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Post subject: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:04 pm
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Hello All,

I am looking to place an order with the Custom Shop for either a 1950's or 1960's era Strat reissue. Preferably 1960's era. I was curious if anyone had any opinions as to the Apex / High Water Mark year for the Stratocaster?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Greg


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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:11 pm
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That is a very debatable quistion.

1st think about it this way, all Fenders were stock guitars made in small quantities, so even guitars with the same parts, even in the same year, might be different. For the most part the sound and quality doesn't change much until the comany made changes is fret board, finish (type of paint, under coat and clear coat), type of wood, bridge, and just about anything else you can think of. So there is little difference between a '55 or '57 (Maple neck era), or the a '58 and '62 (slab rosewood neck era). So when people get all wrapped around the axle about the specs for a 1963 Strat, well they will be the same as a 1964 Strat.

Most people feel that '54 was the "it" year. For others it's '57. Many people think that the early '60s Strats are the best versionm of Strat ('61 - '62)

Most would say hte worst years for Fender would be '65 - '80.

Your best bet would be to listen to a lot Strat players from the '50s and '60s, and find out what year their guitar was made.

For me the best years for Strats are and why I think so:
'54 - Ash body with beautiful 2 color sunbursts and that classic Strat sound. Drawbacks: The finishes wore through pretty quick, 3 way switch, and the plastic parts were brittle.

'62 - Slab rosewood fret board, cool colors, slightly warmer sound (SRV tone), better finishes and plastic parts are more durrable. Drawbacks: 3 way switch

'87 - Inroduction of the Am. Std. Return of what made Strats great. No more 3 bolt neck, or bullet truss rod. Better construction and quality control. Nice finishes. 5 way switch, bi-flux truss rod access at headstock end, 2 point vibrato. Over all a good guitar. Drawbacks: Over time the Am. Std loses proper body contours and the pickup cavety is a big open whole.

I hope all this rambling helps. Long and the short, the Fender Custom Shop has pretty much done all the really great years, so see what they have on hand.

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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:15 pm
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Good advice from Paris...

But for me, it would be '57 or '64.

Yea, the '54/'55 were the it years, but also the Stratocaster in it's unimproved form.

I think '57 and '64 were years where significant improvement was achieved.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:22 am
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Thanks Paris and Lightnin for your insight!


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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:43 am
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The rosewood fretboard was introduced in 1958 for the Jazzmaster only. Strats from that year still had the 1-piece maple neck.

Fender adopted rosewood as a fretboard material for the rest of their guitars and basses in 1959.


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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:21 pm
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Really good question, I'd rather describe how I want it to feel rather then choose a year. Then add what ever color or relic'ing you want to it.

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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:48 pm
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DetroitBlues wrote:
Really good question, I'd rather describe how I want it to feel rather then choose a year. Then add what ever color or relic'ing you want to it.


I rather like your answer. I agree that a person needs to find out they really like.

For some people it's those guitars from the '70s with black parts and big headstock. And for others it's the late '60s with big headstocks and thin rosewood finger boards.

I love them all.


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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:52 pm
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And in 50 years they might be saying the 2013's were the best ever. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:46 pm
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Gjohnson141 wrote:
I was curious if anyone had any opinions as to the Apex / High Water Mark year for the Stratocaster?

Hi Gjohnson141: well, "apex year" would make it sound like it's all been downhill since then. Which I don't think it has! There's been some bumps in the road, no doubt, but personally I think the guitars they make now are in many ways the best there have ever been, so you could do a lot worse than buy a 2013.

Still, I get the point of your question, and I'm not exactly alone in thinking that 1957 was a moment when things arrived at a certain classic stage of development. There's a reason they've been doing '57 Reissues for so long, and though they've dropped that year just at present from the American Vintage line it's only to go back a few months to 1956 instead.

I dunno, there's just something about that mid-late '50s vibe. That was when the Strat really sorted out what sort of guitar it was meant to be for the first time, they ironed out some glitches and hadn't started tweaking too much with things like fingerboards and pickups yet, there were some tasty colours to be had...

A red '57 with a maple fingerboard. How can that not be THE coolest guitar ever? :D

Them's my feelings.

...Though I like my 2004 a lot too. And my 2010. And my '97. And... and...

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:32 pm
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Ceri wrote:
A red '57 with a maple fingerboard.


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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:51 am
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Ceri wrote:
Gjohnson141 wrote:
I was curious if anyone had any opinions as to the Apex / High Water Mark year for the Stratocaster?

Hi Gjohnson141: well, "apex year" would make it sound like it's all been downhill since then. Which I don't think it has! There's been some bumps in the road, no doubt, but personally I think the guitars they make now are in many ways the best there have ever been, so you could do a lot worse than buy a 2013.

Still, I get the point of your question, and I'm not exactly alone in thinking that 1957 was a moment when things arrived at a certain classic stage of development. There's a reason they've been doing '57 Reissues for so long, and though they've dropped that year just at present from the American Vintage line it's only to go back a few months to 1956 instead.

I don't know black or 2-color-sunburst, with a maple, look pretty sweet to me. I'm not a big fan of the reds. I did love the CAR with rosewood fingerboard.

I dunno, there's just something about that mid-late '50s vibe. That was when the Strat really sorted out what sort of guitar it was meant to be for the first time, they ironed out some glitches and hadn't started tweaking too much with things like fingerboards and pickups yet, there were some tasty colours to be had...

A red '57 with a maple fingerboard. How can that not be THE coolest guitar ever? :D

Them's my feelings.

...Though I like my 2004 a lot too. And my 2010. And my '97. And... and...

Cheers - C


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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:19 am
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paris wrote:
I don't know black or 2-color-sunburst, with a maple, look pretty sweet to me. I'm not a big fan of the reds. I did love the CAR with rosewood fingerboard.

Variety is the spice of life. 8)

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: What is the Apex Year for the Stratocaster?
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:59 am
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Gjohnson141 wrote:
Hello All,

I am looking to place an order with the Custom Shop for either a 1950's or 1960's era Strat reissue. Preferably 1960's era. I was curious if anyone had any opinions as to the Apex / High Water Mark year for the Stratocaster?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Greg


Maple neck era: 1957 (hardest V-profile in neck, deepest body contours)
Rosewood neck era: 1959 (flattest neck profile and thicker slab board)


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