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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:38 pm
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If FMIC detects a growing market for hardtail Strats, they'll surely accommodate their customers by re-issuing them. Costs for R&D and tooling were amortized decades ago so it's merely a question of demand. And production could be ramped up very quickly should that market re-emerge.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 7:00 pm
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I was under the impression that the American Standard Hardtail Stratocaster was extinct long ago but looking through an on-line copy of the Fender Frontline 2006 catalog I found the elusive creature on page 65. It was called the "American Series" - I assume this later became the "American Standard"? - and was available in Three-color sunburst, Olympic White, Black, and Chrome Red.

If FMIC is taking requests then please put me down for the hardtail Strat.

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 8:00 pm
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I would have liked a simple MIM non tremolo strat. But as it is I'm enjoying building this thing. It is all fender except for the body. It would be great if they'd drop that in the mail in time for me to put it together over the turkeyday weekend...


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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 8:29 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
I was under the impression that the American Standard Hardtail Stratocaster was extinct long ago but looking through an on-line copy of the Fender Frontline 2006 catalog I found the elusive creature on page 65. Cheers!BM

That timeline sounds about right. After that...bye bye baby.

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 8:38 pm
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ZZDoc wrote:
That timeline sounds about right. After that...bye bye baby.


Indeed. I remember seeing one on Ebay about five years for $565 BIN. With a HSC. People couldn't seem to give them away.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:23 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Indeed. I remember seeing one on Ebay about five years for $565 BIN. With a HSC. People couldn't seem to give them away.Arjay

Something tells me there's going to be a bit of eBay surfing going on.

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:49 pm
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Looking through "The Stratocaster Guitar Book" the earliest hard-tail Stratocaster model - with the exception of the Robert Cray which I believe came out in 1992 - is the American Standard Stratocaster Hard-Tail produced between 1998 and 2000. Here are some more entries from the same source:
  • American Standard Stratocaster Hard-Tail 1998-2000 (p.154)
  • Big Apple Strat Hard-Tail 1998-2000 (p.154)
  • American Stratocaster Hard-Tail 2000-2006 (p.127)
  • American Double Fat Strat Hard-Tail 2000-2003 (p.129)
  • American Stratocaster HH Hard-Tail 2003-2005 (p.130)

Were there hard-tail Strats before 1998?

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:05 pm
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The hardtail first appeared in 1955 -- though it was initially announced coincidentally with the introduction of the Stratocaster in 1954.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 8:05 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
The hardtail first appeared in 1955 -- though it was initially announced coincidentally with the introduction of the Stratocaster in 1954....Arjay

Most definitely...I recall that, in the 1958 catalog you could find a trem, non-trem, LH, gold hardware, and the beginnings of custom colors as options.

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:25 pm
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ZZDoc wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
The hardtail first appeared in 1955 -- though it was initially announced coincidentally with the introduction of the Stratocaster in 1954....Arjay

Most definitely...I recall that, in the 1958 catalog you could find a trem, non-trem, LH, gold hardware, and the beginnings of custom colors as options.

Ayup.

Add 5% extra for custom Duco colors and 10% extra for a southpaw Strat. IIRC, the 1965/66 catalog was the last to list gold hardware as an option (no price given for that option).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 3:21 pm
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My MIM Fender neck has arrived! I've now bought two Fender necks. The first one was made in the USA and is just lovely. This one is nice and has a better looking piece of wood. I'd give the finish on the USA neck the nod but this is pretty close. Different feel but hard to know what that will be like without it attached to a guitar. Right now I'm not feeling like I cheaped out.

Pleased so far.

I have everything I need for this build except the warmoth body and they have yet to drop it in the post. Oh, and I've yet to order string trees. Even the DiMarzio Copper Shielding tape has arrived.


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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 11:15 am
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Fret ends could use a bit of work. Neck looks dead straight. Should be good. 4 working days until my warmoth body arrives.


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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 4:23 pm
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1. Don't sneeze while swinging a hammer.
2. If you're putting string ferrules in you have to get them hot enough to neatly sink in through the finish and whatnot. Too hot is a problem. Not hot enough is another problem. (See item 1.)
3. My fender cts pots hit the bottom edge of the control route.
4. A wide vintage string spacing is cool if disconcerting.
5. A chambered body means you have chambers you can drill into and that wire runs can get lost in.
6. Does every fender part HAVE to require a different hex wrench? Another set of tiny hex wrenches is on the way....
7. Putting on the (copper) foil (coach) is a pita.
8. Copper foil is a great way to ground a hardtail. I put it under the bridge and soldered a wire to it.

I'm down to string trees and strap end pins. Then it is adjustments.

Waiting for the neck to adjust to being under tension.


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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:50 am
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Here's my opinion:

Part of the reason strats sound and feel the way that they do is due to the tremolo springs - they add resonance.

I have a '98 Big Apple Strat; it has a tremolo. I have a friend with a 2001-ish American Double Fat Strat; it's a hardtail. Other than the bridge and color I'm pretty sure the guitar is identical.

Anyway, I never use the tremolo. In fact, I have the guitar set up with five springs so that the bridge is flush with the body.

So, my question to all of you is what are the advantages of a hardtail? If you block the tremolo or install five springs it doesn't cause any problems tuning/setup wise. And, as I mentioned earlier the springs add something to the resonance of the guitar. The only thing I could see is that a hardtail with a string-through body bridge looks a bit cleaner.

Can anyone offer any feedback on this issue?


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Post subject: Re: Fender fixed bridge strats
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:24 am
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Perhaps the hardtail preference over a five spring/blocked setup is based on why pay for something you don't want/need and only to then take steps to minimize/remove what you didn't want in the first place. I just purchased a very slightly used Robert Cray and am looking forward to its arrival. I've been involved in the hardtail discussion before and question how FMIC would determine that there is a demand if hardtail models are so minimally represented in the lineup....


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