1996 Lone Star Strat advert
In the '90s Fender catalog was expanded with the introduction of new models that aimed to satisfy the desires of all guitarists. At a time when rock was pushed to extremes, the greatest need was to have instruments based on the Stratocasters which could better adapt to the new musical trend. Single coils no longer seemed sufficient for this purpose.
Lone Star Strat, with the pearloid or tortoise shell pickguard, presented in 1996, was the first of the Hot Rodded American Standard Series. In the '90s guitarists frequently bought an American Standard and then mounted a humbucker at the bridge. Fender decided consequently for the first time to mount a humbucker, a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates slightly modified, on a classic lines Strat; instead, at the neck and in the central positions, Lone Star Strat exhibited the Texas Special single coil pickups.
After the great success of the Lone Star, Fender introduced a Stratocaster with double humbucker: the Big Apple Strat, produced between 1997 and 2000, which mounted a Pearly Gates slightly modified pickup in the bridge position and a Seymour Duncan '59 also slightly modified at the neck.
Roadhouse Strat, realized between 1997 and 2000, was the third Hot Rodded Stratocaster, and mounted three Texas Specials.
In 2000, when American Standard Series was replaced by American Series, Hot Rodded American Standard Series was substituted by American Hot Rodded Series and American Strat Texas Special, American Fat Strat Texas Special and American Double Fat Strat took place of, respectively, Roadhouse, Lone Star and Big Apple. However, this series didn’t last long, until 2003, when it was incorporated in the new American Series. Now Hot Rodded guitars no longer had a specific name, but they were simply called American Stratocaster HH and American Stratocaster HSS.
Lone Star Strat, with the pearloid or tortoise shell pickguard, presented in 1996, was the first of the Hot Rodded American Standard Series. In the '90s guitarists frequently bought an American Standard and then mounted a humbucker at the bridge. Fender decided consequently for the first time to mount a humbucker, a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates slightly modified, on a classic lines Strat; instead, at the neck and in the central positions, Lone Star Strat exhibited the Texas Special single coil pickups.
After the great success of the Lone Star, Fender introduced a Stratocaster with double humbucker: the Big Apple Strat, produced between 1997 and 2000, which mounted a Pearly Gates slightly modified pickup in the bridge position and a Seymour Duncan '59 also slightly modified at the neck.
Roadhouse Strat, realized between 1997 and 2000, was the third Hot Rodded Stratocaster, and mounted three Texas Specials.
In 2000, when American Standard Series was replaced by American Series, Hot Rodded American Standard Series was substituted by American Hot Rodded Series and American Strat Texas Special, American Fat Strat Texas Special and American Double Fat Strat took place of, respectively, Roadhouse, Lone Star and Big Apple. However, this series didn’t last long, until 2003, when it was incorporated in the new American Series. Now Hot Rodded guitars no longer had a specific name, but they were simply called American Stratocaster HH and American Stratocaster HSS.
Antonio Calvosa
