Does this Strat ring a bell?

[anthoney]

So I work at a Pawn Shop and we just got an American Strat in. (Serial number clearly marked and passed the Police hold and everything) According to the serial number it's a 2003 (Z3 + 5 or 6 digits). Its kind of a transparent creamy color with tortise shell pickguard and cream pickup covers and knobs. The tuners, which look stock, are locking with a thumbwheel. They are all marked with a Fender "F." The neckplate doesn't have anything on it, just plain chrome. I wish I had pics to help. Does this sound like a model that anyone is familiar with? With my "employee discount" I can get it for $250 plus tax. Does that seem like a deal? I like it and it plays nicely, but I'm always concerned with resale value and all that of course...Thanks ya'll.

[hotrodperlmutter]

$250 for an american strat? um, yeah. that's what we call a good deal.

sounds like a stratocaster 'plus,' to me.

[Fran]

I thought 'Z' was Highway One models and they are thin skin (part transparent) too but were Fender making H1's in 2003?

[hotrodperlmutter]

The Highway-1 series, originally introduced in 2002 and re-designed in 2006, are made in the U.S. and incorporate a hybrid of hardware; the tuners and string trees are similar in design and quality to those on American Series instruments, while the bridge hardware is largely similar to the Standard Series. The body finish is a thin satin-finish nitrocellulose as opposed to the thick polyurethane coating used on both Standard and American series models. This coating provides a very vintage look, as nitrocellulose was the standard lacquer finish for vintage Strats. Highway 1 Strats use hotter Alnico III pickup polepieces similar to those on American Series guitars, giving a very bright sound compared to cheaper "ceramic" polepiece elements, and also feature a tone circuit called the Greasebucket, first seen on the Custom Pro series guitars; functionally similar to a traditional tone control, it provides a more natural roll-off of high frequencies, without the bass frequencies becoming more present as can occur with traditional tone circuits. The first two years of Highway 1 instruments resembled "pre-CBS"-era instruments with the traditional headstock design, small frets and vintage color choices. Beginning in 2006, the line was redesigned to resemble 70's-era instruments with a large headstock, bigger frets, CBS-era color schemes and other visual cues.

[Fran]

Z2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
Z3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS
DZ3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS (American Deluxe Series)
V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) 2003

Possibly just a 'standard' then.

The trouble with Strat's is they are so easy to assemble with different parts. Seems worth a gamble based on the neck alone though.

[anthoney]

Thanks for all the info. After a little research and looking at pictures, it does seem like a Highway 1. It has the smaller headstock that I guess they had the first 2 years. The thin skin finish adds up too. Perhaps the tuners were just changed out at some point.

[serfx]

antigua strat?

[Fran]

I had a Highway One and it was very nice. Vintage look with a more modern feel and sound.
There is a bit of snobbery against them though, coz the parts are made about 1 mile over the Mexican border (or something ridiculously tedious) but they are assembled in the USA.
I'd go for it for that price anyday!

[Nick]

yeah, only trans white I can think of on a strat is highway 1 and the limited mary kay models

[dezb1]

Does this Strat ring a bell?

yep it’s the campanology Strat

[astro]

I think these go for $800 new, so $250 is fantastic. I think stock they come with the same basic Ping tuners that the MIM standards come with, so locking tuners are an upgrade by a previous owner.

I say, DO EET! Even if you end up hating the guitar, you can sell it on ebay for a tidy profit.