Here is the current StratoFAQ. Also included is a section on teles as well. It deals with (hopefully) all the new Strats and Teles available as of 03/25/96. I spoke with my friendly neighborhood Fender dealer to get the info on the new Strats which Fender is offering for 1996. The current limited run finishes are olympic white and lake placid blue (both with the painted headstocks). Also, Guild joins up with Fender (Fender will distribute Guild guitars, but they will still be made by Guild). After these introductory notes, there will be a brief section on Strat anatomy (wood hardware etc.) and then we'll move on to the real stuff. I will try to keep the guitars separated by country of origin but in some cases, it was hard to tell because Fender organizes its info based on part numbers, so no promises. The original StratoFAQ was composed by Jeff Templon and Don Tillman. Other contributors are displayed alongside their contributions. Please direct comments to chenaa@bcvms.bc.edu. Please do not email requests for missing parts; the faq will be reposted periodically, so keep your eyes open. For those of you who want some reference reading on Stratocasters, here are a couple suggested titles: "The Fender Stratocaster" by A.R. Duchossoir "The Fender Telecaster" by A.R. Duchossoir "The Fender Book" by Bacon & Day "The Fender Stratocaster: Curves, Contours and Body Horns" by Minhinnett&Young ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Strat Anatomy 101 =============== This section is intended to provide a brief overview into the makeup and composition of the Fender Stratocaster. There are three subsections dealing with the hardware, bodies and necks found on the Strat. I. Hardware --------------- a. Bridges There are currently two types of vibrato bridges available on Fender Strats: locking and non-locking. The non-locking bridges are: 1. vintage model used on U.S. Vintage models and the Eric Clapton signature model to name a few. 2. American Standard model which is an "upgrade" of the vintage model; designed to stay in tune better than the vintage model while still retaining the feel of a vintage bridge. This model is available on the American Standard, Strat Plus, and Malmsteen signature guitars to name a few. There is also a deluxe model which features a "pop-in" vibrato arm and stainless steel bridge saddles. 3. vintage-style model used on the entry level Squires: the "affordable" rendition of the vintage model bridge. The locking bridges are: 1. Floyd Rose Original / Pro / II: These three bridges were first pioneered by Floyd Rose in the mid-1980's and made famous by Edward Van Halen. They require cutting off the string's ball-end and provide tuning stability for players who want heavy duty vibrato use. The Original features locking saddles and fine tuners; the Pro has locking saddles and fine tuners moved back; the II is a more "affordable" rendition of the Original. Examples of these bridges are on: the Original can be found of the Floyd Rose Classic Series; the Pro can be found on the set-neck Floyd Rose Strat; the II can be found on the Sambora standard signature model. These bridges are usually used in conjunction with a locking nut. Retro-fitting one of these Floyd models onto say an American Standard equipped guitar would require cutting and drilling which is major surgery, so don't try it at home if you don't know how. 2. Fender-Floyd Rose bridge: this bridge is basically an American Standard bridge with locking saddles similar to the Floyd Pro model. These bridges can be found on the Strat Plus Deluxe and Strat Ultra guitars. The spacing of the mounting screws is similar to the American Standard as opposed to the wider spacing of the Floyd Original. I believe you can retro-fit an American Standard with a Fender-Floyd without major surgery. Again, if you're unsure, check with a repair shop. Non-Vibrato Bridges are also available. Guitars with this type of bridge lack the routing in the back for the spring cavity. The Robert Cray signature model features a vintage type non-vibrato bridge. Strats with this bridge have string ferrules in the back similar to a Telecaster. For the most part, there are very few non-vibrato Strats in mass production. Unless noted, the guitars come with chrome hardware. b. Tuning Keys There are two basic types of tuning keys (or machine heads if you like) available: locking and non-locking. 1. Locking Keys: can be found of the Strat Plus line. I have them on my Strat and they really make restringing easy. About one turn brings the string up to pitch. 2. Non-Locking Keys: there are two types here - vintage and American Standard. The vintage keys are reproductions of the Kluson tuners found on pre-CBS Strats and feature a split shaft (you put the end of the string into the key's post) while the American Standard has an enclosed shaft. Vintage keys can be found on the Vintage 57/62 and the Vaughn signature models. American Standard keys can be found on (you guessed it) the American Standard. Note: There are also "affordable renditions" of both the vintage and American Standard keys which can be found on the Squire models. c. Pickups There are a wide variety of pickups available stock on a Strat. Here's a basic list of what's available. Note that these are found on the American guitars; the imported models feature different pickups (again "affordable renditions"). 1. Vintage 57/62: these pickups are in the U.S. vintage 57 & 62 guitars. They are reproductions of the pickups which defined the Fender Strat sound. They feature staggered pickup magnets and cloth wire and are pretty noisy. 2. American 50Õs: these pickups are in the 1954 custom classic series. I think this model is intended to be brighter than the vintage 57 model though IÕm not completely certain. 3. American Standard: found in the AM STD Strat; feature flat pole-pieces; the middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity (RW/RP) to fight the hum (note that this only applies in the neck+middle and middle+bridge pickup combinations; there is no hum-canceling when any of these pickups are used individually). 4. Texas Specials: these are over-wound, "hot" versions of the Vintage 57/62; they have staggered pole-pieces and the middle pickup is RW/RP. Texas Specials can be found in the Vaughn Signature guitar. 5. Fender-Lace Sensors (FLS): these are single coils designed to be quieter (less noise) than say the vintage or AM STD models. There are four different single coil models available; they are differentiated by their colors: Gold (50's vintage single coil sound), Silver (beefier Strat sound), Blue (50's humbucker sound - thicker sound), and Red (really hot / high output pickup). There are also the "Dually" models which are two Lace sensors wired in series. 6. Seymour Duncan "JB" humbucker: this pickup was originally designed for Jeff Beck by Seymour Duncan. It is one of the Duncan company's most popular pickups and Fender is using it in their contemporary series Strats. 7. DiMarzio Pro PAF: DiMarzio produces this double coil humbucker for Fender; it is used in the Sambora Signature and Floyd Rose Classic Series guitars. 