his "Antique Series" bodies and necks out to J. Black (another former Fender Master Builder) in Oregon to have them shot in nitro; he does shoot the modern finishes in-house.

Re-Correction
Perhaps you should review the 1st line of my original post again.
My original post was correct. The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are on the product page of this site.