Can I get a little bit of advice from the Strat experts?

[JayRobIBZ]

Hello, everyone.

I've been playing guitar for a long time and am usually pretty knowledgeable about guitar models but I'm looking for a little advice here.

My local craigslist has an add for a couple of American Strat's. The add calls one an standard and the other a Clapton model. I am not so sure. I have requested additional pictures including front and back of headstock. It is obvious they are both American with two point bridges and 22 frets.

I'd also like a little advice on the price. I can search ebay to get an idea of what these are going for once I know exactly what model they are but I'm looking for a GREAT deal, not just a good one. I think 600 is a fair price but a little more than I can realistically spend at the moment.

Here is the link : http://anchorage.craigslist.org/msg/2199632012.html

[kddean66]

I am not an expert although I do own a 2009 Am Std Strat, but I do know that the Clapton model and the Am. Std. Model don't sell for the same amount. It's hard to tell anything from those pics but I would think the non-Clapton model may be an American Deluxe if it has the Samarium Cobalt pickups in it. If it is a deluxe it should probably have the S-1 switch in it as well if the 2002 models were the same as the 2009 models.

Here's a link to the Am. Deluxe at Guitar Center which sells new for 1,499.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-A...06-i1519077.gc

Here's a link to the Clapton:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-A...32-i1146522.gc

[LarryM]

Hard to tell from the pics,but he is calling them Standard Americans(not American Standard) - If so, $600 is a reasonable price, maybe a little high. I don't think you will find an American Standard in good condition for much less.
I have never seen a Clapton Strat w/ 2-point tremolo.It should also have the TBX tone control, & the pickups should say noiseless on them....

[JayRobIBZ]

Ok, that is good information. I know I could pour over literature and catalogs to figure this stuff out myself but I don't have that much time on my hands. I'm taking a very short break from working on college assignments just to type this message. So, I was hoping to draw from this community's knowledge.

Kddean66- As far as I know, a deluxe should have MOP inlays. I won't know until I receive better photographs.

LarryM- I wasn't aware of the 2 point bridge not appearing on any Clapton models. I will have to research that a little further.

[JayRobIBZ]

I can't for the life of me remember when the S-1 system came out on the deluxe. I have a feeling it was after 2002. I have a 2006 baja and I thought I remembered it being fairly new when I bought that guitar.

[JayRobIBZ]

I got some photographs. I will upload them to photobucket and post links in an hour or so. Thanks for everyone's help so far.

[JayRobIBZ]

Here are some pictures of the grey strat which is an '06:







Black strat which appears to be an '04:






To me, everything about the grey with rosewood looks on to be a Standard.

I'm still not sure about the black one with black guard and maple board. The serial number seems to be in a strange place? I don't think a black pick guard is stock very often. If it hasn't been modified it should be pretty easy to identify by the guard vs the year.

[cobaltu]

I don't think that the Black strat is a Clapton model. The serial # on the back is "Z4" which denotes an American-made instrument from the new millennium; in this case 2004. Deluxe or vintage models, which I think a Clapton model would fall under, have a "D" or "V" preceding the "Z" in the serial #.

Additionally, if this was a Clapton model with a odd serial #, someone would have had to change the tunners, bridge, pickups, and pickguard to turn it into... an Am Standard model (which is what I think it is). I don't know why any one would do that.

But I don't know that much about it other than my window shopping experiences and what I read on this page:
http://www.fender.com/support/articl...product-dating

Maybe someone who knows more about this can shed more light on the subject.

[RubyRae]

Regardless if it is a clapton model or not, looks like a nice American Strat. 600 is a good deal, and they might come down some more. They both look real nice actually, but I am a sucker for maple necks. Good luck, and keep us posted!