Help with circa 1986 USA made Strat

chromeface · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:14 pm

Like the Plus and Deluxe Plus, the Ultra doesn't had the MDX boost on it; it still has the TBX circuit for the middle/bridge pickups. You can rewire the TBX as a master tone control by replacing the standard tone for the neck pickup and use the bottom tone knob as a master MDX boost control.

Since the Ultra uses a hot humbucker in the bridge position, the MDX is capable to make the bridge pickup sounding like an EMG 81 or an SD Livewire Metal. This combination is great for scorching metal leads.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

chromeface wrote:

Like the Plus and Deluxe Plus, the Ultra doesn't had the MDX boost on it; it still has the TBX circuit for the middle/bridge pickups. You can rewire the TBX as a master tone control by replacing the standard tone for the neck pickup and use the bottom tone knob as a master MDX boost control. Since the Ultra uses a hot humbucker in the bridge position, the MDX is capable to make the bridge pickup sounding like an EMG 81 or an SD Livewire Metal. This combination is great for scorching metal leads.

Thank you, Chromeface. Going through and setting up the Plus Ultra
is one of my next projects. I'll share this info with my guitar tech.
Take care. Toppscore

chromeface · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:01 am

Everyone knows that the 3-way mini toggle selects one of the "coils" or both.

If you're worry about battery drain or simply use the guitar as a good ol' passive Strat, drill an extra hole into the pickguard and install an active/passive switch.

drwoodsy · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:01 pm **Posts:** 6

Thanks for all the information, I will take the neck off and see if there are any dates on there also and give it a good play.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

drwoodsy wrote:

Thanks for all the information, I will take the neck off and see if there are any dates on there also and give it a good play.

Doctor Woodsy ~ Did you buy the 1986 Strat?
Did you verify it is a 1986?
Did you "de-neck" the axe?

Toppscore

drwoodsy · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:01 pm **Posts:** 6

I will be down in Texas in 2 weeks time visiting family and will check it out then. I will post some pictures of the neck and body.

deweese · **Joined:** Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:07 am **Posts:** 41

You should take the neck off and look for the exact date on it. I did on mine.

zz5555 · **Joined:** Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:52 pm **Posts:** 8

drwoodsy,
Your strat looks very similar to my 1987 American Standard, but the color is a little different and my neck has aged nicely. Some of that might be because I don't keep the guitar in a case, so after 25 years things the sun may have changed a bit. Or maybe it's like Rob Schwarz said and mine is Tamino Red while yours is Candy Apple Red. I was pretty new to guitars back then and didn't really know what I was getting - I just knew I wanted a Stratocaster

. I don't know if the serial numbers were done sequentially, but my serial number is E412XXX, which (if they are done sequentially) would make your guitar later then my '87 (my neck is dated 10/20/87).

Unfortunately, I don't have ROBS written in my neck pocket - just a stamp saying "O. PALLARES" (which I assume is someone's name).

Steve

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

Gosh
Two more weeks until TEXAS

Cannot wait

Toppscore

drwoodsy · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:01 pm **Posts:** 6

So took the neck off and this is what I found.

Guitar plays great and I really like the sound and sustain. Also we found the original bill of sale for June 1988.

paris · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:55 am

Rob Schwarz-Fender wrote:

+abunch for John C (always!)

I was Quality Assurance in Corona when we started the American Standards and John C's statement of time is correct. If ya pop the neck you might even find a felt pen ROBS in the neck pocket (whoo hoo, cheap thrills!)

But....The color in the picture looks like Candy Apple Red. I don't believe that we started by offereing Candy Apple. I believe....and the March 87 Pricelist bears this out, that we began with Torino Red. Red in pictures doesnt always reproduce well so its hard to say, but Torino Red was lighter and flatter than the one pictured.
Here's my timeline as i remember it.
Feb 85 come back to work (as a temp) for the new Fender in the old CBS building.
June 85- move to Brea (Mfg to Corona) complete--hired back on officially.
Spring-Summer 86 I transfer to Corona --work on Vintage Reissues
Fall 86 -Begin Production on American Standards.

....and thats enough of my exciting life!!
At any rate, if the guitar pictured is Torino Red, chances are decent that its a late 86/87 guitar. If its Candy Apple Red, its likely an 88.

Hope that helps (and doesnt confuse) abit,
all the best,
rob
PS I have no recollection of the Vintage Plus series at all!! (sheesh!)

I would love to get a hold of information like that. Information like colors are hard to track down.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

drwoodsy wrote:

So took the neck off and this is what I found.

Guitar plays great and I really like the sound and sustain. Also we found the original bill of sale for June 1988.

You know, Fender should have hid pertainent info like this
on the insider of the backside tremolo plate cover.
If I was Leo Fender or Jensen Speakers or the tube manufacturers
or transformer/choke mfgs, etc. I'd have a much better dating
and parts number system that had better installed lists of components
and paint and schematics.

Life would be easy. Right?

Toppscore

kiss nation · **Joined:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:40 pm **Posts:** 60

I was born in August 1986.
ever since I first held an American standard fender strat (I can't afford one just yet) I always thought it would be great to have one that was made in the year and the month I was born. that is of you could pin down the exact date a guitar was made.
I have just returned an affinity strat after the wood behind the nut slot split.
it had July 1997 printed on the bottom of the heel (not on the bit with the screw holes but the bit under that)

I always thought that if I was going to spend my money on a fender strat, why not buy one from the year I was born.

Monalst · **Joined:** Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:39 pm **Posts:** 721

Interesting Idea Kiss nation however if I tried to follow that plan it would cost me over $20,000 give or take a few dollars hahaha!

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

Monalst wrote:

Interesting Idea Kiss nation however if I tried to follow that plan it would cost me over $20,000 give or take a few dollars hahaha!

Plus new strings and hip replacement ~ oops, pickup replacement surgery

Toppscore

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