8. DiMarzio HS-3: this is a stacked coil humbucker. It takes the two coils and mounts them vertically as opposed to horizontally. This pickup therefore is single-coil sized and can be found on the Malmsteen signature model. d. Switches There are two different types of pickup selector switches used on Fender Strats: the 3-way and the 5-way. Vintage type Strats will usually have the 3-way switch which gives Neck, Middle, or Bridge pickup. "Modern" Strats like the Strat Plus will have the 5-way switch which gives the above three pickup modes as well as neck+middle and middle+bridge combinations. e. Nuts There are two basic types of nuts in use by Fender: 1. Non-Locking: these nuts are usually made of cyclovac (an artificial compound used to simulate bone) on the American Standard or some form of plastic on lower end models. The Strat Plus series uses the new L.S.R. nuts instead of the Wilkinson nuts. The L.S.R.'s are the same size as the regular nuts however they have metallic and contain small ball-bearings used to guide the strings. The Yngwie Malmsteen model uses a nut made from brass. 2. Locking: the other half of the Floyd Rose double-locking system. These nuts require an Allen Wrench to lock/unlock them and clamp down on the strings to keep them better in tune. II. Body Material -------------------- There are several different wood types used by Fender in making Strats. A short list follows below 1. Alder: used in several American guitars like the Strat Plus, Clapton, and American Standard. Light weight (body weight about 4 lb.) with a full sound. 2. Ash: the main type used by Fender USA is swamp ash because it provides a light weight (body wt about 5 lb.) guitar with a balance of high and low end. 3. Mahogany: Fender uses the Honduran variety on their set-neck series; provides a moderate to heavy weight (body weight at least 5 lb.) with a warm, full sound and good sustain; used in conjunction with a maple top to add brightness. 4. Poplar: donÕt know too much about this wood. It is probably available in larger quantities than Alder so Fender is using it in some guitars. 5. Basswood: several Japanese reissue models use Basswood. Produces a light (body wt less than 4 lb.) guitar though some people find the sound to be too "dark". Basswood is a very soft wood and cannot handle a lot of abuse (though who among us would abuse our guitars?). New in Ō95: Aluminum bodies!!!! Previously, Fender had made some limited runs of aluminum bodied Strats in the custom shop. Now, the American Standard, Strat Plus, Strat Plus Deluxe, and Strat Ultra are all available with hollowed out aluminum bodied w/ anodized finishes (finishes currently available are: Blue Metal Burst, Violet Metal Burst, and Stars&Stripes). III. Neck Material --------------------- For Bolt-On Neck Strats, Fender uses Maple for the Neck. The fingerboard material varies between: 1. maple: all maple neck; gives a clear "bright" sound. 2. rosewood: maple neck with rosewood veneer; gives a "warmer" sound compared to the all maple neck. On some higher ticket Strats, Fender uses Pao Ferro which is a more exotic species of rosewood. 3. ebony: maple neck with ebony veneer; gives a "bright" sound and is a very "fast" neck (some people find it "slick" feeling). With the Set-Neck (glued-in neck) Strats, Fender uses 1. maple/ebony neck with the Strat Ultra setup (see below). 2. maple/ebony neck with the Floyd Rose Vibrato system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tele Anatomy 101 =============== This section is intended to provide a brief overview into the makeup and composition of the Fender Telecaster. There are three subsections dealing with the hardware, bodies and necks found on the Tele. I. Hardware --------------- a. Bridges The currently available types of bridges on Fender Teles are: 1. vintage model used on U.S. Vintage models and the Albert Collins signature model to name a few. Has 3 adjustable brass barrels and bridge cover. 2. American Standard model which is an "upgrade" of the vintage model; designed to stay in tune better than the vintage model while still retaining the feel of a vintage bridge. Has six separate saddles instead of the barrels. 3. vintage-style model used on the entry level Squires: the "affordable" rendition of the vintage model bridge. Unless noted, the guitars come with chrome hardware. b. Tuning Keys There are two basic types of tuning keys (or machine heads if you like) available: locking and non-locking. 1. Locking Keys: can be found of the original Tele Plus Deluxe. I have them on my Tele and they really make restringing easy. About one turn brings the string up to pitch. 2. Non-Locking Keys: there are two types here - vintage and American Standard. The vintage keys are reproductions of the Kluson tuners found on pre-CBS Teles and feature a split shaft (you put the end of the string into the key's post) while the American Standard has an enclosed shaft. Vintage keys can be found on the Vintage 57/62 and the Vaughn signature models. American Standard keys can be found on (you guessed it) the American Standard. Note: There are also "affordable renditions" of both the vintage and American Standard keys which can be found on the Squire models. c. Pickups There are a wide variety of pickups available stock on a Tele. Here's a basic list of what's available. Note that these are found on the American guitars; the imported models feature different pickups (again "affordable renditions"). 1. Vintage: these pickups are in the U.S. vintage 52 guitars. They are reproductions of the pickups which defined the Fender Tele sound. They feature staggered pickup magnets and cloth wire and are pretty noisy. 2. American Standard: found in the AM STD Tele; feature flat pole-pieces; the middle pickup is reverse wound/reverse polarity (RW/RP) to fight the hum (note that this only applies in the neck+middle and middle+bridge pickup combinations; there is no hum-canceling when any of these pickups are used individually). 3. Texas Specials: these are wound differently than the Vintage 52 in order to produce a sound closer to the original broadcaster. They are also RW/RP for hum-canceling in the combined mode. 4. Fender-Lace Sensors (FLS): these are single coils designed to be quieter (less noise) than say the vintage or AM STD models. There are two different single coil models available for each position; they are differentiated by their colors: Silver (beefier Tele sound, neck), Blue (vintage sound, neck), Blue (vintage sound, bridge), and Red (really hot / high output pickup, bridge). 6. DiMarzio also makes a double-coil humbucker used by some set-neck tele models. 7. Seymour Duncan make a p-90 replica used by the tele jr. d. Switches Basically, the three way switch is used on the tele; the main difference is in the way that the tele is wired. Vintage type Teles will usually have the 3-way switch which gives Neck w/ capacitor, Neck pickup w/ tone control, or Bridge pickup w/ tone control. "Modern" Teles like the American Standard Tele will have the 3-way switch which gives the neck, neck+bridge, and bridge combinations, all w/ the tone control. e. Nuts On mass produced Teles, fender uses non-locking nuts.These nuts are usually made of cyclovac (an artificial compound used to simulate bone) on the American Standard or some form of plastic on lower end models. II. Body Material -------------------- There are several different wood types used by Fender in making Teles. A short list follows below 1. Alder: used in several American guitars like the American Standard. Light weight (body weight about 4 lb.) with a full sound. 