My Strat's "historically significant" ... now what do I do?

[sdeeg]

In the early 90s I traded an almost brand new Yamaha Pacifica for a used American Standard at a small guitar store. My playing was very off and on, but it was my main electric for years. These days I have my various Warmoth/kit guitars, but I was looking to have a Strat-like guitar setup in Eb for Hendrix, SRV play-along's. A Warmoth neck and SuperVee BladeRunner seemed like the perfect thing to make the old Strat playable. The neck was no problem, but when I went to put the new trem on I ran into something unexpected. The 2 bridge posts weren't in brass inserts, but were instead screwed directly into the wood. A fair amount of research later has led me to the conclusion that it's almost certainly a late 1986 to early 87 American Standard. One of the first one's of the line and a sample of Fenders evolution post-CBS. The frets are worn to unplayable, but besides normal age related paint discoloration, electronics stickyness, and such it's in great condition and apparently some collectors like these things.

Well, heck. One of the reasons I build guitars from parts is so I can play and modify them with reckless abandon without having to worry about any of that collectable, can't modify, "don't even look at it, don't even point at it" stuff! I suppose there's really only one thing to do now, and that's to build myself another Strat-like instrument to setup in Eb. But what to build? VIP? Soloist? 7/8 S? I plan on ordering a Dinkycaster body tomorrow, but that'll have TV Jones's.

Last year around this time W released a set of absolutely stunning bodies, and if I hadn't had a big tax bill to pay I would have grabbed one. My brain tells me I should wait and be patient until another drop of amazing goodness hits, but my heart wants to run to the configurator. Somebody talk me off the ledge!

 

[rockandroller]

Talk you off the ledge??
Sorry, but this is Enablement. You want room 12A, just along the corridor...

 

[Hodgo]

Q2 is supposedly Meadowhawk release time… you can join me in patiently waiting for that

 

[Hagwood]

Q2 is supposedly Meadowhawk release time… you can join me in patiently waiting for that

I'm with ya, hoping it's out when I'm done with my next build........

 

[Spud]

In the early 90s I traded an almost brand new Yamaha Pacifica for a used American Standard at a small guitar store. My playing was very off and on, but it was my main electric for years. These days I have my various Warmoth/kit guitars, but I was looking to have a Strat-like guitar setup in Eb for Hendrix, SRV play-along's. A Warmoth neck and SuperVee BladeRunner seemed like the perfect thing to make the old Strat playable. The neck was no problem, but when I went to put the new trem on I ran into something unexpected. The 2 bridge posts weren't in brass inserts, but were instead screwed directly into the wood. A fair amount of research later has led me to the conclusion that it's almost certainly a late 1986 to early 87 American Standard. One of the first one's of the line and a sample of Fenders evolution post-CBS. The frets are worn to unplayable, but besides normal age related paint discoloration, electronics stickyness, and such it's in great condition and apparently some collectors like these things.

Well, heck. One of the reasons I build guitars from parts is so I can play and modify them with reckless abandon without having to worry about any of that collectable, can't modify, "don't even look at it, don't even point at it" stuff! I suppose there's really only one thing to do now, and that's to build myself another Strat-like instrument to setup in Eb. But what to build? VIP? Soloist? 7/8 S? I plan on ordering a Dinkycaster body tomorrow, but that'll have TV Jones's.

Last year around this time W released a set of absolutely stunning bodies, and if I hadn't had a big tax bill to pay I would have grabbed one. My brain tells me I should wait and be patient until another drop of amazing goodness hits, but my heart wants to run to the configurator. Somebody talk me off the ledge!

Applaud the build, but unsure how "historically significant" an 87 strat is.

 

[ghostrider]

"How dare you, sir?! I'm not old; I'm historically significant."

That's going to be my new line.

 

[Hodgo]

Applaud the build, but unsure how "historically significant" an 87 strat is.

Being one of the first Am Stds is pretty neat, but since they made a bajillion of them (compared to say the 81-83 Dan Smith Strats) I do agree it’s not exactly a Faberge egg. For someone born in the late 80s like myself, it is a tempting “birth year” option - guitars were getting quite good at the end of the decade. The 61RI SG is in that category too.

 

[sdeeg]

Applaud the build, but unsure how "historically significant" an 87 strat is.

As I was researching it I was surprised to find some forum posts with people talking about looking specifically for these first run of instruments and having a hard time finding authentic ones. Well, as they say, there's a market for everything, it's just a matter of finding it. I don't think they command a high price, but there seems to be a bit of a premium.

For me, the non-standard hardware is a PITA and I have to decide if I mod it or keep it stock and build something new. I'm leaning to the build something new side.

 

[Spud]

Being one of the first Am Stds is pretty neat, but since they made a bajillion of them (compared to say the 81-83 Dan Smith Strats) I do agree it’s not exactly a Faberge egg. For someone born in the late 80s like myself, it is a tempting “birth year” option - guitars were getting quite good at the end of the decade. The 61RI SG is in that category too.

I bought an 82 "Smith"strat new off the rack in 82. Still have it.

 

[NedRyerson]

We are farther way from 1987 than 1987 was to the Beatles' first album.

 

[Rick]

That's sort of like those guys returning to Greece after Alexander died and as they made their way home they found ancient cities more than 3000 years old, and we are closer to the Greeks than they were to the cities that had died, but in reverse. Thanks to my Mom playing those albums a million times, in my memory it is still new. Or maybe it was the sphinx or the pyramids? Now I gotta look it up.

 

[ghostrider]

That's sort of like those guys returning to Greece after Alexander died and as they made their way home they found ancient cities more than 3000 years old, and we are closer to the Greeks than they were to the cities that had died, but in reverse. Thanks to my Mom playing those albums a million times, in my memory it is still new. Or maybe it was the sphinx or the pyramids? Now I gotta look it up.

 

[Hodgo]

That's sort of like those guys returning to Greece after Alexander died and as they made their way home they found ancient cities more than 3000 years old, and we are closer to the Greeks than they were to the cities that had died, but in reverse. Thanks to my Mom playing those albums a million times, in my memory it is still new. Or maybe it was the sphinx or the pyramids? Now I gotta look it up.

Cleopatra lived closer to the invention of the iPhone than she did to the construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza

 

[Strat Avenger]

I've modified my 1990 American Standard Strat. All of the mods are completely reverseable, but I'll never go back, because it's excellent.