(SOLD) Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster Fiesta Red 1992
Fender AVRI 57 Strat, fiesta red, made in Corona USA 1992. If you know your Strats, no doubt your knees are getting a little weak already. The American Vintage line was launched in the eighties and marked a return to form for Fender; they were finally building guitars with precision and care like they were in the 50s. This one hails to the early 90s, a couple of short years into the Corona era, and it's all magic and fire. The neck is a superb piece of maple: arrow straight, moderate vintage C profile, aged to a perfect golden colour and feeling stupendously slick in a thin coat of gloss nitro. The fiesta red has yellowed and mellowed to a coral-esque pinky orange; there's a few marks of honest wear and it's looking all the more majestic for it. It's a very lively thing in the hands: loud unplugged, heaps of natural bass and zing, responsive to the lightest touch. Plugged in, there's a thick, rich, gooey midrange balanced by a tight and tuneful bass and a spicy, articulate top end that slice just right. It's really quite a delight. To get anything like this kind of quality and mojo in a new guitar, you'd be at Custom Shop level at a minimum. If it hangs around long it's in serious danger of leaving the store for a cosy bed at my house.
Model: Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster
Made: Corona USA, neck date 13 Jan 1992 (serial V057172)
Finish: fiesta red (FRD), nitro gloss, 1-ply white guard
Body: alder
Neck: maple with maple board, vintage C profile, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius
Weight: 3.695kg
Mods: back cover removed, 5-way switch installed
Pickups: Fender American Vintage alnico single coil x3
Case: original Fender tweed hard case, excellent quality, good condition with a few scuffs and some fading etc
Cosmetic condition notes: mild finish wear. Headstock has some scuffs on the end and a fade mark from a sticker on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, very minor dimples only. The back has no major marks, just a couple of minor dimples around the cavity. Note the back cover is missing. The sides are pretty clean, just some dimples on the top horn, elbow area and near the jack and a small chip near the rear strap pin. The front is pretty good too, just three small chips near the rear strap pin, bridge and top edge in the elbow area, a small crack in the guard near the volume knob and some standard play wear on the guard and top horn. Overall: very good condition (8/10).
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have very some normal wear but are in reasonable shape, 6/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.