2. Ash: the main type used by Fender USA is swamp ash because it provides a light weight (body wt about 5 lb.) guitar with a balance of high and low end. 3. Mahogany: Fender uses the Honduran variety on their set-neck series; provides a moderate to heavy weight (body weight at least 5 lb.) with a warm, full sound and good sustain; used in conjunction with a maple top to add brightness. 4. Poplar: donÕt know too much about this wood. It is probably available in larger quantities than Alder so Fender is using it in some guitars. 5. Basswood: several Japanese reissue models use Basswood. Produces a light (body wt less than 4 lb.) guitar though some people find the sound to be too "dark". Basswood is a very soft wood and cannot handle a lot of abuse (though who among us would abuse our guitars?). III. Neck Material --------------------- For Bolt-On Neck Teles, Fender uses Maple for the Neck. The fingerboard material varies between: 1. maple: all maple neck; gives a clear "bright" sound. 2. rosewood: maple neck with rosewood veneer; gives a "warmer" sound compared to the all maple neck. On some higher ticket Teles, Fender uses Pao Ferro which is a more exotic species of rosewood. 3. ebony: maple neck with ebony veneer; gives a "bright" sound and is a very "fast" neck (some people find it "slick" feeling). With the Set-Neck (glued-in neck) Teles, Fender uses 1. mahogany/ebony neck with the Tele CA setup (see below). 2. mahogany/pao ferro neck with the basic set-neck tele. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Stratocasters ----------------------- U.S. Vintage Stratocasters are intended to be recreations of the models which made the Strat and Fender famous. These guitars are not exact copies of a Ō57 or Ō62 Strat; they give you the essence of an original Ō57 or Ō62 without the high price tag that an original would command. Ō57 Stratocaster [Maple fingerboard] single layer white pickguard Ō62 Stratocaster [Rosewood fingerboard] white/black/white pickguard Both models: Alder Body, Nitrocellulose lacquer finish; "medium" neck with a more curved 7.25" radius (good for chording), 21 vintage (small) frets, ; pickups have lacquer-coated windings; 3-position pickup switch (a 5-way switch is included); nickel plated hardware, vintage vibrato bridge, tuners and headstock logo. Comments: Jeff Templon: "I have played a '62 reissue and found it to be really nice". nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu: "the necks are actually quite different from each other". The American Standard is intended to be the modern version of the vintage series Strat. They feature redesigned and upgraded hardware. They are available in both right-handed and left-handed models (left handed models do not have as many finish options available as the right handed models). American Standard Stratocaster [Rosewood fingerboard] American Standard Stratocaster [Maple fingerboard] Contoured Alder body in a variety of colors,American Standard Pickups, Vibrato Bridge and Tuning Keys, satin finish lightly tinted neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius (good for bending), vintage (spaghetti) logo, Master Volume, Neck Pickup Tone Control, Middle & Bridge pickup TBX tone control, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized), Serial Number on the back of the headstock. Comments: The previous care takers both have Am Std and liked them. I have one of these and like it a lot [-dt]. I have one too, and ditto [-jt]. The AM STD is frequently sighted as one of the "best buys" in a variety of publications. The U.S. Lone Star Strat is basically an American Standard with upgraded "Texas"-style electronics. The Neck and Middle pickups are texas special strats, while the bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker. The only other notable difference is that the Lone Star Strat does not have a TBX tone control whereas the American Standard does. The Strat Plus series is intended to be the next step up from the American Standard. They feature upgraded hardware but use the same necks and bodies as the American Standard. The Strat Plus listed below is a right handed guitar. Strat Plus [maple fingerboard] Strat Plus [rosewood fingerboard] Contoured Alder body in a variety of colors. 3 Gold Fender-Lace pickups (for a more vintage Strat sound), LSR nut, locking tuners, Hipshot Tremsetter, American Standard Vibrato Bridge, satin finish neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius (good for bending), Master Volume, Neck Pickup Tone Control, Middle & Bridge pickup TBX tone control, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium -jumbo sized). The Strat Plus Deluxe has upgraded hardware and transparent finishes. Strat Plus Deluxe [maple fingerboard] Strat Plus Deluxe [rosewood fingerboard] Contoured Alder body with ash veneer on top and back in a variety of translucent finishes. Neck pickup is a Blue FLS, Middle is a Silver FLS , Bridge is a Red FLS, LSR nut, locking tuners, Fender-Floyd Rose Vibrato Bridge, satin finish neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius (good for bending), Master Volume, Neck Pickup Tone Control, Middle & Bridge pickup TBX tone control, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized). Comments: I have one of the deluxe Strat + models, made in 1993 before they added the Fender-Floyd rose bridge. It stays in tune well though it canÕt achieve the same "spaghetti strings" state that an original Floyd can. The trem setter works great when setup properly; IÕve found that it holds the bridge in place even with a broken string using 12Õs and only two springs. The Blue FLS is a bit too dark in the neck position but the Silver & Red FLS sound great. The Strat Ultra is intended to be the ultimate Strat Plus. U.S. Strat Ultra [Ebony Fretboard] Contoured Alder body with maple veneer on top and back in a variety of translucent finishes. Neck pickup is a Blue FLS, Middle is a Gold FLS , Bridge is a "Dually" (double) Red FLS with special toggle switch to control operation, special 5-way switch, LSR nut, locking tuners, Fender-Floyd Rose Vibrato Bridge, satin finish neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius (good for bending), Master Volume, Neck Pickup Tone Control, Middle & Bridge pickup TBX tone control, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized). Comments: IÕve had one of the earlier model ultras with the old Wilkinson nut-->the new LSR are (imho) much better; the maple tops Fender is currently using are really not that attractive and in some cases you wonder if they actually used a maple top but the ebony fretboard feels nice. The Floyd Rose Classic series combines a Floyd Rose vibrato system with an American Standard guitar. Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster [maple fingerboard] Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster [rosewood fingerboard] Contoured Alder body in a variety of colors,American Standard Pickups in the neck and middle positions, DiMarzio Pro PAF in the bridge position, Floyd Rose Original vibrato bridge and locking nut, vintage tuning keys, satin finish lightly tinted neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius (good for bending), vintage (spaghetti) logo, Master Volume, Neck Pickup Tone Control, Middle & Bridge pickup TBX tone control, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized). Comments: Changing strings is an adventure; best to set the bridge flat against the body so you donÕt have to bother tuning a floating Floyd. Floyds are great fun for massive whammy bar usage; they stay in tune incredibly well. Signature Series Strats are meant to be "just like" the guitar the artist plays. All the Strats in this series feature Alder bodies (unless noted) with bolt-on maple necks. Distinguishing characteristics are listed by model. Eric Clapton Strat: Active electronics (output booster), 3 gold FLS, special neck shape, 9.5" radius maple fretboard with 22 frets, blocked vintage vibrato bridge. This is probably the most popular of the signature series; now available in Olympic White. Yngwie Malmsteen Strat: 2 DiMarzio HS-3 pickups (in neck & bridge positions), Am STD single coil in middle, Am STD vibrato bridge, scalloped maple or rosewood fretboard with 21 frets. Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat: left-handed vintage vibrato bridge, gold hardware, 3 Texas Special single coil Strat pickups, 12" radius Pao Ferro fretboard with 21 jumbo frets. Jeff Beck Strat: 4 gold FLS (bridge has a dual model with a mini-switch to control single/double mode), large neck with 22 frets on a Pao Ferro fretboard, LSR nut and locking tuners, deluxe Am STD vibrato bridge. Robert Cray Strat: non-vibrato bridge, 3 vintage Strat pickups, 21 frets on a rosewood fretboard. Richie Sambora Strat: active electronics, 2 Texas Special single coils and 1 DiMarzio Pro PAF bridge humbucker, star inlays, 12" radius maple neck with 22 frets, Floyd Rose Original vibrato. Buddy Guy Strat: swamp ash body, active electronics(same circuit as the one in the Clapton model; controled with an on/off mini-toggle switch), 3 gold FLS, 22 fret maple neck, vintage vibrato bridge. Dick Dale Strat: this is a right handed model even though DD is a lefty; left handed model is also available, 3 vintage Strat pickups, reverse headstock, vintage vibrato bridge, Bonnie Raitt Strat: swamp ash body, smaller neck size, 22 frets on a rosewood fretboard, has the large headstock reminiscent of CBS-era Strats. Custom Shop Strats -------------------------- These guitars are built in the Fender custom shop and are made to order as opposed to mass production technique of the American Standard. There are three series: set-neck, contemporary and the classic. Set-Neck Strats feature a glued-in neck as opposed to a bolt-on neck. Ash body with flamed maple top, glued-in maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Set Neck Stratocaster: features a dluxe strat trem bridge (with pop out trem arm), two texas special single coils (neck and mid), and a Seymour Duncan JB humbucker in the bridge. Contemporary Series: Carved Top Strat [maple or rosewood fretboard] Contoured swamp Ash body with a highly figured carved maple top. Texas Special Pickups in the neck and middle positions, Seymour Duncan "JB" humbucker in the bridge position, Fender-Floyd Rose vibrato bridge, LSR nut and locking keys, lightly figured maple neck, Master Volume, master TBX tone control, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized). Contemporary Strat [maple or rosewood fretboard] Smaller Contoured Alder body in a variety of colors (including Shoreline Gold!!!), Texas Special Pickups in the neck and middle positions, Seymour Duncan "JB" humbucker in the bridge position, available with either Deluxe Strat bridge or Fender-Floyd Rose vibrato bridge, LSR nut and locking keys, lightly figured oval shaped maple neck, Master Volume, master TBX tone control, pearloid pickguard and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized). Contemporary Strat FMT [maple or rosewood fretboard] Smaller Contoured Alder body with a Flamed Maple Top in a variety of colors, Texas Special Pickups in the neck and middle positions, Seymour Duncan "JB" humbucker in the bridge position, Deluxe Strat vibrato bridge, LSR nut and locking keys, lightly figured oval shaped maple neck, Master Volume, Neck Pickup Tone Control, Middle & Bridge pickup TBX tone control, pearloid pickguard, and 22 American Standard Frets (medium - jumbo sized). Classic Series: These are custom shop produced Strats. The vintage models (54 & 60) are intended to be reproductions of that yearÕs model. Ō54 Strat: Ash body with a lightly figured, soft-V shaped maple neck, 9.5" neck radius, 21 vintage (small) frets, volume & 2 tone controls, 3 custom shop 50's vintage single coil pickups; gold hardware available. Ō54 Strat FMT: Ash body with a flamed maple top, lightly figured, soft-V shaped maple neck, 9.5" neck radius, 21 vintage (small) frets, volume & 2 tone controls, 3 custom shop 50's vintage single coil pickups, gold hardware available. '58 Strat: essentially same as 54 model except has an alder body; has Custom Color options; gold hardware available. Ō60 Strat: Alder body with a lightly figured, C shaped maple neck with rosewood fretboard, painted headstock, tortoise shell pickguard, 9.5" neck radius, 21 vintage (small) frets, volume & 2 tone controls, 3 Texas Special single coil pickups, gold hardware available. Ō60 Strat FMT: Alder body with a flamed maple top, a lightly figured, C shaped maple neck with rosewood fretboard, painted headstock, tortoise shell pickguard, 9.5" neck radius, 21 vintage (small) frets, volume & 2 tone controls, 3 Texas Special single coil pickups, gold hardware available. American Classic: this is an American Standard Strat made in the custom shop. The main component differences between this guitar and the American Standard are 3 Texas Special pickups, stainless steel bridge saddles, and different finishes. Ō57 Stratocaster Left-Handed: pretty much the same as the right-handed models except for 3 Texas Special pickups and 9.5" neck radius. Ō62 Stratocaster Left-Handed: pretty much the same as the right-handed models except for 3 Texas Special pickups and 9.5" neck radius. *******************************End of USA made Strats*************************************** *******************************Foreign Made Strats******************************************* Limited Editions: Small Production runs of certain signature models. Richie Sambora: has a black paisley finish, pickups are RS single coils in the neck and middle with DiMarzio HB in the bridge position, otherwise appears to be the same as the U.S. made signature model. Ventures: Swamp Ash midnite black transparent finished body with matching headstock and gold ventures