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Post subject: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:44 pm
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Anyone have a list of Ebony fretboard models made from the mid 80's back to the 50's ?
It would be interesting to know as I cannot find a list after g'gling for days.

On another note:
My original 63 strat has a completely black fretboard. Although it is probably rosewood, I never seen such dark Rosewood, so it would be nice to know if there were in fact ebony versions in the early 60's too.

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:15 pm
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1983 - 1985 Walnut Elite Stratocaster.
1990 - 1997 Strat Ultra
2004 & up FMT & QMT Stratocaster.
My 2004 QMT Strat was one of them ... long sold.

Those are the only three I ever heard of.
However, I'm no expert.
Others may have more info.

I've seen some pretty dark rosewood but nothing quite compares to a dark piece of ebony for that deep black look. Actually, when it comes to rosewood, I prefer a lighter piece with some grain showing.

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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:41 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
1983 - 1985 Walnut Elite Stratocaster.
1990 - 1997 Strat Ultra
2004 & up FMT & QMT Stratocaster.
My 2004 QMT Strat was one of them ... long sold.

Those are the only three I ever heard of.


+1

Ebony was never used on a regular production Stratocaster in the '60s. The only lumber variations I've ever seen were some relatively rare mahogany-bodied instruments (both Strat and Tele) that were built in '62 and '63. Remember too that the rosewood of that era was of Brazilian origin and as such, was extremely tight-grained and uniformly dark in color.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 11:22 am
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Yes I know that it was never used in the 60's for production runs, but were they ever issued as special order ?
I know the difference between ebony and rosewood as I worked as research assistant for the Wood Science department at Uni for years and what I see is NOT Rosewood and it is an old 63 vineer neck.
If anyone can add to the mid 80's and earlier versions with ebony fretboards please continue to do so. there is very little information out there about that.

[/quote]
Ebony was never used on a regular production Stratocaster in the '60s. The only lumber variations I've ever seen were some relatively rare mahogany-bodied instruments (both Strat and Tele) that were built in '62 and '63. Remember too that the rosewood of that era was of Brazilian origin and as such, was extremely tight-grained and uniformly dark in color.

Arjay[/quote]


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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 7:56 pm
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Ebony wasn't officially picked up as a fretboard material until the early 1990s. Personally I never seen '60s Fenders with an ebony fretboard either as a guitar or a bass.

I would agree with BMW, CBS offered their walnut-bodied guitars and basses with ebony fingerboards.


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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:20 am
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Actually you got me peaked here. The Fender Custom Shop might be able to do an ebony board Strat, probably for about the same as you might pay for one of those previous rarities.
If you get a quote, don't keep it a secret.

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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:09 am
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Johnny Soniq wrote:
Actually you got me peaked here. The Fender Custom Shop might be able to do an ebony board Strat, probably for about the same as you might pay for one of those previous rarities.
If you get a quote, don't keep it a secret.
According to the 2015 Custom Shop Order Form , an ebony fingerboard is available for $80

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Ebony Fretboard Stratocasters.
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:29 pm
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retnev wrote:
If anyone can add to the mid 80's and earlier versions with ebony fretboards please continue to do so.


I took a second look.
It looks like the three I mentioned are the only three.

BTW, I forgot to include in my previous post that the FMT & QMT Strats were American Deluxe.

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