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Post subject: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 12:30 pm
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It takes some work to find this information, and it is usually hard to find in one place. As well, some answers are vague.

- In 1953 Leo designed and made the Stratocaster.

- In 1954 Strats were in production.

- Custom colours were available to special customers

- In 1956 alder was used, along with the original ash.

- During this period until present day various alterations made up the Strat.





See how many we can answer here. Have fun with this one. :) :


Question 1: Was there a specific name/model for the first production Strat?

Question 2: When was the first Standard Strat given its name?

Question 3: When was the first American Standard Strat labeled as such?

Question 4: When were the (first and) second production models introduced as such, and what were they?

Question 5: When and what were subsequent (omitting Custom and Artist) production models (basic. ie: Standard, Deluxe, Vintage, etc.) introduced ?

Note: This isn't a quiz. I don't supply the answers. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:04 pm
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According to Tom Wheeler who is pretty much the normally accepted Guru when it comes to the Stratocaster and in fact may things Fender, no authentic 1953 Stratocaster has ever surfaced into public awareness. Therefore the initial year of the production Strat in every sense was 1954. (Page 50 - The Stratocaster Chronicles)

The Stratocaster was always called so. There were no other names for it to the best of my knowledge. Just when exactly it was given it's name is not known to me but I would imagine sometime in either 1952 or 1953 during the development stage.

The first version of the Standard Strat was in 1982 and is known in some circles as the Dan Smith Strat.

You other questions are too vague for me to attempt a definitive answer

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:09 pm
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I could hazard an opinion on the first and second models but it would only be an opinion.
To the best of my knowledge the Strat was always a Strat. There were changes in dimensions, pickups, etc. but it was still called a Strat. It's entirely possible the first 'model' of Strat other than a regular Strat may have been the 25th anniversary model in 1979.

Assuming that's correct, then the second 'model' would likely be "The Strat" Stratocaster which I believe ran from 1980 to 1982.

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:51 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
According to Tom Wheeler who is pretty much the normally accepted Guru when it comes to the Stratocaster and in fact may things Fender, no authentic 1953 Stratocaster has ever surfaced into public awareness. Therefore the initial year of the production Strat in every sense was 1954. (Page 50 - The Stratocaster Chronicles)


Great info BMW-KTM. I agree that pre 1954 was the development period with 1954 as the beginning of production.

I did run across this. As I said earlier, vagueness on authenticity and whatnot surrounds Fender, even with David Gilmour's #0001 Strat.

https://sites.google.com/site/1953stratocaster/

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:20 pm
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I've read that site about the 1953 Strat; it seems to be a late prototype. Regarding Gilmour's 0001 Strat, even if there weren't some issues around it the first ones had the serial number on the plastic trem cover plate, which of course some people just removed to make it easier to change strings. Even if Gilmour's is the "real" serial number 0001 it isn't necessarily the first Strat to get the serial number on the neck plate, it just happened to get the one engraved 0001.

Regarding models, Fender only had one Stratocaster model from 1954 through 1978. Of course it evolved over that time frame; there are quite a few differences between a 1954 and a 1979.

BMW-KTM is correct; the first "other" Strat model would have been the 24th Anniversary Stratocaster that came out in 1979 - it had different features (special color - the first 400-500 or so were pearl white, but the finish flaked off and it was replaced with silver), different tuners, X-1 bridge pickup, and even though it still had a large headstock it reverted back to the 4-bolt neck and was considered a separate model.

He is also correct that the second model, in 1980, was the "STRAT" model; those actually did run on into 1983, and that the 1982 Stratocaster (i.e the "Dan Smith Strat") was the first model to carry the name "Standard" - probably because not only did they have the "STRAT" model that year but they added the first USA-built Reissue models - the '57 and the '62.


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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 9:22 am
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John C wrote:
I've read that site about the 1953 Strat; it seems to be a late prototype. Regarding Gilmour's 0001 Strat, even if there weren't some issues around it the first ones had the serial number on the plastic trem cover plate, which of course some people just removed to make it easier to change strings. Even if Gilmour's is the "real" serial number 0001 it isn't necessarily the first Strat to get the serial number on the neck plate, it just happened to get the one engraved 0001.

