Hi all, first timer here. I'm looking at purchasing a 1996 American Vintage Series Stratocaster from a local guitar shop in town. The guitar has me puzzled however. From what I've read, all 1996 Fender guitars were supposed to have the 50th year anniversary stamp on the back of the head stock. This one does not. Nor does it have "Made in the USA" (or anywhere else for that matter) on the head stock. The serial number is V1366**
which is stamped on the neck plate. The date on the neck (when disassembled) says 1996. It is a 57 re-issue (I believe) with the solid Maple neck that is tinted. The body is Sherwood Green which I understand is a fairly rare color. I know that many of the 1996 and 1997 Fenders were either MIJ (made in Japan) of AIJ (assembled in Japan). Were any outside the custom shop made in the USA then? I guess what I'm asking is: "What is this Guitar?!" Is it American made, Japanesse made/assembled, or Martian made?! I think what puzzles me the most is nothing on the guitar says where it is made and there is no 50th anniverisary decal on it...just "Fender Statocaster" Any Strat experts out there that can shed some light? By the way, they are asking $750 for it. Good deal?

Sounds right for a US one, not sure if that color was an option for that year, but if it was me I would snatch that up.

Ya, I'm definitely intrigued by it. It’s in brand new condition and plays and looks awesome! I just didn’t know where it was actually made or if it wasn't some sort of "Frankencaster" that someone tossed together. It doesn't appear to be. It apparently was purchased brand new and owned by a guy who loves to collect Guitars but can’t play a lick! Go figure........

Hmm - I'm questioning the Sherwood Green being available in 1996.

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong as I only really remember the second time period of Sherwood Green being available, which was 1998-2000 - and I believe it was only available on the AV '62s at that time, not on the AV '57s (which I believe kept candy apple red which was dropped on the '62). I think Sherwood Green was also available during the early Corona production days, but I'm thinking it was dropped in the early 1990s - I'm thinking that 1996 would be a year when Sherwood wasn't available on an AV.

By the way - USA-built reissues were made most years starting in 1982; 1985 was the only year there was a gap:

1982-1984: Built in Fullerton CA while CBS owned Fender (possibly some assembly and shipping in early 1985 in January under CBS or in March under FMIC).

October 1985-present: Built in Corona CA by Fender under FMIC ownership.

Of course their output in 1985-1986 was really low - as low as 7 instruments per day in late 1985. However, by 1996 they were really in full production mode here in the USA for all Fender models.

This sounds like it could be a parts guitar put together from a couple of Fender AVs - as JasonSD says these don't have a country of origin decal on them because no Fender had that back in Leo's day.

Interesting for sure. I just can't seem to find a lot of information about it which is why I a little hesitant. Like I said, it doesn't appear to be a parts guitar, but then again, I'm no expert either. It has awesome wood grain in the neck and what seems to be a tinted high gloss nitro finish. Paired with the Sherwood green body,its a darn nice looking and playing guitar. I just don't want to shell out the bucks if its a parts guitar.

I can't find a sherwood green one for that year, but here's a 1995 Turquoise one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-USA-Fender ... 573wt_1163

Sometimes the heel of the neck can be a giveaway whether it is a frankenstrat or not. There usually are marks on the lacquer of the neck of whatever body was on it originally unless it gets buffed out, and sometimes there are even giveaways of the color of the original body. The body itself may or may not have some dates stamped on it, and other cues can be helpful to see if it looks right. Correct hardware? Routing? Electronics?

Serial numbers aren't end-all indicators of the date and can be a lagging indicator, so it is possible it was a later model after they stopped using the anniversary plates, but kept using the older serial numbers. This is more true with the nicer models (i.e. slower product flow) than the less expensive ones which turn over faster.

+1

It may in fact be a "factory frankenstrat". Such occurences are known to have happened in the past.

Arjay

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There's also a sherwood green 57 reissue from 1989. I just don't know what colors were available in 1996.

Sounds like a nice guitar, would still be worth that price if it was a real AVRI 62 body with a 57 neck, I would think. I really like that color with a maple neck. I'm looking into refinishing a strat plus body in sherwood green.

What's the return policy from the store? Can you take it back if it turned out not to be what they told you it was?

I doubt it. That’s why I'm checking things out. The 1996 Ebay one that was posted in Turquoise is much "bluer" that this one, so I know it’s not that color. Someone also suggested that it could have been a custom order? I've never dealt with anything like that so i don't know. I've got a message into Fender asking them if they can possibly shed some light. But I agree with you, the color combo is very nice. And it play as good as it looks. I played it through a Mesa Boogie Mark ll amp they had in the store and it sounded awesome!

Ok, i just found this on the net. This isn't THE guitar I'm looking at but it is EXACTLY like it!
it is a 56 reissue, not a 57. Everything in this picture matches the one I'm looking to buy! they say this one is a 1989, but I think the one I'm looking at is much newer, at least if you go by the Serial number on it. According to the guide, anything with a "V" followed by 5 to 6 digits is either a 1996 of 1997.

http://www.musicstorelive.com/item/fend ... d=20554407

Yeah I saw one just like it, but it was a 2007 so I didn't post it.

That don't look like sherwood green to me.

That is NOT Sherwood Green. This is Sherwood Green.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Custom-S ... 3a70f6b65e

By the way the 57 Vintage Reissue was NOT available in Sherwood Green back in 96. Sometimes the Lake Placid Blue can turn to a color similar to sherwood green if the laquer finish yellows. Yellow and Blue make Green, if you remember back to 6th grade Art Class! If it is, under the pickguard it would be LPB still.

The 56 would be a custom shop guitar and wood carry a CS decal. If it has a V serial number then it could be a frankenstrat. PICS sure would help to decipher this one. As stated earlier, Vintage reissues carry no Made in USA since they didn't back in the day.

HTH

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Ya...the one in the picture I posted does look more blue than green. I wish I could get a picuture of the one I'm actually looking at. I went in and played it again last night, and it is definately more on the green side than it is blue. Its also basically brand new. It has spent the majority of its life in a case so I doubt the finish has faded or yellowed much. Either way, its a sweet ax and I think I'll get it regardless...cause I'll like the way it feels and plays...which is what really counts! Thanks for all the advice, Ill definately post a picture of it when I get it.