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Post subject: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 1:58 am
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I'm looking at buying a 1993 American standard strat second hand. Are the specs the same as they are today?

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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 2:45 am
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These are good guitar , I own a '95. Check for the frets wear , costly to replace , not so if need only owning.


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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 4:40 am
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LionKing34 wrote:
I'm looking at buying a 1993 American standard strat second hand. Are the specs the same as they are today?


No.

The "new" American Standards are totally different beasts than their first-generation ancestors, features and specs-wise.


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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:45 am
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My main guitar is a '93 American Standard. The only changes I've made to it were the addition of locking tuners and a pearloid pickguard (I am probably going to go back to a white or parchment color). Great guitar, though she'll be needing a re-fret soon. How much are they asking for that Strat?

As far as features go, Fender has been making tweaks to the American Standard throughout its production. Here are few differences between a '93 and current production model:

Tuners: Both feature non-locking tuners, but since 2000 (when they were re-branded as the "American Series"), the tuning post heights are staggered.

Pickups: The current model uses Fat 50's single-coils whereas all previous models come with "American Standard" pickups (hotter bridge pickup w/DeltaTone introduced in 1997, staggered magnets from 2000).

Neck/Headstock: Necks are pretty similar overall, but newer ones may have rolled fret edges. The headstock shape had also changed slightly; starting in 2000, they reverted back to the original profile. Also in 2000, only 1 string tree is used on the B and E strings only.

Body: Alder has been the wood of choice from the beginning except for a brief period during the early 90's when poplar was substituted (I'm fairly certain the my '93 is an alder bodied Strat, but I honestly don't care). The body shape is also slightly different as Fender reverted to the original Stratocaster body profile during the changeover to the American Series. The body routing is probably the biggest change, though, as early American Standards utilized the so-called "swimming pool" or "universal" route. The American Series introduced the now current H-S-H routing. It should be noted, however, that a few transitional American Standards produced late in '99 also had this routing.

There are probably a few more things, but these are the ones that come to mind. Let is know how that Strat works out for you.

One more thing...the bridge saddles changed from the solid block saddles to the current bent-steel/vintage style versions when the American Series was once again re-named "American Standard".


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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:11 am
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On thing 93greenstrat forgot to mention is that American Standards had the TBX tone control for the middle and bridge pickups (the lower tone pot); that changed to the no-load when the Delta Tone came out.

In terms of the body routing Fender actually did make the change to the HSH routing some time across 1998-1999. It appears it was "phased in" - so if there were new colors at the end of 1998 or beginning of 1999 they had the HSH rout, and then as Fender used up stockpiled universal rout bodies in a given color the next batch would have the HSH rout. By the end of 1999 the universal rout bodies were done so it did happen a little bit before the changeover to the American Series. Of course that's not an issue when you're talking about 1993s; it only come into play for 1999s.


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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:29 pm
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93greenstrat wrote:
My main guitar is a '93 American Standard. The only changes I've made to it were the addition of locking tuners and a pearloid pickguard (I am probably going to go back to a white or parchment color). Great guitar, though she'll be needing a re-fret soon. How much are they asking for that Strat?

As far as features go, Fender has been making tweaks to the American Standard throughout its production. Here are few differences between a '93 and current production model:

Tuners: Both feature non-locking tuners, but since 2000 (when they were re-branded as the "American Series"), the tuning post heights are staggered.

Pickups: The current model uses Fat 50's single-coils whereas all previous models come with "American Standard" pickups (hotter bridge pickup w/DeltaTone introduced in 1997, staggered magnets from 2000).

Neck/Headstock: Necks are pretty similar overall, but newer ones may have rolled fret edges. The headstock shape had also changed slightly; starting in 2000, they reverted back to the original profile. Also in 2000, only 1 string tree is used on the B and E strings only.

Body: Alder has been the wood of choice from the beginning except for a brief period during the early 90's when poplar was substituted (I'm fairly certain the my '93 is an alder bodied Strat, but I honestly don't care). The body shape is also slightly different as Fender reverted to the original Stratocaster body profile during the changeover to the American Series. The body routing is probably the biggest change, though, as early American Standards utilized the so-called "swimming pool" or "universal" route. The American Series introduced the now current H-S-H routing. It should be noted, however, that a few transitional American Standards produced late in '99 also had this routing.

There are probably a few more things, but these are the ones that come to mind. Let is know how that Strat works out for you.

One more thing...the bridge saddles changed from the solid block saddles to the current bent-steel/vintage style versions when the American Series was once again re-named "American Standard".


Thanks for the info. If I get it, it will cost $900-$1000 NZD. To give you an idea, a new American standard costs about $1900-$2100. It has a few chips and scratches on the finish.

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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:30 am
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Check fret wear !


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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:08 am
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The swimming pool rout was the subject of a great deal of heated debate back when FMIC was providing financial support to another board bearing a Fender logo, which is still in existence, although not quite thriving the way it once was. That board was the off-shoot of another older board that also bore Fender trademarks. Like this board, Fender monitored (watched) that one (and the previous one) a lot more than they actually posted. It was widely speculated that the switch to the current HSH routing was done in response to those debates. I, for one, was happy when they did but the truth is we may never know for certain why they did.

Also another popular bone of contention at the time was the use of poplar as a body wood. Most painted bodies of that period were poplar and many transparent finish or burst finish guitars had bodies of poplar veneered with a thin layer, usually of ash and sometimes alder. Naturally, the tonewood debate came up time and time again. Fender went on record on a number of occasions saying poplar was approximately similar to alder in terms of tonal properties. Generally speaking, more people seemed to be accepting of the poplar issue than the swimming pool rout so while it was debated quite a bit it was not debated nearly as hotly.

Many guitars from the late 80s and early 90s came equipped with Lace Sensors and they too were debated. I myself had a Telecaster with Sensors and I did not care for them at all. I certainly appreciated the silence of them but the tone was sorely lacking. Fender understood their buying public's general dismay with the Sensors and began making their own version of silent singles and continued to improve upon them.

Many people love the guitars of that era. I owned a number of late 80s and early 90s Fenders (only one of them had Sensors) and with that experience I have learned to attempt to discourage my friends from buying Fenders from that era. To each his own. One man's food is another man's poison. If you choose to buy one my only advice would be that you understand you will run into people who will disrespect your instrument. I do not believe it's a matter of IF you run into them but WHEN. From what I could see at the time I imagine those guitars would currently have more people on the con side than the pro side.

I hate to be the guy telling you think twice before you buy a Fender because I am a dyed in the wool Fender nut but I do advise caution and education and an informed decision when it comes to that era.

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Post subject: Re: What do we know about 1993 American Standard Strats?
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:52 am
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There are exceptions, a few MIA Stratocasters and many Squiers are routed for HHH instead of HSH, allowing players to install a third full-sized humbucker in the middle position and make their own triple Fat Strats.

Fender made a triple humbucker Tele for John 5 but never did a triple Fat Strat.


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