logo, bolt on maple neck with 7.25 inch radius rosewood fingerboard, Jazzmaster style block inlays, 22 frets, vintage stlye tuners and vibrato bridge, 3 gold Fender-Lace sensor pickups, volume, master TBX, and midrange boost (Clapton circuit). Reissue Stratocasters: The Japanese Reissue Stratocasters are intended to be "good deal" reproductions of old-model Stratocasters. They have Basswood bodies and Maple necks with 7.25" radius. Volume and 2 Tone controls (neck & middle pickups) and 3 single coil pickups. Reissue 50's Stratocaster: V-shaped maple neck, single-layer white pickguard, skunk stripe on back of neck and headstock plug. Also available in a left-handed model. Reissue 60's Stratocaster: u-shaped neck with rosewood-slab fretboard, and triple-layer pickguard (white/black/white). Also available in a left-handed model. '68 Stratocaster: large CBS-era headstock, transition (macaroni) logo, u-shaped neck, triple layer pickguard (w/b/w). '72 Stratocaster: large CBS-era headstock, CBS-era logo, three-bolt neck, bullet truss rod, u-shaped neck, triple layer pickguard (w/b/w). Paisley finished Stratocaster: same as Ō72 except has the "wall paper" finish (paisley design wallpaper is applied to the body and sealed w/ clear coats). Contemporary Series: Strat Special: this is a cross between an American Standard and a vintage model Strat. The neck has an oval shape, 21 Am Std frets, 9.5" radius. The body is Poplar with an Ash veneer. 2 single coils pickups and a bridge humbucker (with coil splitter), volume and two tone controls (neck & middle pickups). Black hardware and a vintage bridge. Standard Series: poplar body "standard" versions of the Strat; bolt-on 21 fret, 9.5" radius maple neck w/ shallow U shape, 3 single coil pickups, 5 way switch, volume & 2 tone controls, vintage vibrato bridge. Standard Stratocaster [Rosewood fingerboard] Standard Stratocaster [Maple fingerboard] Standard Stratocaster [Left handed w/ Rosewood fretboard only] Comments: These are the ones you typically see on sale. I have heard that the Standards are no longer made at all in Japan [-jt]. The Mexican Standards that I have played seem to be very nice guitars, especially for the money [-jt]. I have had professional player friends tell me the same thing. Squier series Stratocasters ------------------------------- Fender Squire Series: poplar body "affordable" versions of the Strat; bolt-on 21 fret, 9.5" radius maple neck, 3 single coil pickups, 5 way switch, volume & 2 tone controls, vintage-style vibrato bridge. Fender Squire Stratocaster [Rosewood fingerboard] Fender Squire Stratocaster [Maple fingerboard] Fender Squire Stratocaster [Left handed w/ Rosewood fretboard only] Squire & Squire II series:econoline guitars; bolt-on maple neck with 10" radius rosewood fretboard; 3 single coil pickups, 5 way switch, volume & 2 tone controls, vintage-style vibrato bridge. Squier Standard Stratocaster [21 fret] Squire Bullet SRS Stratocaster [22 fret] Very inexpensive Korean instruments made with cheap plywood bodies and cheap hardware. There are some people (a "cult following"?) who prefer these guitars to the Fender models, once the pickups have been replaced. [-dt, jt] The Squier name comes from a manufacturer of strings that CBS bought in the late 60's. Fender uses it for their cheap instruments, so as to cash in on the low end of the market, but keeping the business somewhat separate from their main market. *********************************END Foreign Made Strats************************************* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Telecasters ----------------------- U.S. Vintage Telecasters are intended to be recreations of the models which made the Strat and Fender famous. These guitars are not exact copies of a 52 Tele; they give you the essence of an original without the high price tag. 52 Telecaster [Maple fingerboard] Ash Body, Butterscotch Blonde Nitrocellulose lacquer finish; maple neck with a more curved 7.25" radius (good for chording), 21 vintage (small) frets, pickups controlled by 3-position pickup switch (bridge pu / neck pu / neck pu with tone capacitor), vintage bridge with 3 brass barrel saddles, nickelplated hardware, single layer black bakelite pickguard. The American Standard is intended to be the modern version of the Tele. They feature redesigned and upgraded hardware. They are available in both right left-handed models (left handed models do not have as many finish options). American Standard Telecaster [Rosewood fingerboard] American Standard Telecaster [Maple fingerboard] American Standard Telecaster [Maple fingerboard - Left Handed] Contoured Alder body in a variety of colors, American Standard Pickups, Bridge and Tuning Keys, satin finish lightly tinted neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius (good for bending), vintage (spaghetti) logo, Master Volume, Master TBX Tone Control. Options: Left Handed model available; the Parsons-White B Bender The Tele Plus series is intended to be the next step up from the American Standard. The line has been recently modified to feature a contoured tele body (which is similar to the tele delux made by Fender in the 70s). they feature the same necks, bodies and hardware as the American Standard. The Tele Plus listed below is a right handed guitar. Tele Plus [maple fingerboard] Tele Plus [rosewood fingerboard] Contoured Alder body with Ash veneer & a bound top, maple neck with a flatter 9.5 inch radius, 3 modified Gold Fender-Lace Sensors, shell pickguard (white or brown depending on finish), master volume and master TBX tone controls. Signature Series Teles are meant to be "just like" the guitar the artist plays. All the Teles in this series feature swamp Ash bodies (unless noted) with bolt-on maple necks (9.5 inch radius). Distinguishing characteristics are listed by model. James Burton: poplar body, oval shape maple neck with 21 vintage frets, 3 FLS (blue-neck,silver-mid, red-bridge) with special 5-way switch, gold or black hardware (depending on finish), American Standard bridge. Danny Gatton: 22 vintage frets, 2 Barden custom single coil pickups with different values in the vol & tone pots, zirconian side dot markers, modified vintage bridge. Albert Collins: double bound ash body, 21 frets on gloss finish special v shaped maple neck, paf-style neck hb, tele bridge sc, vintage bridge with 6 saddles and bridge cover. Jerry Donahue: light ash body with book-matched birdseye maple top, 21 vintage frets on v-shaped birdseye maple neck, Seymour Duncan custom strat sc in neck and tele in bridge position with special 5-way switch, vintage tele bridge, gold hardware. Clarence White: 21 vintage frets on lightly figured maple neck, Texas Special Tele bridge pickup, custom vintage strat neck pickup, special 5 way switch, vintage tele bridge, Scruggs tuners on both E strings, Parsons-White B-Bender. Waylon Jennings Tribute Model: double bound Ash body with leather inlay on the top, American Standard hardware with Scruggs tuner on the low E, Texas Special Tele pickups, bolt on 12 inch radius maple neck. NB: the Collins, Donahue, Gatton, Jennings and White models are available by special order from the custom shop only. Custom Shop Teles ------------------- These guitars are built in the Fender custom shop and are made to order as opposed to mass production technique of the American Standard. There are three series: relic, set-neck and the custom classic. Relics are worn vintage models. The Tele Relic is based on the "No-Caster" (has only the Fender logo on the headstock). Features an Ash slab body, black pickguard, custom shop 50s tele pickups, bolt-on maple neck with 9.5 inch radius and 21 vintage frets. Set-Neck Teles feature a glued-in neck as opposed to a bolt-on neck. Mahogany body, glued-in mahogany neck with 22 jumbo frets and 12 inch radius. 