Regarding models, Fender only had one Stratocaster model from 1954 through 1978. Of course it evolved over that time frame; there are quite a few differences between a 1954 and a 1979.

BMW-KTM is correct; the first "other" Strat model would have been the 24th Anniversary Stratocaster that came out in 1979 - it had different features (special color - the first 400-500 or so were pearl white, but the finish flaked off and it was replaced with silver), different tuners, X-1 bridge pickup, and even though it still had a large headstock it reverted back to the 4-bolt neck and was considered a separate model.

He is also correct that the second model, in 1980, was the "STRAT" model; those actually did run on into 1983, and that the 1982 Stratocaster (i.e the "Dan Smith Strat") was the first model to carry the name "Standard" - probably because not only did they have the "STRAT" model that year but they added the first USA-built Reissue models - the '57 and the '62.


Thanks for the detailed update, John. I used to jam with a friend's original '62 from '64 -'66 and I never knew if a particular model was attached to it. I'm assuming throughout that custom jobs were available to special customers, and of course do-it-yourselfers. Do you know when the Customs became available from Fender for anyone to place an order?

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 10:36 am
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Bill Schultz opened the Custom Shop in 1987 but I'm pretty sure that even in Leo's day there were special customers who got made-to-order guitars.

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 11:55 am
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John C wrote:
Regarding models, Fender only had one Stratocaster model from 1954 through 1978. Of course it evolved over that time frame; there are quite a few differences between a 1954 and a 1979.


In 1963, when I bought my first Stratocaster, that's what it was. Not a model name or number, just Stratocaster. Life goes on and now it's not that simple.

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:12 pm
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Question 1: Was there a specific name/model for the first production Strat?

Stratocaster

Question 3: When was the first American Standard Strat labeled as such?

1987

Question 4: When were the (first and) second production models introduced as such, and what were they?
I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you asking about the first Stratocasters, or other Strat models later in time?


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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:24 pm
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paris wrote:
Question 1: Was there a specific name/model for the first production Strat?

Stratocaster

Question 3: When was the first American Standard Strat labeled as such?

1987

Question 4: When were the (first and) second production models introduced as such, and what were they?
I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you asking about the first Stratocasters, or other Strat models later in time?


Considering the first Stratocasters ('54 through '78) were simply known as Stratocaster, I have these questions:

1) Would the Stratocaster evolve into the American Standard or can we even consider that to be the marketing scenario? Maybe by 1987 Strats had so many configurations and changes that American Standard Stratocaster was a naming decision based on its own or . . . ?

2) What Strat model followed 'Stratocaster'? When?

Any other early models year introduction may be of interest.

Again, thanks all for the input and clarifications.

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:29 am
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There was a Walnut Strat which was a variation on "The Strat" in 1982.
Also in 1982 there was a limited run of a "Gold" Strat. Gold finish, gold hardware, maple neck.
Also during that time there were some re-issues released as previously mentioned by John C.
Then came the Elite range in 1983. There was a standard Elite, a Gold Elite and a Walnut Elite.
The first Strat to bear the name American Standard was in 1986.

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:34 am
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Just to add to BMW-KTM's post - in 1983 when Fender brought out the Elite series they also brought out a "Standard" series - the 1983 "Standard Stratocaster" would be that 2-knob version with the Free-Flyte tremolo, and there was a "Standard Telecaster" that had the top loading bridge (didn't string through the body), and there were "Standard" versions of the Precision Bass and the Jazz Bass as well.

It's kind of hard to answer your question - you're dealing with marketing-speak, product planning, etc. I guess that technically in 1982 there was not a model just called the "Stratocaster"; there was a model called the "Standard Stratocaster", which was the Dan Smith updated version that reverted back to the 4-bolt neck, heel truss rod adjustment, and kept the X-1 bridge pickup that had been added to the "Stratocaster" model in 1980 or 1981. I've always considered the 1982 Dan Smith version just to be the continued evolution of the original "Stratocaster" model.

I would consider the 1983 changes to be the first true "after the Stratocaster" models, as that "Standard Stratocaster" has enough changes to be considered a different model - a "modernized" Strat so to speak.

