AMERICAN VINTAGE FIRST SERIES

One of the most important challenges for Fender at the end of the '90s was renewing the 1982 Vintage Series.  The primary stimulus, that led in 1998 at the re-edition of the American Vintage '57 Stratocaster and American Vintage '62 Stratocaster, was connected to the new construction techniques.  The old reissues were the best that Fender could make at first, in the '80s.  But thanks to the new machinery and to the studies for the Time Machine Series conducted by Michael Stevens, master builder at the Fender Custom Shop, everything seemed achievable.
Regarding this, Mike Lewis remembers how Fender could now afford a wider use of nitro lacquers. While environmental pollution laws in California were very strict, the containment system of the new factory was so advanced that “the air coming out is actually cleaner than the air going in!”  While the clear coat and the color were lacquer-based, the bottom was polyester, although much thinner than that of the end of the CBS period.

American Vintage Series advert, Fender Frontline

In the new American Vintage Series neck shape and headstock contour were finally more similar to those of the original Stratocasters; some 1961 pickups were analyzed and copied and also the distance between the fret markers at the twelfth fret was widened to imitate that of the first Leo’s guitars.  Moreover, the body of the new guitars too was refined according to the studies and the development of the American Deluxe Series. 

2004 American Vintage '57 Strat, Surf Green finish (reverb.com)

2000 American Vintage '62 Stratocaster, Fiesta Red (reverb.com)

In 2006 the ​American Vintage '70s Stratocaster was presented: it continued the main features of the CBS period, like the 3-bolt neck plate with Micro Tilt, “F” tuners and the typical big headstock with the Fender logo of the '70s, and the bullet truss rod.  The body could be ash (with transparent finishes) or alder and the neck shape was a large “U”. 

American Vintage '70s Stratocaster (courtesy of sweetwater.com)

AMERICAN VINTAGE SECOND SERIES: THE PURE VINTAGE PROJECT

In August 2012, the historic reissues '57 and '62 retired together with the new '70s. They were replaced by the new​ American Vintage '56 Stratocaster, American Vintage '59 Stratocaster and American Vintage '65 Stratocaster. It is possible to find the motivation for this important decision on Fender catalog: “Today, Fender has boldly cleared the slate to make way for a fresh American Vintage series with new features, new specs and the most meticulous level of vintage accuracy yet.  Rather than just replacing the previous models with different ones, we’ve completely and comprehensively re-imagined the entire vintage-reissue concept - restoring original tooling dies, voicing new pickups, reformulating vintage colors and more - based on actual vintage guitars we tracked down to make sure we had it right.  We did the work, and it shows, because there’s pure tonal magic in each new American Vintage instrument”.  The intention was to recreate new factory reissues much more similar to the originals by making the guitars according to the fabrication techniques of the past.  “We actually recreated the work process from way back, and these guitars turned out to be authentically unbelievable,” Richard McDonald declared.
This project was called “Pure Vintage”.  In order to make it possible, Mike Lewis and George Blanda visited various dealers and collectors in the USA to survey the golden age Fenders, as Dan Smith and John Page had done about thirty years earlier, when 1982 Vintages were introduced.  “This was a new level of inspection. We were working at a forensic autopsy level,” Mike joked.
The main changes made to the series consisted principally in the new flash coated finish, applied with a quick spray of nitrocellulose as to obtain a very thin layer, and the new pickups designed by Michael Frank Braun.  Also, the hardware was modified with the introduction of the eggshell knobs with slightly smaller numbers, the bone nut, the Pure Vintage Tremolo Assembly Bridge, whose saddles exhibited the “FENDER” and "PAT.PEND." engravings, and the Single Line Fender Deluxe Vintage Style tuning machines with the “FENDER” engraving on the back, very similar to that of the old Kluson Deluxe tuners.  Particular attention was also given to the shape of the body and the neck, which, differently from the old Vintage Stratocasters, had now rolled edges on the fretboard.  “I think the necks and their rolled edges might be the most unique things about these Pure Vintage guitars”.

Old '62 Vintage Reissue saddles, double "FENDER" stamped, same directions (Nino Fazio)

'90s '62 Vintage Reissue saddles, double"FENDER" stamped, reverse directions (21frets.com)

2013 "Pure vitage" saddles (Paolo Bassi)

2004 American Vintage knobs

"Eggshell" knobs of a 2017 American Vintage Stratocaster

The '56 Stratocaster, as is easily imaginable, was characterized by a large maple neck with a soft “V” profile, an eight-screw monolayer pickguard and an alder or ash (with white blonde finish) deep contoured body.  Unfortunately, the string tree remained butterfly-shaped. 

American Vintage '56 Stratocaster: strangely the string tree remained butterfly-shaped

The '59 Stratocaster was presented in two versions, 1959 being a year of transition: they both had an alder body and a Slim “D” shaped neck, but the first one stood out for the one piece maple neck and a white eight- screw pickguard, and the second for its rosewood slab board fretboard and a three layer, ten-screw pickguard.

American Vintage '59 Stratocaster: a 3-ply and 10 holes pickguard stood out

The '65 Stratocaster was characterized by a much thicker neck with a “C” profile, a three layer and eleven-screw pickguard and pearl dots, but also by a Transition Logo, patent numbers and "ORIGINAL Contour Body Pat. Pend." decal. 

American Vintage '65 Stratocaster

The success of the Pure Vintage Stratocasters was enormous, as Richard McDonald stressed, “We rediscovered our past in a very significant way. It was an awakening.”
​The first 46 units from the first production of this instrument sported a commemorative Special Edition “1st 46” neck plate and randomly distributed around the globe.  These neck plates commemorate the fact that Fender was founded in 1946, as well as the fact that Fender is releasing the most accurate and beautiful Fender reissue instruments ever from key historical years.  The serial numbers of the series and the 46 instruments were not sequential, and among the first 46, were a mix of colors.

Antonio Calvosa