2 Seymour Duncan Soap Bar (p-90 clone) pickups, 3 way switch. American Standard tuning keys, black pickguard and chrome control plate. Les Paul Junior meets Telecaster. Custom Classics Sparkle Tele: poplar body with sparkle finish, lightly figured c-shaped maple neck with 9.5 inch radius and 21 frets, Texas Special Tele pickups with 3-way switch (bridge/neck/neck with capacitor), vintage bridge and tuners. 52 Tele (Left-Handed): Texas Special Tele pickups, lightly figured soft v-shape maple neck with 9.5 inch radius. Tele XII: 12-string version of the tele, 2 piece swamp ash body, lightly figured C-shape maple neck with 21 vintage frets and 9.5 inch radius, Texas Special tele pickups, vintage style 12-string bridge. American Classic Tele: Custom Shop version of the American Standard, two Texas Special strat pickups (neck/mid) and Texas Special Tele bridge pickup, maple or rosewood fretboard. see American Standard for other details. Bajo Sexto: baritone guitar with ash body, C-shaped maple neck with 9.5 inch radius, 30.2 inch scale, 24 vintage frets, Texas Special Tele pickups, vintage setup 3-way switch, vintage tuners and bridge. 50s Tele: appears to be a 52 model with a moderen 3 way switch, and different finish options; gold hardware is also available. 60s Tele Custom: Alder body w/ bound top, Texas Special Tele pickups, modern 3 way switch, Custom Color options and gold hardware available. ***************************End of American Teles************************************ ******************************Foreign Made Teles************************************ Reissue Series: intended to have the essence of the classic tele. All models have basswood bodies with bolt-on maple necks (7.25 inch radius), 2 single coil pickups, 21 frets, and vintage bridge and tuners. All exceptions noted. 50s tele: more affordable version of the American 52 vintage tele, also available with foto-flame finish (alder body w/ foto-flamed basswood cap) 62 custom: single bound basswood body 69 thinline: mahogany semi-hollow body with F-hole, pearloid pickguard 72 thinline: ash semi-hollow body with F-hole, 2 humbuckers, pearloid pickguard, non-trem Strat bridge with vintage-style saddles, bullet truss rod. paisley tele: "wallpaper" paisley finish. rosewood tele: rosewood body and rosewood neck Signature Standard Series: more affordable versions of the U.S. signature models James Burton standard: features Texas Special Tele pickups instead of Fender-Lace Sensors, available in candy apple red instead of Paisley finish. J.D. (Jerry Donahue): bound basswood body, maple neck with 21 vintage frets and 7.25 inch radius, custom strat neck pickup and tele bridge pickup with special 5-way switch, vintage style bridge with 3 brass saddles. Nokie Edwards: limited edition, multiple laminated body w/ flame maple top, 3 piece bolt on maple neck and a 17 inch radius ebony fingerboard, tilt back headstock, flame maple headstock cap, 2 Seymour Duncan HB pickups (appear to be the silverbird model), coil splits in the push-pull pots, vintage style tuners w/ Scruggs tuner on the low E, non-trem Strat bridge, gold hardware. The Tele Special is a modernized vintage tele. Poplar body, oval shaped maple neck with 21 American Standard frets and 9.5 inch radius, neck humbucker and reverse-wound bridge single coil with special 5-way switch, vol and TBX tone control, vintage bridge. 90s Tele Deluxe: modernized version of the CBS-era Tele Deluxe. Tele body (alder with foto-flamed basswood cap) with Strat contours, foto-flamed maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 21 frets, 9.5 inch radius, 2 vintage strat style sc in neck and mid positions, vintage tele-style bridge pu, 5-way switch, master volume and master tone, modern tele bridge with 6 saddles, pearloid pickguard. This is basically the foreign version of the Tele Plus. 90s Tele Custom: features a double bound basswood body w/ bolt-on maple neck, vintage style tele pickups, gold hardware, 21 fret rosewood fingerboard, and pearl pickguard. Standard Series: more affordable version of the American Standard; poplar body, maple neck with 21 frets and 9.5 inch radius, 2 single coil pickups with 3-way switch, 6 individual saddles on a top-loading bridge. Squire Series: economy models; poplar body, maple neck with 21 frets and 9.5 inch radius, 2 single coil pu with 3-way switch and master vol & master tone, vintage style top loading bridge. *************************************END Foreign Made Teles************************* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Some Commonly-Asked Questions About Stratocasters: -------------------------------------------------- Q: How can I tell if they are "American" Stratocasters? A: There are several locations to check. Look for the guitarÕs serial number. The Strat Plus used to have its serial number on the headstock. Under the "Stratocaster" logo, it says "Made in America". It would appear that starting in 1995 all American Strats like the American Standard, Floyd Rose Classic have the serial number on the back of the headstock and "made in America" appears on the back of the headstock. On the current Japanese 50Õs and 60Õs reissue Strats, the serial number appears on the back on the neck near the body. There is also a "made in Japan" notice near the serial number. In some cases, the serial number can reveal the country of origin. During the CBS regime, Strats made from the mid-70Õs on had a serial number starting with S# where S denotes the "Seventies" decade and # denotes the year so S8 would have been made in 1978 (roughly). During the 80Õs, the serial numbers switched over to E#. However, in 1983 when CBS sold Fender to its current ownership, there was a period when there were no American made Fenders. Fender was retooling its factory during this period and was selling off old stock and Japanese made guitars. So there are Strats with serial numbers beginning with E# that were made in Japan (and it says so on the headstock). However, now American made Strats like the American Standard and Strat Plus will have E# or N# (for "Nineties") and are made in America. Vintage Series (57 & 62) will have a serial number starting with V and signature series will have serial numbers starting with the initials of the artist. Q: What is the difference between a rosewood neck and a maple neck? A: Actually, both versions have a maple neck; the rosewood fretboard is added on top of the maple piece. There are two