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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 10:25 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
ZZDoc you make a good point. I have seen dealer pricelist/pullouts (color from '90) that state "Anthracite (Pewter)" so my guess is sometime during or after 91 they went fully to Pewter as the term for the color. The color poster I have from 91 shows Pewter (043) so I guess we can call it 91 and be correct... :wink:
T2

You, Xhefri, and I own guitars of the same date/vintage and 'cleaness'. All of them appear to have the same finish as the OP's. Hence, I can only assume that there was no change in the pigment formulation for the paint.


I believe you are right. Only the name changed, the color did not change. Fenders paint code sure didn't (043) throughout the life of the model...so far.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:20 am
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EC Grey is similar but a bit darker.


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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:44 am
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chromeface wrote:
EC Grey is similar but a bit darker.

Yep! We certainly have entertained a bit of chit/chat on that one :!: :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 3:30 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
ZZDoc you make a good point. I have seen dealer pricelist/pullouts (color from '90) that state "Anthracite (Pewter)" so my guess is sometime during or after 91 they went fully to Pewter as the term for the color. The color poster I have from 91 shows Pewter (043) so I guess we can call it 91 and be correct... :wink:

T2


"Anthracite" ? Really? Today is the first time I've ever seen that word lol. This goes into my "never say never" file....I'd love to see the pricelist/pullout showing this....just for fun.
If you couldn't already tell, I've always known this color as Pewter(043). Although "anthracite: is kinda growing on me now! :D

Unfortunately, the Serial doesn't track back in our lookup (which some of you already know only goes back to 1992...if we're lucky)
It all looks Fender made to me though....to John C's point, the later date will be the one to hang with as that is the closest date to when it all came together and was officially pronounced "a guitar!" (you get the idea).
All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:11 pm
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I know that as early as 1989 this color was called Pewter (color code #43) on the American Standard Strats, and Strat Plus models. But the pickups on your guitar have the Fender Lace Sensor names recessed in a oval. From late 1987 to late 1992 the Fender pickup logo was right on top the flat top of the pickup. See the first pict for the early style and the 2nd pict for the late 92 onward style:

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So you body date and the pickups both indicate late 1992, so there you have it! LOL! Now I need to go dig out my Pewter E9 EC Strat and look at the pickups! I am pretty sure mine is a late 92 early 93 too. And yours Doc????

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:19 pm
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Rob Schwarz-Fender wrote:
"Anthracite" ? Really? Today is the first time I've ever seen that word lol. This goes into my "never say never" file....I'd love to see the pricelist/pullout showing this....just for fun.
If you couldn't already tell, I've always known this color as Pewter(043). Although "anthracite: is kinda growing on me now!

....***."After he selected the two [necks] he liked best, two prototypes, fitted with updated ELITE electronics [i.e.stacked-coil Alnico II pickups with new 12db[boost] circuitry were completed and finished in Torino Red and Pewter[anthracite].....

The author goes on to explain how the final design of the midboost circuit and the pickup selection was arrived at to satisfy Clapton's desire for 'more compression'...i.e. how Clapton referred to the concept of a midboost signal. What he wanted was the effect of Les Paul out of a Strat.
***A.R.Duchossoir: The Fender Stratocaster First Edition 1989 pg.26

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:28 pm
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[/quote]

Jeff: The Pewter production model, whose numbers I've provided in a prior quote has the above referenced pickup cover embossing as does the Torino Red prototype in my corral, which you have played. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:02 am
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Rob Schwarz-Fender wrote:
"Anthracite" ? Really? Today is the first time I've ever seen that word lol. This goes into my "never say never" file....I'd love to see the pricelist/pullout showing this....just for fun.
If you couldn't already tell, I've always known this color as Pewter(043). Although "anthracite: is kinda growing on me now!

....***."After he selected the two [necks] he liked best, two prototypes, fitted with updated ELITE electronics [i.e.stacked-coil Alnico II pickups with new 12db[boost] circuitry were completed and finished in Torino Red and Pewter[anthracite].....

Bear in mind the prototypes sported initially a 21dB preamp, not 12dB. 12dB was the gain provided by the original Elite circuit. The pickups were not the original Low Z from the Elite Strat but an early unlabelled version of the Gold Lace Sensor. But Eric wanted more compression prompting the folks at the R&D team to further increase the gain at 25dB with the mid frequencies peaking around 500 Hz.

Once the concept was finalized EC opted for a 22-fret neck and the full-fledged functionality from the Elites, hence's why the mid boost bypass switch has been removed from the circuit.

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One of the two Pewter prototypes became Black during the 2nd half of 1990.


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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:30 am
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T2Stratman wrote:
ZZDoc wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
ZZDoc you make a good point. I have seen dealer pricelist/pullouts (color from '90) that state "Anthracite (Pewter)" so my guess is sometime during or after 91 they went fully to Pewter as the term for the color. The color poster I have from 91 shows Pewter (043) so I guess we can call it 91 and be correct... :wink:
T2

You, Xhefri, and I own guitars of the same date/vintage and 'cleaness'. All of them appear to have the same finish as the OP's. Hence, I can only assume that there was no change in the pigment formulation for the paint.


I believe you are right. Only the name changed, the color did not change. Fenders paint code sure didn't (043) throughout the life of the model...so far.

