I was wondering if anyone could give me information regarding pricing on my Fender Moto Custom Shop Strat.. it is 003 of 250, Moto Strat and Amp Set with matching case with Certificat of Authenticity signed 4-95 by John Page..
I don't have much information about my guitar, any will help.. I am pretty sure it is rare, it was a gift to my dad!
Thanks

95' Green moto on ebay right now $3,850 5hrs 35min left for guitar and case
might be worth keeping an eye on, stunning guitar BTW
http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-Fender-Custo ... 1182271915

Beautiful axe! I'd be afraid to play it!

Where did the Moto name come from and what kind of amp did it come with?

Where do you set the candelabra?

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That one looks like a piece of art. Awesome and outstanding guitar, I like it.
Enjoy

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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looks great, congrats and enjoy.

cheers

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It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting - paulo coelho

Thanks for the help all! Really is a gorgeous full set, the action on it is amazing.. shame I am too nervous to ever play it really, but thats why I have this one




95' Bonnie Raitt Signature Series

This Moto Strat was featured on page 97 from the History of Electric Guitar - Illustrated Encyclopedia.

The COA mentions an amp. Do you have that also. A very beautiful guitar BTW.

Fender calls celluloid pearloid/mother-of-pearl "Moto". They sell pearloid pickguards with the "Moto" moniker, and also celluloid Moto guitar picks. The Custom Shop has done a couple of runs of Moto-finished guitars, but the ones with matching Moto-covered amps are rarer. I've seen a few in person -- green and blue as well as white, and they're even more spectacular than in pics. There have been sunburst Moto's too but I've only seen pics: (Like this one -- not my guitar, just a Googled pic.)



Some people call it "Mots" instead of "Moto". Both are derived from an old nickmame: 'Mother Of Toilet Seat" ("Mother Of TOiletseat" for "Moto"). Most people are too young to have ever seen them, but back in the mid-20th Century fancy toilet seats made of pearloid plastic were fashionable -- sort of like today's fad for glass-bowl sinks in bathrooms.

Celluloid is a slight variation of nitrocellulose. Pearloid has to be applied in a thick layer to get the 3-D depth and flash, so the finish on those Strats are somewhat more durable than nitro finished Strats. But just like nitro finishes, you have to be careful to keep them away from any types of solvents -- bug spray, cologne, perfume, skin lotions, the vapors from vinyl and some types of rubber; there are lots of things that soften/dissolve/stain cellulose finishes (remember that water is a solvent too and can damage cellulose in some situations). And avoid drastic sudden temperature changes.

That's why there aren't many vintage pearloid toilet seats left. Steamy bathrooms with perpetual overspray from hair sprays, perfumes, deodorants, harsh cleaning chemicals, nail polish and nail polish remover spills -- they warped, cracked, melted.

But guitars shouldn't suffer the same indignities as toilet seats. It's definitely a guitar you want to treat carefully, but normal playing/handling won't hurt it. If I had something that pretty I'd spend hours every week just holding it and gazing lovingly at it, watching the pearloid dance and shimmer as the light hits it from different angles. Pearloid pickguards and flame maple already hypnotize me -- I spend almost as much time studying the beauty of my guitars as playing them, but Moto guitars tranfix me.

Yes I do have the amp, matching set 003 of 250





Thanks everyone!

That is to cool.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

That's a gorgeous amp. The matching set is very impressive.

Magnatone manufactured Moto covered amps back in the '40s and '50s. They were similar to Fender Champs and Deluxes, and were marketed under several brand names. They also made lap-steel guitars with matching Moto finishes. (Google pic:)
Sort of the inspiration for the Custom Shop models.

This forum has two sub-forums devoted to Custom Shop products. You'll probably get more info about your set if you ask on one of those pages instead of here on the Strat page. I don't think anyone would mind you cross-posting such a spectacular set on several pages -- they're so cool a lot of people will appreciate your showing them to us.

I'd spend more time drooling, staring at those than playing them. I'd probably build a lighted glass display case with them on revolving stands inside -- like a jewelry store.

Thanks guys! totally the cats pajamas

That amp is just wild.