important differences: first the maple is usually smoother and harder due to the fact that there's a finish over it while the rosewood fingerboard is bare, so there is a different feel when you play the guitar. Secondly, the woods have different physical properties, so the way they carry the vibrations is different, which gives the guitar a different sound. Most people say the maple-neck models sound "brighter" and the rosewood-models "warmer". Q: Why the difference in the neck radii? A: Leo originally designed the curved neck to be easier to chord, while more recently a less radical curve is in demand to allow more extreme string bending without "fretting out". The original and reissue models have a 7.5-inch radius while the American Standard has a 9.5-inch radius. Q: What's a TBX tone control? A: Fender claims that the TBX tone control is an advanced design tone control that can not only roll off the highs, but boost them as well. Specifically between full counter clockwise and the center dˇtente it acts like a normal tone control and between the center detent and full clockwise it boosts the highs. Actually at full clockwise it's effectively out of the circuit, as you turn it toward center it shunts the pickup with an 82K ohm resistor, and from center down to full counterclockwise it shunts the pickup with a capacitor like a standard tone control. So it doesn't boost the highs at all. I don't like the TBX myself; being a double ganged control it's more difficult to spin with your pinkie, and the interesting part of the adjustment range is all cramped between 2 and 3 or so. [-dt] Q: What's the out-of-phase position? A: A misnomer, the pickups aren't really out of phase. The original Stratocaster had a 3-position pickup switch that would choose only one pickup on at a time and folks eventually discovered that they could get two additional neat sounds by rocking the switch in between positions 1 and 2 and between positions 2 and 3. (This is because Leo correctly chose a make-before-break switch.) Soon 5-position switches were readily available in the parts market, and soon after that Stratocaster came equipped with 5-position switches as standard equipment. These two addition positions soon became known as out-of-phase positions because the nasal sound of two pickups on in phase and physically located a couple inches from each other is superficially similar to the sound of the neck and bridge pickups on a two pickup instrument on out-of-phase. And the name has stuck. [-dt] Q: What's the deal with the middle pickup? A: The middle pickup on current model Stratocasters (with standard pickups) has its magnets mounted opposite to the other two (north pole up vs. south pole up), inverting the polarity of the signal, and is wired with its electrical connections swapped, inverting the polarity back again. Doesn't sound too useful at first, but when the middle pickup is on at the same time one of the other pickups is on (positions two and four on the selector switch), hum and noise from external sources will cancel. This is the hum bucking principle. Most guitars with two single coil pickups also do this (i.e.., the Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazz Bass, etc.). [-dt] Q: What's a Lace Sensor Pickup? A: A Fender Lace Sensor pickup is a standard single coil pickup that, because of its design, is less sensitive to hum and noise than typical single coil pickups. It sounds similar, but not exactly like, standard Fender single coil pickups. They're available in four models (Gold, Silver, Blue, Red) with different tonality. The Lace Sensors only come in one magnetic polarity, so the middle pickup hack mentioned above doesn't apply. [-dt] Q: What's the deal with the tone controls? A: The original Stratocaster and current vintage reissue model have the first tone control connected to the neck pickup (and thus in effect only when the neck pickup is selected), the second tone control connected to the middle pickup (and in effect only when the middle pickup is selected), and the bridge pickup runs without a tone control. Modern Stratocasters have the second tone control in effect for both the middle and bridge pickups. [-dt] Q: Does the wood used in the guitar matter? Which wood is used? A: [courtesy Christian Sebeke ] Woods that have been used to make Stratocasters include ash, alder, poplar, and basswood. The alder-bodied guitars are the "normal" Stratocasters, ash having been used in some early models and poplar or basswood in some of the Japanese/Mexican/Korean versions. [note - any more information from wood experts is welcome] In the opinion of some luthiers, poplar is close to basswood. The basic sound of a guitar made from Alder is warm with a good amount of presence without being too extreme in the top. The Poplar is not as popular as the name might suggest. The sound is not characteristic, but a bit more bright than basswood. Poplar is quite soft. Q: What is the difference between changing string gauges, tightening the trem screws (accessible on a Strat from behind the guitar), or adding more springs (also accessible from behind) in trying to set up your Strat's tremolo system? A: I'll not write up the physics details, but ... in this situation, the difference between adjusting the number of springs vs. adjusting the screws is that the fewer springs you have, the "spongier" your trem action will be. That is, it will take less force for you to change the pitch of the strings by a given amount. This goes for both ways, either raising or lowering the pitch! It is easy to see why this works with lowering the pitch (then you pull against the spring), but I was surprised about getting the same answer when raising the pitch. A related effect is that if you choose the few-spring option, then your guitar will be more apt to go out of tune when you bend notes. I don't mean "lose tune" so that you must retune, I mean that if you play one open note and bend another at the same time, the open note will go out of tune because you've moved the bridge by increasing string tension with your bend. The effect of the string gauge is to increase the string tension; thus if you have your trem setup and you put on heavier strings, you'll either have to tighten the trem screws or add more springs to keep your same trem setup position. A final note: the number of springs may affect your guitar's tone! You are changing the way that the string vibrations are transmitted to the wood of the body when you add or remove springs. A professional player told me [jt] once that's why he doesn't use a non-tremolo Strat, even though he hardly ever touches the tremolo bar ... "you've got this hollowed-out area in the wood with all this metal in it ... that's why a Stratocaster sounds like it does." After that, you should also check the bridge intonation (the distance between the nut, and the string saddle). Q: How do I tell when my possibly valuable Stratocaster was made? A: The below part of the FAQ has been contributed by Christian Sebeke and Pasi Korhonen, and answers ALOT of these questions. Version 2.3.2 , 27.01.93, 9.00 FAQ: Please date my Strat. Introduction