T2



Pure anthracite is black in color.
It may appear slightly gray if there are impurities present. It is a form of coal and contains a low percentage of volatile substances; it is not to be confused with bituminous coal

Anthracite is technically Black.. but I've seen some colours that could be close to Pewter, but I would never point to a Pewter colour and say.. Looks like Antracite..

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:41 am
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Duchossoir does spec a 21db preamp in his writings. As far as my prototype model is concerned, if I am to assume that the preamp in that model is 21db, it's hard for my ear, at least, to differentiate between its output and the 25db circuit in my Pewter guitar.

Duchossoir also specs the neck radius at 8.5 as opposed to 7.25. Don't know if his 8.5 was a typo or pre-NAMM fact which was later changed in that my guitars neck is 9.5 with 21 frets. The end product is, of course, as you describe. Per Duchossoir, the Elite's neck spec'd at 12 when in production. As far as the pups being unlabeled, I'd being interested in knowing how you sourced that information. They are definitely labeled on my prototype as I noted in previous comments and there's no additional commentary on that save how Don Lace and FMIC got together on putting his design into use.

As an aside, Duchossoir's book is the only resource I have in my library which is detailed specific. Wheeler's book is more anectdotal with respect to the evolution of this guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:45 am
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From what I remember the very first proto-types presented to Clapton did have a +12db boost and used Elite pickups. The second round of proto-types moved to Gold Lace pickups and the +21db boost. Some people have mistakenly thought that the Elite pickups and the Lace sensors were all designed by Don Lace and the Elites were the forerunner to the Lace. Most likely due to the looks more than anything. But I talked with Jeff Lace (inventor of the Laces Sensors - Don Lace's son) and he said there was no connection there at all. But the beast you have ZZ is the rare Custom Shop version of the 2nd round of proto-types. Very limited production on those as we have discussed. I too would like to know where Chromeface is getting his info. We know he is the Forums leading expert in Clapton memorabilia.

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:08 am
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Xhefri wrote:
From what I remember the very first proto-types presented to Clapton did have a +12db boost and used Elite pickups. The second round of proto-types moved to Gold Lace pickups and the +21db boost.

Roger that! Duchossoir makes that quite clear. One gleans from a variety of narratives within the book that Fender had 'improved' the Elite's circutry by employing stacked coil Alnico II pickups running through a 12db DMX [midboost] and TBX tone circuit for this guitar.
The stacked coil design was an effort to achieve a noiseless guitar tone. The other option was to use side by side. In the former, bottom end is lost. The latter, high end. Hence, they were losing classic Strat tone in either case which was undesireable to them. Coupled with Clapton's seeking what he referred to as 'more compression' i.e. the sonic quality of a humbucking pickup, they opted to use the Gold Lace Sensors which had been developed earlier in their quest for a noiseless pickup with the classic Strat tone. That pickup had found its way into the newly created Strat Plus as its hallmark feature. The FLS's as we were come to call them were able to produce the acceptable tone and carry the heavy load, so to speak,
which Eric was pushing for. In our discussions, I believe that we've satisfied ourselves that Fender was interested in producing a noiseless pickup which would enable severing their relationship with Lace. Echoing Eldred's comments, the company sent Clapton a set and 'he liked them'. Apparently, a bit brighter than the FLS's. Recall as well, Clapton took the TBX out of his guitar, supposedly for the same reason.[I am anticipating our usual and customary further enlightenment from Greece on this. :wink: ] Personally, I've always preferred the 'darker and meatier' tone of the FLS's in this guitar and have not been inspired to move forward. The only exception I would have made, had I had sufficient 'throwaway money' to bid unimpeded, would have been that T-Mobile Strat which was auctioned at Bonham's in 2011. I saw that baby up close and personal, and that was a guitar worth having. However, I've got the prototype now at 1/3 the cost. 8) Finally, Bill Lawrence designed the SCN's which Fender installed in their new DLX's in '04. These were the pickups I referred to as 'the best thing to come along since sliced bread', because of the way the marketing people were selling them. I had a Custom Shop Strat built using the Clapton circuit and those pickups, and they worked very well.

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 3:56 pm
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Dug my E9 EC Strat out today. Had it buried in a stack... anyhow, it does have the smooth top pickups which dates it before 1992. Pull the neck and no date on neck butt or body neck socket. So no way to really know what year this thing was produced. I even tried to go back and find the sales info on it and can't find anything. Ummm... But playing it again sure was nice! The I pulled my Surf Green 2000 Jeff Beck Strat out, as it was buried next to my EC. Whoa.... that neck it too fat. The EC Strat is so smooth. One of the nicest Strat necks ever and for Jeff Beck, I can see why he changed neck profiles in 2001-2.

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 4:54 pm
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Xhefri wrote:
Dug my E9 EC Strat out today......The EC Strat is so smooth. One of the nicest Strat necks ever....

Tell me about it :! Been touting that for years in these pages.: 8)

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Post subject: Re: Need your help guys!1989 Fender EC Strat Signature Serie
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:00 am
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Xhefri wrote:
I can see why he changed neck profiles in 2001-2.


This was until 2007 (I guess).

From that date Jeff favored fat baseball bat necks again, hence's why his main stage and studio axe was refitted with a fat bat neck from a midnight purple '93 (thanks to Trev Wilkinson for sharing this useful info for us!).

Until recently El Becko's trusty axe got a new "reverse headstock" neck with his personal favorite huge baseball backshape.

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The idea for a reverse headstock was inspired by a photo of Jimi Hendrix pictured in the front cover of the Rough and Ready album, released in 1971.

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