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Post subject: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 4:20 pm
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I just bought a '96 American Standard B-Bender. It's not mint but it's in very good condition. A few years ago I owned an '09 American Nashville B-Bender but did not like the feel or sound and sold it after a couple years. I like the one I just got. I know it's just a matter of taste.
From what I read
-s/n is either a '96 or early '97
-'96 was the 1st year and it was called an American Standard model
-'98 went to Hot Rodded American model with three pickups
-'00 some design changes and called American Nashville model
Anymore info out there?


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Post subject: Re: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:36 am
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Did your guitar sport a TBX circuit? Fender switched to the Delta-Tone pickup system in 1997.

Sending us a couple of photos might help to further examine your twangbeast.

If you need more assistance send a private message to Rob Schwarz, John C and Jeff "Xhefri" Reich.


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Post subject: Re: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 7:40 am
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Dave Ferrell wrote:
I just bought a '96 American Standard B-Bender. It's not mint but it's in very good condition. A few years ago I owned an '09 American Nashville B-Bender but did not like the feel or sound and sold it after a couple years. I like the one I just got. I know it's just a matter of taste.
From what I read
-s/n is either a '96 or early '97
-'96 was the 1st year and it was called an American Standard model
-'98 went to Hot Rodded American model with three pickups
-'00 some design changes and called American Nashville model
Anymore info out there?


I believe you've got it right - the B-Bender model has always been a pretty specialized model; I've only come across 2 of them in my travels through music shops (one new, one used) and both were the Nashville style (I think they were both the American Nashville models - post July 2000).

In fact I don't believe I've ever seen an owner's photo of the 2-pickup American Standard B-Bender; just the 3-pickup versions so that change in 1998 sounds about right. It seems like Fender consolidated all of the non-Lace Sensor equipped models based on American Standards under that "Hot Rodded American Standard" series name, so it would also make sense that was the time when they went to the 3-pickup version.

In July 2000 Fender debuted a major update to the American Standard models (staggered-height tuners, new pickups, rolled fingerboard edges, and several other updates) and renamed them the "American Series"; at that point the name became the "American Nashville B-Bender Telecaster". All the names changed but I believe Fender still held on to the "Hot Rodded" name, but this time it was the "Hot Rodded American Series" (or maybe just "Hot Rodded American"). The "Hot Rodded" series name was dropped in mid-2003 and all of the models except the B-Bender got some changes (different pickups and the addition of S-1 switching).

Fender did another major update to the model line that debuted in January 2008; at that point in time the "American Standard" name was restored and some models were dropped - the HH Strat, the HH Tele, and the SH Tele (neck humbucker Tele), leaving only the SSS Strat, HSS Strat (although this one lost the S-1 switching) and regular SS Tele models. This is when the series went to bent steel saddles, there was a new neck shape, and several other updates.

As far as I can tell from the specs provided on Fender's website Fender has kept the American Nashville B-Bender Tele to the old American Series specs, so that model has been unchanged since July 2000.

Hope this helps.


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Post subject: Re: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 5:23 pm
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I pulled off the plate switch and pick guard but did not see any special electronics
Image
Image


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Post subject: Re: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 7:41 pm
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The best way to determine if your guitar uses a TBX or not is to turn the tone pot clockwise and vice-versa.

In that case you should feel a slight click in the center detent.


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Post subject: Re: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 5:05 pm
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No click with the tone knob. Thanks for the info.


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Post subject: Re: American Standard B-Bender
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 6:32 pm
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Thanks for posting the photos; that is the first 2-pickup B-Bender that I have seen (and I've seen most Fender models since 1978 either in person or on the web at some point in time).

1996 was when Fender was phasing out the TBX - it could be that they phased it out on some models before others.

Also for some reason the Nashville B-Bender is not in the 2006 Fender Frontline but it is in the 2007 Frontline. I suppose it is possible that it went away for a few years in the 2000s - maybe 2004-2006, about the time they stopped using the "Hot Rodded" name for all the models based on the American Series Strat and Tele.


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