Stratocasters were built since 1953 and it is quite difficult to exactly recover the birthday of your guitar. The manufacturing dates of the parts for the Stratocaster and the final assembly may differ significantly. Necks are usually stamped with their manufacturing date on the end that fits into the body and faces towards the pickups. Bodies were also stamped, but the digits are usually hidden under the pickguard and covered with paint. For a first idea we would call it convenient to hang on to the serial numbering scheme to determine the manufacturing year of a Strat although it is easy to exchange neck plates. You will have to disassemble the guitar to find the definitive (neck) age. If you want to know a bit more, there is a book that deals with nearly all details on Strats, it's called "The Fender Stratocaster" by A.R. Duchossoir (see reference above.) One could also recommend Tony Bacon and Paul Days book: "The Fender Book", A complete History of Fender Electric Guitars, Balafon, London 1992 (We don't have it yet, so no comment). If you really want to dig vintage guitars of any kind, try George Gruhn and Walter Carter: "Gruhn's guide to Vintage Guitars", GPI Books, SF, 1991. Not so many pictures, but more numbering information. Also "American Guitars" by Tom Wheeler is a good book for the guitar lover. He has several sections and tons of pictures on all American guitar manufacturers along with some information on dating Fenders and Gibsons. ISBN 0-06-273154-8 paperback, revised and updated edition, Harper Perennial, NY 1992 The authors [cs,pk] think that it is a pity that old Strats are getting sold to people who don't use them to enrich the world of music, but to enrich themselves. There may be talents that would have grown to a better playing using an old but well crafted reasonably priced guitar. So be aware of your instrument's value and think twice before giving it away to someone who does not know how to play it. We don't include prices here, but if you buy or sell a guitar be aware of the following facts: Every modification lowers the price, also refinishing. Special models and original custom colors may raise it significantly. Note ALWAYS USE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!!! THERE MAY BE INCONSISTENCIES. IF YOU DATED YOUR STRAT PLEASE SEND A NOTE TO THE AUTHORS ALONG WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION ON YOUR GUITAR AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE SUBJECTS MENTIONED BELOW. WE WILL COLLECT THEM AND MERGE THEM TO THE COMING VERSIONS OF THE FAQ. pkor@phoenix.oulu.fi cs@frodo.lfi.uni-hannover.de Questionnaire (We would appreciate at least the first three items): * Serial-Number * Neck-Date * Patent Number(s) like 61,62,...,76 Color (refinished?) Neck (rosewood/maple) Micro-Tilt (y/n) Staggered PU's (y/n) Pickguard (alu/plastic/laminated) Pickguard Color Headstock/Logo Serial Numbers To give you an idea of the age take the following table of serial numbers. It shows the range of numbers and the respective time when they were used. Note that the periods overlap significantly sometimes. Credits should be given to Jim Werner, a collector from Iowa, who collected a neck date/serial number table from more than 800 Fender instruments. His table is reprinted in the Duchossoir. Our table is a compilation of the Werner list and Duchossoir info, which comes from Fender for later (70s) periods. Period Series Comment ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1953-1954 2 or 3 digits maybe prototypes until start in 1954 1953-1956 4 digits through 1111 mainly 1954 1955-1957 4 digits starting with 7 or 8 1954-1957 08999 ... 14514 mainly 1956 1957 15054 ... 22647 1958 28250 ... 30747 1959 30892 ... 43125 1959-1960 44606 ... 48490 1960-1962 55045 ... 71331 mainly 1961 1961-1964 76281 ... 90745 mainly 1962 1961-1963 91954 ... 98691 mainly 1963 1963-1964 L 00186 ... L 33650 few 1962 1964-1965 L 34983 ... L 99809 1965-1966 100 173 ... 124 061 mainly 1965 1964-1969 125 115 ... 195 270 mainly 1966 1966-1969 195 663 ... 215 825 mainly 1967 1966-1968 217 602 ... 240 407 mainly 1968 1966-1972 250 025 ... 293 692 exceptions through late 1970s 1968-1972 303 802 ... 375 967 mainly 1972 1979-1980 25 + 4 digits Anniversary Strat apr 73 - sep 76 4 + 5 digits sep 73 - sep 76 5 + 5 digits aug 74 - aug 76 6 + 5 digits sep 76 - dec 76 7 + 5 digits aug 76 - apr 77 76 + 5 digits on headstock mar 77 - aug 78 S6 + 5 digits on headstock jan 77 - apr 78 S7 + 5 digits on headstock dec 77 - dec 78 S8 + 5 digits on headstock nov 78 - aug 81 S9 + 5 digits on headstock jun 79 - jan 81 E0 + 5 digits on headstock dec 80 - jan 82 E1 + 5 digits on headstock dec 81 - jan 83 E2 + 5 digits on headstock dec 82 - jan 85 E3 + 5 digits on headstock dec 83 - early 88 E4 + 5 digits on headstock Since 88: E or N + 1 digit + 5 digits on headstock the E is for Eighties, the N for Nineties; the second digit gives the year. Thus if your Strat has first two ciphers of the SN as N1, it is a '91. Patent Numbers Another source of information in the range from 1961-1976 are the patent numbers. Those numbers are fixed numbers (i.e. the same number on EVERY Strat made during a certain period) and written on the headstock until 1976, when the serial number moved there from the neck plate. 1961 2 numbers PAT 2,573,254 2,741,146 1962 3rd added in spring 2,960,900 1963 same 3 numbers 1964 4th added mid-'64 with transition logo 3,143,028 1965 5th added mid-'65 2,817,261 1966 after Jan '66 only 3 numbers PAT 2,741,146 3,143,028 DES 169,062 1967 same 3 numbers 1968 after mid-'68 2 numbers PAT 2,741,146 3,143,028 1969 same 2 numbers 1970 about mid-'70 one number 2,741,146 1971 same number 1972 about mid-'72 one number 3,143,028 1976 last time with PAT number, first time with serial # in the headstock Misc. - The 5 - digit serial numbers were preceded by a dash from late 1956 to early 1958 and between late 1957 and late 1958 some neck plates were double stamped, 6 digits outside and 5 digits with dash (different number) on the underside. - First pickguards were anodized aluminum, then white plastic. Laminated pickguards from 1959 on. - Early Strats show a "spaghetti"-logo (thin, quite simple letters). From July '64 it changed to a more modern looking gold "transition" logo and mid '68 until '77 they had the black "CBS"-logo. Then it got the gold outline, and mid-1983 the smaller silver logo appeared. - Three color sunburst was used from mid-'58. - Large F on the plate since CBS-takeover in Jan. '65, until late '76. - Wider headstock generally from December '65. The new small headstock appeared in fall '81. In addition to these, a medium size headstock was used on special models (The Strat, Walnut Strat and Gold Stratocaster) in early 80's. - 3 bolt Micro Tilt adjustment from fall '71 to Anniversary '79, std. Strats till fall '81. - Staggered Pickups appeared in 1954 and vanished in late 1974. Reappeared late '81 along with the smaller headstock, when Dan Smith took over the design front (Smith Strat). Remember to send your dates to the authors. Thanks for using this dating scheme. [end of the Date-A-Strat section!!]