NGD: Special run AVRI

[2tone60thAsh]

Kind of... 2005 (though body is dated Jan 2006) American Vintage 62 (hotrod?) FMT. This is basically NOS, was never sold in a shop, pickguard has creme'd over (see the whiter-colored imprint of the where US flag sticker was on the 'guard)

Hard to find info on this model, I don't think many were made.

One of the quackiest Strats I've ever played, meaning positions 2 and 4 are really good

Specs and pics below (kinda dark pics).


Model Number: 017-0051-(803)
Series: American Vintage Series
Body: Comfort Contoured Alder Body with Flame Maple Veneer
Neck: Maple, “C” Shape,
(Gloss Light Tint Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer Finish)
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Gotoh® Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with “Ash Tray” Bridge Cover
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Pickups: 3 Texas SpecialTM Single Coils with Staggered Pole Pieces, Alnico Magnets, Aged Covers
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Colors: (803) 2-Color Sunburst,
(Thin Skin Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer)

[electrablue]

Congrats!

[Jakedog]

I had one of those. EXCELLENT guitar. I should have kept it. I got bitten by an acoustic I played and traded straight up for it. I should have slept on the deal, I never would have done it. Enjoy it.

[Thighbanez]

Sweeeeeet!

[2tone60thAsh]

Thanks!

Sounds and looks better to me every day.

[boris bubbanov]

Beautiful!

A little surprised FMIC isn't offering this instead of the Select model they do now.

I guess it is about money.

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Beautiful!

A little surprised FMIC isn't offering this instead of the Select model they do now.

I guess it is about money.

These were GC exclusive models, and very limited. If I remember right, I think there were 250 built. Believe it or not, they did not sell well, and many were clearanced. I got mine brand new, at one of their holiday weekend sales for $1K, down from $1699. It was a fantastic guitar. I really should have held onto it. I know I'll probably never get a shot at another one.

I'm not generally a fan of Texas Specials, but they sounded out of this world in this guitar. I think the maple top had something to do with it. It's an actual top, and not just a veneer like on the Am. Dlx. models from the 90's. I also loved that it was mostly vintage RI, but had the 9.5 radius and bigger frets. I find most of the RI guitars pretty much unplayable, but this one was a DREAM.

It also has the "thin skin" finish. And it is ULTRA thin. It'll mar, scratch, dent, and whatnot if you even breathe on it too hard. I had mine for about six months, and it had some pretty good relic'ing going on, just from being dragged around and gigged.

I loved it a lot. Really wish I'd kept it.