Strat Experts?

[starvingstudent]

so I already have an email in que with Fender, but I thought I would ask the strat experts here first as I am really dying of curiosity.

I recently purchased a Stratocaster from kijiji.ca and I have looked everywhere on the web but could not find any information regarding this particular model.

it is a 50th anniversary US strat. black with a cream colour (off white) pick guard. it has a 50th anniversary neck plate. but the thing is, it is a hardtail version..... i wanted to know if this was a factory option for the 50th anniversary model..... that, and I dont ever remember there being a black and white 50th anniversary model made?

serial number is Z4167229 if that helps. I ran that through the Fender site and it corresponds with a US Strat made in 2004.

maybe someone can shed some light on the issue.

regardless of the out come it is still one of the best playing guitars i have ever played. its got Fender Vintage Noisless pickups in it right now and locking tuners. but its still bugging me... i am really wondering if the guy just put a 50th anniversary neckplate on the guitar and said it was an anniversary edition...

thanks boys! I look forward to some quick replies becuase its eating me insides i want to know now. lol

[washburned]

Specs for American 50th Anniversary Strat:

Commemorates the Stratocaster's 50th Anniversary
Solid ash body
Modern C-shape maple neck with satin polyurethane finish
Maple fingerboard
Chrome hardware
2-point synchronized tremolo with stainless steel saddles
Black dot inlays
22 medium-jumbo frets
Rounded fingerboard edges and beautifully worked frets
3 Custom Shop '54 replica pickups with standard covers
2-tone sunburst finish
Identifying 50th Anniversary logo engraved into neckplate
Vintage tweed 50th Anniversary case with logo embroidered inside
Limited run, only to be made during 2004

[starvingstudent]

yeah i found that too... hence why I am wondering whether or not i bought just a modyfied STD Strat and not an anniversary.

doesnt have the tweed case, i got it in a fender hardshell. like i said it has the vintage noisless pickups, and its a hardtail.

how am i able to tell if the guy just didnt take the neck off an anniversary (for serial number purposes) and stick it on a MIM body and put some good pick ups in it....

[gtrguy]

All the 2004 USA strats got the 50th anniversary neckplate. The Limited versions also had the 50th logo engraved on the pickguard and had a fancy tweed case with it embroidered on the inside of the top. And yes, hardtails have pretty much always been available but are rarely ordered. There was no hardtail version of the Limited guitars for that year.

I've got a 2001 USA hardtail that came stock with 2 Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a pearloid guard... this was post "Big Apple" and I think Fender was just calling them American Double Fat Strats... they later went to American Stratocaster HH when they started using the S1 switch but they were all essentially the same guitar.

So yeah, hardtails are uncommon.

gtrguy

[starvingstudent]

All the 2004 USA strats got the 50th anniversary neckplate. The Limited versions also had the 50th logo engraved on the pickguard and had a fancy tweed case with it embroidered on the inside of the top. And yes, hardtails have pretty much always been available but are rarely ordered. There was no hardtail version of the Limited guitars for that year.

I've got a 2001 USA hardtail that came stock with 2 Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a pearloid guard... this was post "Big Apple" and I think Fender was just calling them American Double Fat Strats... they later went to American Stratocaster HH when they started using the S1 switch but they were all essentially the same guitar.

So yeah, hardtails are uncommon.

gtrguy

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.. i see now. so this isnt an anniversary edtiion because all the 2004 strats got the same neckplate. understood... so then this is just a standard strat. but hardtail. so how rare are hardtails then? ive never seen one...

[al3d]

they go for about 750$ tops. I saw one on kiji last week, but the dude wanted 995$ i think in montreal. WAY to much.

[starvingstudent]

they go for about 750$ tops. I saw one on kiji last week, but the dude wanted 995$ i think in montreal. WAY to much.

thats the one i got.... i didnt pay anything close to 995 thought, we arranged a much better deal. and i paid within a couple dollars of that 750.

the guitar is dead mint, looks like it just came off the wall at Steves or something. and you say $750, but it has upgraded pickups that arnt cheap either.

got am email back from fender.

Model Name: American Stratocaster® Hard Tail

Model Number: 011-7430-(Color #) and 011-7432-(Color #)

Series: American Series

Body: Alder

Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape,

(Satin Polyurethane Finish)

Fingerboard: Rosewood (p/n 011-7430) or Maple (p/n 011-7432), 9.5” Radius (241mm)

No. of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets

Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)

Width @ Nut: 1.6875” (43 mm)

Hardware: Chrome

Machine Heads: Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines

Bridge: American Strat Strings-Through-Body Hard Tail Bridge with Stainless Steel Saddles

Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment

Pickups: 3 American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups

Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:

Position 1. Bridge Pickup

Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup

Position 3. Middle Pickup

Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup

Position 5. Neck Pickup

Controls: Master Volume,

Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),

Tone 2. New Delta ToneTM

(“Delta Tone” system includes high output bridge pickup and special No-Load tone control for Middle and Bridge Pickups)

Colors: (700)* 3-Color Sunburst, *add $50.00,

(705) Olympic White,

(706) Black,

(Polyurethane Finish)

Strings: Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-0250-003

Unique Features: “Parchment” Knobs and Pickup Covers,

Original Headstock Shape,

Original Body Shape with “Original Contour Body” Decal on Headstock,

Rolled Fingerboard Edges,

H/S/H Pickup Routing

Source: U.S.

Accessories: Standard Molded Case

U.S. MSRP: $1,327.99

Specs: Product Prices, Features And Specifications Are Subject To Change Without Notice

INTRODUCED: 6/2000

DISCONTINUED: 1/2007

DISCONTINUED COLORS: (725) Chrome Red, Parchment PG, 1/2007,

(701)** White Blonde, Ash Body, 1/2002,

(715) Hot Rod Red, 1/2002,

COMMENTS: Uses Case P/N 0996101106,

Replaces the American Standard HT Stratocaster 6/2000,

American Series Stratocasters built in 2004 will have a special 50th Anniversary commemorative neck plate.

WRENCH SIZES: Truss Rod/Tilt Adjust Wrench #0023811000 (1/8” Hex),

Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench #0018531000 (.050” Hex)

[al3d]

it's a very cool axe realy..it's a strat with no trem..:)..at the 750$ range if it's mint with new pups...good deal mate.

[Edutainment]

Congrats on the new git. We need gear pics!

[starvingstudent]

Congrats on the new git. We need gear pics!

ill take some next week for you guys. gone all weekend,.