The name "American Standard" was first applied to the next "modernized" model, this one done after the sale of the company from CBS to their management team (FMIC), which has a production start in late 1986 and an official introduction in January 1987 at the NAMM show. I suppose FMIC chose to use the name "American Standard" because they had moved production of the "Standard Stratocaster" to Japan by that point.

Okay – this is just a swag timeline for USA Strats:

1954-1978: one model, the Stratocaster

1979: Stratocaster, 25th Anniversary Stratocaster

1980: Stratocaster, 25th Anniversary Stratocaster (the production run ran over part of 1980), the STRAT

1981: Stratocaster, the STRAT, the Walnut STRAT, Gold Stratocaster

1982-February 1983: “Standard Stratocaster” (the “Dan Smith Strat”), the STRAT, the Walnut STRAT, Gold Stratocaster, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster

March 1983-December 1984: Standard Stratocaster (2-knob version), Elite Stratocaster, Gold Elite Stratocaster, Walnut Elite Stratocaster, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster

February 1985 – sale of Fender from CBS to FMIC. After final assembly no USA production until October 1985. Several MIJ models introduced at this time.

October 1985-November 1986: US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster

December 1986-mid 1987: American Standard Stratocaster, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster

Mid 1987-mid 1988: American Standard Stratocaster, Strat Plus, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster

Mid-1988-1989: American Standard Stratocaster, Strat Plus, Strat Plus Deluxe, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster, Eric Clapton Signature, Yngwie Malmsteen Signature

1990-1991: American Standard Stratocaster, Strat Plus, Strat Plus Deluxe, Strat Ultra, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster, Eric Clapton Signature, Yngwie Malmsteen Signature, Jeff Beck Signature

1992-1994: American Standard Stratocaster, Strat Plus, Strat Plus Deluxe, Strat Ultra, US Vintage ’57 Stratocaster, US Vintage ’62 Stratocaster, Eric Clapton Signature, Yngwie Malmsteen Signature, Jeff Beck Signature, SRV Signature, Richie Sambora Signature

And it really explodes in numbers after 1994 – a lot more signatures, offshoot models, etc.


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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:48 am
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BMW-KTM, John C:

This is great info for the lesser informed (myself included).

I have no doubt others will benefit from your vast knowledge and contributions.

Cheers.

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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:27 pm
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You're welcome. Also I want to reiterate that my list was just the USA models. You start with some MIJ models as early as 1982 or so (under the Squier brand only in the USA; some were under the Fender brand elsewhere). They used the Japanese production to fill in the lower priced part of the range under FMIC (starting in early 1985) until they built their factory in Mexico in the early 1990s - then the MIM models fill in the lower priced part of the range.

And there were only MIJ models in production from say March-October 1985, and the USA production was very small when it was only the US Vintage models from October 1985 until well into 1986. It was as small as 10 instruments per day at the end of 1985/start of 1986 in the early Corona period.


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Post subject: Re: What year were Strat models introduced?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 3:39 pm
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I didn't see anyone mention this, so I thought I'd add it as an interesting antidote...

Ok...it's been YEARS since I read it, but sometime ago I had ran across an book at the local library written by George Fullerton about (or including) the early days of Fender. It -may- have been "Guitars From George and Leo", however I can't swear to it...I remember the book being an older hard bound (not the book I'm seeing on Amazon at the moment). In any case, there were some interesting details about the first production Strat...the REAL first Strat.

I don't remember exact dates, however I remember Fullerton having said that there was a rather significant delay with the Stratocaster going into production. Apparently when the very first Strat rolled off the assembly line, something was seriously wrong...I think Fullerton said something along the lines of "sonically dead". He said he had taken the guitar into Leo Fender's office and he and Leo examined it, only to find they had mis-designed something with the bridge/trem...the trem was basically killing the string vibrations. Production was immediately halted and it was several months before they started again as new dyes and such had to be cast for the redesigned bridge.

At the time the book was published, Fullerton said he still had that very first Strat stashed in a closet (I think he said he had the first Dakota red as well). Since I'm not sure when the book was published and since Fullerton is clearly deceased, I don't know what ever happened to that guitar, but I thought it was an interesting story.

Next time I'm up at the library, I'll see if I can find the book again...if nothing else, I remember it was a very interesting read.


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