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Post subject: 50th anniversary strat authentic?
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:57 pm
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Looking at what is represented as a 50th Anniversary (made in USA) American Standard strat, serial # Z40***** decal on the back of the headstock. The serial # is consistent with 2004 manufacture and it has the 50th anniversary heel-plate. Question is...the body is a candy apple red with anodized gold pick-guard. I haven't been able to find where the 50th anniversary models came in anything but the two tone sunburst colors and with thin enough finish to show the wood grain in the body. Have I missed a version somewhere? Might this be an imposter?

Front of the head-stock also has an "Original Custom Body" decal near the end. Might that be the explanation for the apparently non-standard body paint?

Side question...if the serial number is true, can it be used to research the details of this particular guitar...eg - which pick-ups originally installed, etc. The present owner is a bit unsure. In fairness he's just beginning to play and still trying to find THE guitar for him. I also confess I've played the same SG standard since '67 and this is the first time I've looked at a strat to possibly purchase...so I'm not too well informed about them, either (though I'm learning as fast as I can).

BTW - plays well and fit and finish seems very good...a nice guitar overall.


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Post subject: 50th
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:57 pm
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Rodeo --Im not sure but a 50th if Im right would be 1946 to 1996 some one else on here should know I have a 1996 squire with a sticker on head stock but they havent made squires that long so it is confusing


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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:13 am
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Your suspicions are correct. 50th anniversary models only came in sunburst with maple necks. However ALL American made Strats from 2004 had that neckplate. So it's likely a MIA 2004 Strat, just not a specific anniversary model although made during the Strat's 50th anniversary year.


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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:44 am
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Aha! That certainly explains the body issue.

Now I need to get back with the owner to do more detective work regarding the electronincs. Presumably has the stock "American Standard" Alnico V pick-ups rather than the reproduction '54's of the true anniversary models.

Thanks for the reply. It's still a very nice guitar...special edition or not.


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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:12 am
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Thats correct I believe there were three versions all Sunburst. They
were Standard, and a Deluxe with the differance being the gold
hardware on the deluxe and then there was a custom shop model
that was made period correct pickups, knobs and all like the the original.


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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:21 pm
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I don't think the serial number will tell you anything as far as a specific model goes.

I'm gonna go out on a limb though and say they're stock single coils unless they have something else written on them. If they're noiseless they usually are labeled as such. And I'm not aware of any other models that came with any special pickups except maybe those with humbuckers.


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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:45 pm
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A Mr. Krause from customer service was able to give me a fairly generic printout earlier today (VERY quick response to my email, BTW) of the applicable stock and option details for the line that were in effect when it was made based on the serial number...and confirmed it is an American Standard series from 2004. So these should be the stock Alnico V single coils.

The classic strat sounds seem to be there...but I do have another question based largely on my inexperience with this guitar if anyone can advise. The 5-way selector gives the changes in tone I would expect for the pick-ups individually (positions 1-3-5) but the volume drops off by at least 50-60% and the tone is seriously pinched in both of the combination positions (2-4). Sounds like it's being played through a tin can somewhere in the next room. Quite striking and unexpected. Is this a characteristic of strats in general? I only have my experience with my SG and a couple of LP's to compare to (just going to have to break down and go down to a local shop and get a few strats off the wall and plug in and probably embarass myself) and have never run into this with paired humbuckers.

Thanks again for the previous responses.


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Post subject: Re: 50th anniversary strat authentic?
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:12 pm
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rodeo72701 wrote:
Looking at what is represented as a 50th Anniversary (made in USA) American Standard strat, serial # Z40***** decal on the back of the headstock. The serial # is consistent with 2004 manufacture and it has the 50th anniversary heel-plate. Question is...the body is a candy apple red with anodized gold pick-guard. I haven't been able to find where the 50th anniversary models came in anything but the two tone sunburst colors and with thin enough finish to show the wood grain in the body. Have I missed a version somewhere? Might this be an imposter?

Front of the head-stock also has an "Original Custom Body" decal near the end. Might that be the explanation for the apparently non-standard body paint?

Side question...if the serial number is true, can it be used to research the details of this particular guitar...eg - which pick-ups originally installed, etc. The present owner is a bit unsure. In fairness he's just beginning to play and still trying to find THE guitar for him. I also confess I've played the same SG standard since '67 and this is the first time I've looked at a strat to possibly purchase...so I'm not too well informed about them, either (though I'm learning as fast as I can).

BTW - plays well and fit and finish seems very good...a nice guitar overall.


I have a "Front Line" Dated 2004 with Guees what? That 50th Anniverary Logo big and bold on the cover.
Inside it shows a Custom Shop Closet Classic Limited Edition; it's a 2 color sunburst black into clear bown with a cute little sticker above and aft of the bridge pickup. It came with a form fitting case; flat on the bottom and curvy on the side you open the case. It had a bone nut, one piece "U" shape maple neck, offset glue seam in the body, an ash tray cover with round holes, and special documentation.
They had a 2004 American Deluxe 50th Anniversay too. It looks a whole like like a Eric Johnson model. It had S-1 switching, Bill lawrence designed pickups, die cast locking tuners, rolled neck edges; that sexy neck plate, Deluxe temolo and the hardware was gold plated.
Had a Premium Ash body; and a 3 way switch.
So there you go bro!


