Hey guys just got a quick question. I got a 2012 American standard and it was supposed to have those fat 50's pickups. From the pictures they look somewhat tinted. Mine however are just white as the pick guard. Do I have the custom shop pickups or do,I have the older model with the American standard pickups?

Ps Sienna, maple neck

The Custom Shop Fat 50s have bevelled pole pieces. As far as I'm aware the Alnico V's do not.
I don't think the 'new' 2012 Strat came out until the 2nd quarter of the year, so there could be 2012 dated instruments with the older spec ??

Hi CMwfastracer, welcome to the Forum.

Unless I'm mistaken I think your Strat has parchment pickup covers and pickguard, doesn't it? That's certainly the spec on my Sienna Sunburst Strat. Put white parts next to it and it'll suddenly look quite tinted by comparison.

Though what Honeythief is saying sounds right to me too.

Cheers - C

_________________

My 'new' spec 2012 (with Fat 50's) came with a parchment pickguard and aged white pickup covers and knobs, so the knobs and pup covers look 'tinted' against the slightly lighter pickguard. I believe that the previous spec was white guard/covers/knobs.

As Ceri suggested, holding white parts next to it will show up any difference.

Ha - I belatedly (d'oh!) checked out what a local shop has in stock right now - and it's exactly as you say. Listen to Honeythief, Cmwfastracer!

Cheers - C

_________________

One further thought....I think that all the 'new' spec 2012 instruments come with the 'new' style case.

Honeythief - That's the first I've heard mention of a new case for the 2012's. So they are somehow different from the ATA case that has been shipping with the American Standards for a few years?

I've been considering trading a 2010 Am. Std. for a 2012 to get the Fat 50's pickups but I like the old case. What is the new case like?

_________________
Custom Shop '59 Stratocaster
AV Hot Rod '52 Telecaster
AV '56 Stratocaster
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Alright and to finish this up the 1'st quarter used non alnicos pickups. 2nd quarter used alnicos named "fat fivetys" which have alnicos. From my understanding they just last longer, maybe the slightest tone difference but there is alnico magnet kits. So if I want 2'nd quarter sounds just put kit on and tinted covers.

This is the new case: http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/ab ... -tele-case

If that link doesn't work (as it's a link to the Fender UK website, just search the Fender US site (Products/Accessories/Cases).

Internally, the new design case is almost identical to the previous one, but the outside has had a makeover. I have one, they're pretty good. My only criticism would be that the latches don't seem as robust as those on the previous model. Time will tell.....

To clarify, the 'new' spec 2012 Strats come with Custom Shop Fat 50s fitted as standard. Prior to that they were fitted with Alnico V pickups. I can't comment on the difference in sound between the two type of pickups as I don't have a strat with a set of Alnico V's installed. However, from what I've read, the Custom Shop Fat 50s are a significant improvement to the spec of the instrument.

I bought two 2012s, a Strat and a Tele and neither came with the case linked above. They came with the same case they've used the last few years.

Hmm - the case they've used since 2008 is no longer on the website. I wonder if this is a very recent change and they just started shipping with these new cases.

I first saw them maybe 3 or 4 months ago.

IMO it's a nice looking case. Probably better looking that the 2008-2012 case.

But, as I said before, the latches seem less robust. You never got the feeling from the 2008-2012 case that it was likely to spring open accidentally.