Late 80's Fender American Standard Strat

Rented Mule

Apologies in advance .....this turned out to be a long one.

So here is a little story that has peaked my interest this week.

I bought a Fender American Standard Strat back in late 87/early 88 from a Guitar Center (very high volume shop) outside of Chicago. I never really spent enough time trying to learn how to play it properly, but that is a story for another day ....

I recently moved the family back to Chicago, and decided that it was time to get out my old strat and take some lessons. I dug up the strat which was still stored in the case. I did a little research of the shops in the area that would do setups/repairs/lessons etc and came across a very reputable dealer that was close to the house. I called the shop and told them I wanted to get this old beauty set-up and talk to someone about lessons.

I landed in on Tuesday evening to meet the gentleman running the shop. I introduced myself and he asked to see the guitar. I brought out my strat (blonde with a rosewood fingerboard). He immediately took a liking to the guitar. He commented on 'how much life was left in the frets' and really looked like someone that knew/loved guitars.

He looked looked down the neck and ran his fingers over all of the fretsm and then sat puzzled for a moment as he looked up at the serial number on the headstock.

'What year did you say this was?' he asked. I told him that this was an American Standard from late 87/early 88.

He looked at the body and agreed that it was an American Standard body, but then informed me that the neck was from a 1984. He then showed me a small gap at where the neck attached to the body to show that there was a slight difference.

We were both intrigued.

I told him the my story and how I wanted it set-up and interested in taking lessons. (They actually have over 800 people taking lessons in two locations). He said that the guitar would be ready the next day and that we would do a little research and we would talk the next day.

He called my mobile the next day (Wednesday) and we spoke for about 10 minutes on the phone. He said that indeed the neck was off of a 1984. He also explained (that I am sure many of you know) that there is a stamp where the neck and body meet that has a date the guitar was assembled but it couldn't be seen without removing the neck.

He mentioned that there was a slight bow in the neck where it meets the body that might cause some buzzing depending on how hard I picked, that would probably have to be taken care down the road. Well the idea of trying to dig up a little more information on the guitar was almost two much to bare. I told him that I would be in later in the day and that we would talk then.

Landed in after work and had a pleasant talk with him and another guitar tech. I agreed to have the work done (it will cost around $100 US which I found to be reasonable). I should have the guitar back this coming Monday.

So here is why I am intrigued. Fender went through a few different phases in the mid to late 80s. Management had change, then ownership changed as well as the locations changed (in California where the guitars were built)

If the neck is from a 1984 as they said, then it was(most likely) built at the Fullerton factory which closed at the end of that year.

The body and hardware are all pointing to being what they are supposed to be, an 87/88 American Standard. These would have been made at the Corona factory.

So now my quandary. Was the neck floating around for a few years ? Between two factories ? Was the neck damaged at some point and the neck replaced before it was sold ?

Neither one of the above really worry me or bother me, it is more out of curiosity.

I am really interested in seeing what the stamp at the neck joint is going to reveal when I get it back next week.

Parsley

could've been a previous owner changed the neck just cos they prefered the feel of it.

Rented Mule

Parsley wrote: »

could've been a previous owner changed the neck just cos they prefered the feel of it.

That's the curious part of this. I purchased it new. The American Standard had just recently been released by Fender in 87/88.

jimmy99

Rented Mule wrote: »

That's the curious part of this. I purchased it new. The American Standard had just recently been released by Fender in 87/88.

Nearly all fender strats from 1988 have an e4 serial number which was ment to be used on 84 strats.Yours is one of the new fender strat standards from 1988.It was just fender using up old decals.

Rented Mule

jimmy99 wrote: »

Nearly all fender strats from 1988 have an e4 serial number which was ment to be used on 84 strats.Yours is one of the new fender strat standards from 1988.It was just fender using up old decals.

Now there's some new information. Very interesting !! Thanks Jimmy.

I know that there are websites that will tell you where/when guitars were made by entering the serial number. I will give that a look as soon as I get my hands back on the guitar.

jimmy99

Serial # Year Serial # Year 76 + 5 DIGITS
S6 + 5 DIGITS 1976 E8 + 5 DIGITS
E9 + 5 DIGITS 1989 S7 + 5 DIGITS
S8 + 5 DIGITS 1977 E9 + 5 DIGITS
N9 + 5 DIGITS
N0 + 5 DIGITS 1990 S7 + 5 DIGITS
S8 + 5 DIGITS
S9 + 5 DIGITS 1978 E9 + 5 DIGITS
N9 + 5 DIGITS
N0 + 5 DIGITS 1991 S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS 1979 N1 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1992 S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS
E1 + 5 DIGITS 1980 N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1993 S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS
E1 + 5 DIGITS 1981 N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1994 EI + 5 DIGITS
E2 + 5 DIGITS
E3 + 5 DIGITS 1982
(In 1982 a seperate "V" series of #s were designated for the US Vintage series) N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1995 E2 + 5 DIGITS
E3 + 5 DIGITS 1983 N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1996 E3 + 5 DIGITS
E4 + 5 DIGITS 1984 N6 + 6 or 6 DIGITS
N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
1997 E3 + 5 DIGITS
E4 + 5 DIGITS 1985*
(Fender sold by CBS) N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1998 E4 + 5 DIGITS 1986-1987 N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
N9 + 5 or 6 DIGITS 1999 E4 + 5 DIGITS
E8 + 5 DIGITS 1988 . .

Rented Mule

One final note to this thread.

I got my guitar back and it looks and feels great. I put the serial number into a 'generator' hoping to see if it could clarify exactly where and when the neck/guitar were built.

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton or Corona Plant (Fender), USA
in the Year(s): 1984 - 1988

It didn't do anything, except make me laugh out loud at the generality of the response.

As Jimmy99 said earlier, it is an '88 American Standard with an E4 serial number.

Thanks for the help !!