Last edited by dna9656 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 50th anniversary strat authentic?
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:28 am
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rodeo72701 wrote:
Looking at what is represented as a 50th Anniversary (made in USA) American Standard strat, serial # Z40***** decal on the back of the headstock. The serial # is consistent with 2004 manufacture and it has the 50th anniversary heel-plate. Question is...the body is a candy apple red with anodized gold pick-guard. I haven't been able to find where the 50th anniversary models came in anything but the two tone sunburst colors and with thin enough finish to show the wood grain in the body. Have I missed a version somewhere? Might this be an imposter?

Front of the head-stock also has an "Original Custom Body" decal near the end. Might that be the explanation for the apparently non-standard body paint?

Side question...if the serial number is true, can it be used to research the details of this particular guitar...eg - which pick-ups originally installed, etc. The present owner is a bit unsure. In fairness he's just beginning to play and still trying to find THE guitar for him. I also confess I've played the same SG standard since '67 and this is the first time I've looked at a strat to possibly purchase...so I'm not too well informed about them, either (though I'm learning as fast as I can).

BTW - plays well and fit and finish seems very good...a nice guitar overall.


GOOD MORNNG!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Regarding the above: "Google" '50th Anniversary Fender Stratocaster'. There are links to at five different models which answer to that title and you can find complete details on all of them with just the time for research. I wouldn't be surprised if there will be a 50th Anniversary '58 this year.

Doc.


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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:54 am
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First, thanks again to all responders. (and googling "50th anniversary stratocaster" was exactly how I first became suspicious that what I was initially told by the guitar's owner might not be quite right). How did we get by before the internet?

On Saturday I went to the shop where the original owner purchased the guitar in question. The shop owner has another American Standard strat on the wall with a "50th Anniversary Year" tag displayed (not "50th Anniversary Model"), gold body paint, gold pick-guard, "50th Anniversary" heel plate, typical standard hardware, etc. So I think the present owner had simply misinterpreted the tag that was probably on his guitar, too, when he bought it as meaning it was one of the "special" models rather than just a regular MIA strat that happened to be made in the 50th anniversary year of the strat as pointed out by Gamera in an earlier post. No serious misrepresentation intended by either party, I suspect.

Also checked the 5-way switching on several other strats while I was there and the sounds I am getting in positions 2 and 4 on the guitar in question are definitely NOT the expected sounds...so there is something faulty in the circuitry. Interestingly, one of the three MIA strats I played that had the 5-way switching had the same glitch in one of it's switch positions, as well, and all present agreed it was NOT the right sound that should be happening.

So...all questions answered and mysteries solved...for now.


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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:44 am
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Does your new Strat have an S-1 switch? I don't recall if all MIA models had them or not. Check the crown of your knobs. I don't recall if it's the volume or tone knob. But if you have S-1 switching, there's a hidden pushbutton in the crown of the knob. Pressing it alters the wiring to provide 5 different switching combinations in addition to the regular 5 for a total of 10 positions. Maybe you're comparing Strats with the S-1 engaged to Strats without?


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:59 am
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there were deluxes and AMSE 50th limited editions as well as a custom shop and Made in Mexico edition (the gold one)

The first two listed had two tone burst, maple neck and a one piece pickguard.

the amse has the custom shop 54 pups, the deluxe had the Cobalt S pups and the S-1 switching.

all 2004 strats came with a 50th ann. neck plate.

the limited edition U.S.A. made strats also came in a tweed case with a special 50th patch in it.

I bought both the deluxe and the AMSE and still own the amse 50th and it is the finest strat I have ever played, the custom shop 54 pups are sweet for shure !!!!

Just could not fall in love with the s-1 equipt deluxe ????


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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:08 am
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Hi rodeo...............you and I sound like we have done the same arc in getting a Strat. I lurked in here for some time building up info, and eventually purchased a 2004 MIA 3-tone sunburst from EBay. It is the exact model you have, I believe. Ours are a standard American manufacture, and as Gamera has stated (and I have read both here and on FDP) the neck plate was put on all of the 2004 Strats, but it was still made in Corona, CA. Mine (ours?) do not have S1 switching.

I too thought that the combo positions (neck/mid and mid/bridge) sounded undefined and muffled, especially compared to the ringing main pups. But I was playing through a solid state 20w Fender Champion 110 (I still like the gain on that amp). I just recently purchased a tube 15w Fender Super Champ XD, and this guitar's sound just blossomed. Now those 2 selector positions have definition and a totally different tone to the other 3 straight pups. Someone in here said that John Mayer actually plays on the neck/mid primarily; and I've also read that the mid pup is wired in reverse of the neck and bridge, so the sound is close to a humbucker (at least as quiet, and indeed there is less amp hum using those positions).

See if an amp change is what you seek. It seemed to work for this newbie.

Bob


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