Fender 1956 Musicmaster

"Fender's new 'student' guitars, the Duo-Sonic and Musicmaster, first appeared in 1956. They had smaller, lighter bodies, shorter necks and basic appointments. The Musicmaster was the single-pickup version. Despite their budget status, the student models were still playable instruments: Fender seemed to have cut the right corners" (Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Fender Book, p. 29). Although Fender used the term "three-quarter size" in publicizing the new student models, only the neck and the resulting scale-length were smaller, designed for younger hands that were just starting to play guitar.

This 12-inch three-quarter size "student" guitar weighs just 5.70 lbs. and has a scale length of 22 1/2 inches. Solid ash body, one-piece maple neck (neck date of "XA-4-56") with 21 frets and black dot position markers. "No Name" Kluson closed-back tuners with white plastic buttons. One plain-top Bakelite Musicmaster pickup, angled at neck, with an output of 5.71k. Two controls (one volume, one tone) and jack socket, all on the black anodized aluminum pickguard. Telecaster-style chrome knobs with knurled sides and flat tops. Combined bridge/tailpiece with three adjustable saddles. Some very slight belt buckle wear on the back.

Fender Stratocaster 1986 American Standard

In November 1985 with only 10 people on the manufacturing. Guitars production were limited to only 4 or 5 piece a day. At first the only guitars being made were the reissues of the 1957 and 1962 models. After several months the new Fender company decided to make an upgraded version of the Reissue guitars, a new guitar modeled after the classics of the early 60s with some modern improvements. This led to the new "American Standard" first introduced at the 1987 NAMM show. These first early years 'American Standards" were hand made and quality was second to none. After all, this was the guitar that was to bring Fender back. 

Fender Stratocaster 1986 - Present, Corona Facility

Fender Stratocaster 1986 - Present. The sale of Fender to a group of Fender-CBS employees and investors is accomplished in 1985. The new Fender factory would establish manufacturing facility in Corona, California, strict attention to detail and quality in an effort to push its line of guitars to the top of the market. The early Fender American Vintage Reissues from the newly established Fender facility in Corona display excellent craftsmanship and superb overall quality. Balance between sound and quality craftsmanship are really the issues and for sure the tag-line price.

Fender American Vintage Reissued

Fender American Vintage Reissued. In late 1981 Fender hired Dan Smith to head up marketing and help turn Fender's quality issues and sales.Dan Smith's goal was to restore the confidence of the dealers and guitar players in Fender once again. Dan Smith, with Fender's approval, shut down the Fender plant and spent 2 years or so to training what employees how to build a good quality guitar.

Dan Smith, with the help of John Page, proceeded to work on a reissue of the most popular guitars of Leo Fender's era. They decided to manufacture a 1957 and 1962 Stratocaster along with the 1952 Telecaster. This project was very important and critical to the survival of Fender. These first few years (1982 - 1984) of reissues are some of the finest to ever leave Fender's factory. For the entire story we suggest you read the book, The Fender Stratocaster by A. R. Duchossoir.

1982 was the first year Fender produced the American Vintage Reissue series and the first guitars had some unique idiosyncrasies. They also used plastic wiring and only switched to cloth in the very late '82 to early '83 models. The red bobbin pickups were also used in some of the very early models.

Fender 1973 Stratocaster

Very early Fender 1973 Stratocaster natural and black Finish. First year for the Natural wood style Fender Stratocaster finish. Original part and factory down to the three-way switch.

In 1972, CBS Fender made a deal with a company in Mexico to assemble the electronics (pickguard electronics only) and for a short time the CTS pots (most dated to 1972) that showed up in USA model Stratocasters and Telecasters included the word "MEXICO" stamped on the pot. Naturally, all Fender guitars were made in the USA until the Japanese models of late 1981-82, but if you bought a 1972, 1973 or 1974 model Fender Stratrocaster it was possible to get one with these pickguard electronic assembles from Mexico. They still had CTS company pots and are no different with respect to sound. The only way to tell is from the very small "MEXICO" stamped on the pot (most likely a legal requirement to indicate origin of assembly).

Fender 1964 Stratocaster

Early Fender 1964 Stratocaster models (1954 to 1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS Broadcaster Company bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible.
The Originality and condition are the most important issues of a vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar, and Fender Stratocaster naturally is very easy to modified cause of the "bolt action" system that Leo Fender invented.

Fender Stratocaster 1964 and 1965 brought a number of changes. By mid-1964, the "Fender" logo changed from the thin "spaghetti" logo to a more bold "transition" logo. The finishing procedure also changed, by the fall of 1964, "clay" fingerboard dots where changed to Pearloid (a plastic looks pearl), and late 1964 or early 1965 Fender brought a change in pickguard material from the mint-green celluloid to white ABS plastic and other minor changes, all to make the production of the Fender Stratocaster quicker and faster. By December 1965 Fender also changed from the "L-series" serial number format on the neck plate to a "F-series". Late 1965 possibly as late December, transition to large headstock. This change, and the enlargement of the Strat's peghead signify the end of the "pre-CBS" Fender Stratocaster (since large peghead 1966 Fender Stratocasters are not considered pre-CBS models).