There is a Red Chrome 50th anniversary Strat I'm considering for purchase. The only odd thing I'm having trouble with is, the machine head is black on front and wood on back.

Can anyone help verify if this is a legit strat or not.

Serial number - DZ4173919

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/3361810779.html

Al

This is most likely a 2004 American Series Strat (though the serial number tells me that much), but not a 50th Anniversary Strat. The only 50th Anniversary Strats that were made were: MIM (Silver), Am. Series (2-color-sunburst), Am. Deluxe (3-color-sunburst), and the Custom Shop 50th Anniv. Strats (2-color-sunburst). Each of these guitars had special badging, parts, and gig bag/cases that indicated such.

Though it's not an actual "Anniversary Strat" I have seen Am. Series Strats with "50th Anniv" neck plates, but nothing else makes them special. I blame Fender for keeping people confused.

The serial number does indicate that it's an '04 deluxe Strat (DZ4XXXXXXX), but they didn't come in Chrome red in 2004. But if it is a Dlx, then it will have a chrome "Fender" logo on the headstock and an S-1 Switch, an off-set neck plate, and Sumarian Cobalt noiseless pickups. As for the tuning keys (machine head?), well that's an aftermarket add on by a previous owner.

Keep in mind that Fender guitars can be mixed and matched, so someone could have put this guitar together from many parts. Kind of a Frankin-Strat.

Pictures would be very useful.

_________________
1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

I'm vaguely remembering an FSR American Deluxe from the mid-2000s that was available in either red or black with an ebony fingerboard and a black headstock; what I don't remember is if those were in 2003, 2004, or 2005.

There was also an FSR run of mahogany bodied, trans red finished guitars with black painted headstocks done for Musician's Friend/Guitar Center at about that time as well - I believe that first run got the "DZ4" serial numbers and had locking tuners but didn't have the SCN single coils (they just had regular single coils). The later runs had regular serial numbers.

Photos are a must; you could also send the serial number to Fender at consumerrelations@fender.com; they should be able to give you a model history for the guitar.

I can't speak for before '04. I'm using the data listed in the Frontline catalog.

If I remember correctly the earliest Dlx's came with Fender Noiseless pups. The whole idea of the Dlx series was to replace the Strat Plus series. They have all the same kind of high end parts (locking tuning keys, noiseless pups, advanced nut and better finishing detail).

Ok, here's some pic's ...

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/3361810779.html

Okay, so I'm a little stumped. Everything looks ligit about this guitar. I'll say this:

1. All the parts look correct. Everything from the pups to the Fender locking tuning keys is on the money.
2. The color looks like crisson transparent from the photos, not chrome red. By the way in the Fender catalog it lists one of the colors availble as "50: Special Colors by model." I'm not sure what that means, but I'd think that the color of the guitar in the photo matches that discription.
3. I'm pretty convinced it's one of the stock Am. Dlx. with the '04 neck plate (something that all Am. Dlx's came with that year I believe).

The only things that stand out as being not what I'm used to seeing is the painted headstock, which from what I gather fallows the color number in the catalog.

A little more detail on the 50th Anniv. Dlx: Everything is the same as what you're looking at, exept that they only came in 2-color-sunburst, a special Anniv. logo on the pickguard, gold hardware and a special case Brown Tolex case. For under $800 dollars I think it's a pretty good deal. From all this details I've seen so far, I'd say everything is on the up and up. The price the seller paid is about right the time period.

Here's a photo I found online: http://www.danielmromeo.com/2010/02/200 ... rican.html

I hope all this information helps.

I think it was one of the FSRs American Deluxes that I mentioned in my earlier post - I guess this means they were 2004 models . These were available at several dealers - I recall seeing them on-line at Wildwood Guitars available in both red and black. I also recall an HSS version of this done in either black or blue finish.

As Paris says it isn't the special "50th Anniversary American Deluxe Stratocaster"; however, every American Series and American Deluxe Strat got that neck plate with the 50th Anniversary logo.