Fender American strats - where are they manufactured?

jpi · #1 01-12-2003, 11:08 AM

Am I correct that there are different American models, some that are made in the USA and some that are made outside USA.

I'd like to get one made in the USA so how can I spot one? Does it say made in USA behind the headstock or are the normal Americans made outside and American Deluxe/Vintage/Special then in the USA?

Thanks.

spacenuke · #2 01-12-2003, 11:33 AM

I think American model strats are all made in the USA, thus the name. The Fender Forum might be a better place to ask this question if you wanna be real sure.

jpi · #3 01-12-2003, 11:40 AM

Hmm... According to Finnish Fender importer, there are two different manufacturers for American models: Fender and Fender USA.

See yourselves: http://www.f-musiikki.fi/tuotteet.ph...uoteryhma=2111 (it's in Finnish but you can't see what I mean)

spacenuke · #4 01-12-2003, 11:55 AM

good point. however, i think "Fender" and "Fender USA" are really the same thing. I couldn't find comparable American models from "Fender" and "Fender USA" that have prices listed, but I did find sunburst Fender USA models and solid colored Fender models. The sunburst Fender USA models costs a little more, which leads me to conclude a solid colored one from "Fender USA" will be the same price as a solid colored strat from "Fender". This leads me to believe that "Fender" and "Fender USA" strats should be one and the same.

why don't you email them with this question?

sitting duck · #5 01-12-2003, 12:45 PM

All Fenders with the designation "American" in their name are made in Corona California. Although I'm sure that some of the little electronic parts (pots, caps, switches?) are actually imported from somewhere else.
Some of the Mexican models have made in usa parts ( as well as other contries) but are assembled and finished in Mexico.
Hope that helps...

jpi · #6 01-12-2003, 01:32 PM

Thanks!

Anyhow are those American Deluxe/Special/Vintage strats much different from normal Americans?

pawel · #7 01-12-2003, 01:37 PM

Well, they mostly have different features, different pickups, etc..., the deluxe is pretty much an upgraded standard....vintages have vintage specs etc..., in terms of quality they shouldn't differ from standards (although fenders tend to be very inconsistent)...check on www.fender.com for details...

jpi · #8 01-12-2003, 04:17 PM

What's the difference between normal cases and Tolex cases that come with American strats?

jemke · #9 01-13-2003, 06:52 AM

Do you remember Kramer guitars?

Even on models that were crafted in Japan and Korea, on the neckplate there was written Kramer USA!!

Only on the models that were from the US there was written MADE in the USA.

That is a detail but extremely important.

In my opinion the american serie strat is the same kind of thing.

The deluxe serie are in my opinion the best strats.