MODEL NUMBER
010-2004-(803)
BODY
Body Material: Ash
Body Finish: Polyurethane
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Body Routing: HSH
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Satin Polyurethane
Neck Shape: Modern “C”
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple; Rolled Fingerboard Edges
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5” (241 mm)
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Nut Width: 1.6875” (43 mm)
Position Inlays: Black Dot; Narrow Spacing
Truss Rod: BiFlex
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Tilt Neck
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Spaghetti
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "MADE IN U.S.A.", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
Other Decals, back: Serial
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: New Custom Shop Vintage 1954 Single-Coil Stratocaster Pickup (higher output), staggered
Middle Pickup: New Custom Shop Vintage 1954 Single-Coil Stratocaster Pickup, staggered
Neck Pickup: New Custom Shop Vintage 1954 Single-Coil Stratocaster Pickup staggered
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck), No-Load tone control (Mid, Bridge)
Switching: 5-Position Blade
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: American 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo
Saddles: Stainless Steel Block Saddles
Tuning Machines: Fender/Schaller Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
String Tree: Ezy Glider
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Pickguard: 1-Ply Beveled Parchment Vinyl
Control Knobs: Parchment
Switch Tip: Parchment
Tremolo Arm Tip: Parchment
Pickup covers: Parchment
Neck Plate: Special Commemorative 50th Anniversary Contoured Heel 4-Bolt Neck Plate, "STRATOCASTER Fender 50 ANNIVERSARY 1954 2004"
COLORS
(803) 2-Color Sunburst
MISCELLANEOUS
Strings: .009 to .042
Truss Rod Wrench: 1/8” Hex
Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench: .050 Hex
New Delta Tone system that includes high output bridge pickup and special No-Load tone control for Middle and Bridge Pickups
ACCESSORIES
Vintage Tweed Case Crushed Gold Interior and Red Embroidered Commemorative Anniversary Patch Sewn in the Top of the Lining of the Case
COMMENTS
What to look for when buying a 50th Anniversary American Series Stratocaster:
1. Colour - MUST be two-colour sunburst, no other colour is genuine.
2. Body - MUST be ash, usually identifiable by prominant grain patterns.
3. Neck/fretboard - MUST be maple, NOT rosewood.
4. Neck plate - 50th Anniversary etched plate.
5. Pickguard - Single-ply 11-hole parchment, NOT 3-ply white/black/white or any other colour (the 50th American Series is quite possibly the only Fender Stratocaster model with an 11-hole single-ply parchment pickguard. All other parchment pickguards are either 11-hole 3-ply or 8-hole single-ply).
6. Pickups - Custom Shop '54s in 3 single coils configuration only, NOT HSS. Apart from the unbeveled pole pieces these are difficult to distinguish by sight alone, as there are no distinguishing marks or labels on the pickups. However, contrary to expectation, these have plastic-coated wires rather than waxed cloth.
7. Case - oblong tweed case with crushed gold lining, NOT black molded case.
8. Fender inspection card - this should state the part number 0102004803 (010 denotes American Series, 2004 denotes 50th Anniversary model, 8 denotes tweed case, and 03 denotes 2-colour sunburst) together with the guitar's serial number.
FENDER SAYS
The American Series is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stratocaster guitar as well, with the 50th Anniversary American Series Stratocaster guitar. This 50th anniversary model features three new Custom Shop Vintage 1954 single-coil pickups, a special commemorative 50th anniversary neck plate, and "Parchment" knobs and pickup covers. This model also utilizes the "Delta Tone" system, which includes a high output bridge pickup and special no-load tone control for the middle and bridge pickups.
010-2004-(803)
BODY
Body Material: Ash
Body Finish: Polyurethane
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Body Routing: HSH
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Satin Polyurethane
Neck Shape: Modern “C”
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple; Rolled Fingerboard Edges
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5” (241 mm)
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Nut Width: 1.6875” (43 mm)
Position Inlays: Black Dot; Narrow Spacing
Truss Rod: BiFlex
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Tilt Neck
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Spaghetti
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "MADE IN U.S.A.", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
Other Decals, back: Serial
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: New Custom Shop Vintage 1954 Single-Coil Stratocaster Pickup (higher output), staggered
Middle Pickup: New Custom Shop Vintage 1954 Single-Coil Stratocaster Pickup, staggered
Neck Pickup: New Custom Shop Vintage 1954 Single-Coil Stratocaster Pickup staggered
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck), No-Load tone control (Mid, Bridge)
Switching: 5-Position Blade
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: American 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo
Saddles: Stainless Steel Block Saddles
Tuning Machines: Fender/Schaller Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
String Tree: Ezy Glider
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Pickguard: 1-Ply Beveled Parchment Vinyl
Control Knobs: Parchment
Switch Tip: Parchment
Tremolo Arm Tip: Parchment
Pickup covers: Parchment
Neck Plate: Special Commemorative 50th Anniversary Contoured Heel 4-Bolt Neck Plate, "STRATOCASTER Fender 50 ANNIVERSARY 1954 2004"
COLORS
(803) 2-Color Sunburst
MISCELLANEOUS
Strings: .009 to .042
Truss Rod Wrench: 1/8” Hex
Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench: .050 Hex
New Delta Tone system that includes high output bridge pickup and special No-Load tone control for Middle and Bridge Pickups
ACCESSORIES
Vintage Tweed Case Crushed Gold Interior and Red Embroidered Commemorative Anniversary Patch Sewn in the Top of the Lining of the Case
COMMENTS
What to look for when buying a 50th Anniversary American Series Stratocaster:
1. Colour - MUST be two-colour sunburst, no other colour is genuine.
2. Body - MUST be ash, usually identifiable by prominant grain patterns.
3. Neck/fretboard - MUST be maple, NOT rosewood.
4. Neck plate - 50th Anniversary etched plate.
5. Pickguard - Single-ply 11-hole parchment, NOT 3-ply white/black/white or any other colour (the 50th American Series is quite possibly the only Fender Stratocaster model with an 11-hole single-ply parchment pickguard. All other parchment pickguards are either 11-hole 3-ply or 8-hole single-ply).
6. Pickups - Custom Shop '54s in 3 single coils configuration only, NOT HSS. Apart from the unbeveled pole pieces these are difficult to distinguish by sight alone, as there are no distinguishing marks or labels on the pickups. However, contrary to expectation, these have plastic-coated wires rather than waxed cloth.
7. Case - oblong tweed case with crushed gold lining, NOT black molded case.
8. Fender inspection card - this should state the part number 0102004803 (010 denotes American Series, 2004 denotes 50th Anniversary model, 8 denotes tweed case, and 03 denotes 2-colour sunburst) together with the guitar's serial number.
FENDER SAYS
The American Series is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stratocaster guitar as well, with the 50th Anniversary American Series Stratocaster guitar. This 50th anniversary model features three new Custom Shop Vintage 1954 single-coil pickups, a special commemorative 50th anniversary neck plate, and "Parchment" knobs and pickup covers. This model also utilizes the "Delta Tone" system, which includes a high output bridge pickup and special no-load tone control for the middle and bridge pickups.
2004 Anniversary Stratocaster, American Series (courtesy of the-custom-shop, eBay, and Angelo D'Arcangeli)
