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Post subject: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:57 pm
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I know what they are, but does anyone know what the affiliation is with New York (assuming that's what Big Apple refers to)?

It's certainly more creative than the subsequent "American Double Fat Strat" (same guitar, but under the American Series line).

Basically why the name 'Big Apple' Stratocasters?

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:17 am
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There is a story of a music store in New York who ordered a small dealer batch of HH equipped strats and they dubbed the name of the guitar 'Big Apple' Strat. The batch of strats were the first to feature HH configuration and the guitar was supposedly finished in a red transparent as a nod to the name.

The later version Big Apple Strat was also supposedly the first Strat to come stock with HH configuration as a regular run.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:39 am
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Blertles wrote:
There is a story of a music store in New York who ordered a small dealer batch of HH equipped strats and they dubbed the name of the guitar 'Big Apple' Strat. The batch of strats were the first to feature HH configuration and the guitar was supposedly finished in a red transparent as a nod to the name.

The later version Big Apple Strat was also supposedly the first Strat to come stock with HH configuration as a regular run.

The story was most likely first posted by 'yours truly', having played one. Sam Ash, Carle Place NY...probably mid-90's, Christmas Season. The guitar was fitted with two Lace Sensor Red Dually's and known then as 'The 48th Street Strat'. The morphing not long after acquired HB's and then the moniker 'Big Apple Strat'. 'Tis the best I can do in my 'non-senior moment' moments.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:50 am
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So there's no truth to "it was a nod to Hiram Bullock. He may have even had an active role in its development".

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:07 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
So there's no truth to "it was a nod to Hiram Bullock. He may have even had an active role in its development".

Background such as that I do not have. I only what I saw, read on the tags, and played. I assume that '48th Street' was a nod to Manhattan's music district, where Sam Ash had a store, and to Manny's which then purchased and then closed.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:27 am
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Hiram's axe has an HSH setup, not HH.


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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:46 am
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chromeface wrote:
Hiram's axe has an HSH setup, not HH.

I would guess that the first appearance was an FSR for Sam Ash. Next step would be to inquire of consumer relations if they have any record of a mid-90's FSR run ordered by Sam Ash for a Stratocaster with two Lace Sensor Red Dually's. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:41 am
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Well, here's a photo of the guitar! :)

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:46 am
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chromeface wrote:
Did these 48th Street models came with a pair of mini-toggles to cut the outer & inner coils of each pickup or used the stock super 5-way selector alone?

Not sure if the TBX/MDX circuitry is present. :?


No. HH config only w/passive circuit. Don't recall any coil splitting, but that would have made sense. First time I'd ever seen that in a Strat. Had the feeling a new day was dawning. When I saw the 'Big Apple Strat' with its humbuckers, I knew my guess was good.

BTW: I've sent to Fender on this. Let's see what they come up with.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 1:34 pm
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ZZDoc wrote:
chromeface wrote:
Did these 48th Street models came with a pair of mini-toggles to cut the outer & inner coils of each pickup or used the stock super 5-way selector alone?

Not sure if the TBX/MDX circuitry is present. :?


No. HH config only w/passive circuit. Don't recall any coil splitting, but that would have made sense. First time I'd ever seen that in a Strat. Had the feeling a new day was dawning. When I saw the 'Big Apple Strat' with its humbuckers, I knew my guess was good.

BTW: I've sent to Fender on this. Let's see what they come up with.

I believe you are right Doc that they were Sam Ash factory specials in the late nineties.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:03 pm
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I believe the first ones made were FSR's for Manny's music in NYC. Which is on 48th St. near Times Square in Manhattan. Could have been Sam Ash too, they were right next door. Thus "The Big Apple Strat". Sam Ash isn't a stretch as they bought Manny's in 1999. They Sadly closed the door's in 2009. I remember going there all the time, just to check out not only the guitars, but to see all the pictures and autographs of all the musicians that have been through the doors. The place was amazing. David Gilmour bought the "black strat" from Manny's as well.
The whole section there was knows as music row once upon a time (48th st between 6th and 7th ave.) It is all gone now...bought up by Rockefeller center to construct a Huge parking garage.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:11 pm
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Yep....48th Street was a real 'nose to the window' place to hang out back in the late '50's. Started studying piano in a studio right above where Sam Ash is now. Back then, Jimmy's and Terminal Music were on that side and Manny's across the street. Sam Ash was in Brooklyn.
The Metropole was down on the corner at 7th Ave. Year's later, the son of one of the owners of Terminal Music married into my family.

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:23 pm
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ZZDoc wrote:
Blertles wrote:
There is a story of a music store in New York who ordered a small dealer batch of HH equipped strats and they dubbed the name of the guitar 'Big Apple' Strat. The batch of strats were the first to feature HH configuration and the guitar was supposedly finished in a red transparent as a nod to the name.

The later version Big Apple Strat was also supposedly the first Strat to come stock with HH configuration as a regular run.

The story was most likely first posted by 'yours truly', having played one. Sam Ash, Carle Place NY...probably mid-90's, Christmas Season. The guitar was fitted with two Lace Sensor Red Dually's and known then as 'The 48th Street Strat'. The morphing not long after acquired HB's and then the moniker 'Big Apple Strat'. 'Tis the best I can do in my 'non-senior moment' moments.


Aha! I thought it was you- didn't want to make the reference incase it wasn't. Great fact though- who knew right?

Hey- gimme points for getting half of it correct ;)

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:55 am
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[quote="Blertles]Aha! I thought it was you- didn't want to make the reference incase it wasn't. Great fact though- who knew right?
Hey- gimme points for getting half of it correct ;)[/quote]


Well...before we both collapse into hysterics slapping each other on the backs I've been doing some research and found the 48th Street Strat listed as a Sam Ash FSR that was CAR and HSS and a Big Apple Strat by Fender which was HH. Now I'm of the belief that the 'original' of either of the two, by name, had 2 Red Dually's, because when the HH appeared, I sorta went 'boing :shock: :!: "Yo, self!!" "Didn't you see that idea with Dually's'' Fender is known for changing specs and keeping the name as they just did with the Lone Star recently. Soooo, I'm waiting on Consumer Relations to see what they find in their dusty innards, because the other thing which concerns me is that everything we write herein winds up in cyberspace, and I don't take kindly to authoring misinformation.:wink:

BTW: Did you pickup any news on my friend's cousin's unfortunate demise on Tasmania?

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Post subject: Re: Big Apple Strats?
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:03 am
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Blertles wrote:
The later version Big Apple Strat was also supposedly the first Strat to come stock with HH configuration as a regular run.


...sporting a pair of snarling Seymour Duncan humbuckers: Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge and '59 in the neck.

This guitar would become the American Double Fat Strat in 2000. Discontinued in 2002 and replaced by the S1-equipped American Strat HH the following year.


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