need information on my CS tele

[tuningmachine1980]

I purchased a custom shop Dan Smith R&B classic in 94, back of headstock reads R&B classic, #4 of 20, and Dan Smith signature on front. Has neck thru body, P-90 neck pickup, a black Lace sensor in middle, and stock tele bridge pick up. Unable to gain any info from Fender, if anyone has one of the other 19, would like to hear from you.

 

[Si G X]

Like this?

Dan Smith

www.zen-pharaohs.com

all mahogany, with rosewood board, set neck?

 

[uriah1]

Welcome and enjoy.
Was not familiar with Dan Smith Strats.

History and Significance of Dan Smith Stratocaster

Here is one from internet search: Here is mine: In 1981, as CBS-owned Fender was flailing in the marketplace, with a poor reputation for quality and a network of dealers unhappy about it, Dan Smith was hired from Yamaha to handle marketing and improve quality. The radical plan began by...

www.thegearpage.net

 

[tuningmachine1980]

Like this?

Dan Smith

www.zen-pharaohs.com

all mahogany, with rosewood board, set neck?

 

[tuningmachine1980]

Yes, sounds correct so far. P-90 neck pickup, black Lace sensor in middle, and stock tele bridge pickup. Custom shop logo on back of headstock stating R&B classic, number 4 of 20

 

[Duncan]

I can tell you that R&B stands for Rich Briere. He was the Fender Sales Rep for the upper state NEW York area. He commissioned the run of these for the Custom Shop dealers in his area.

I don't remember too many details about these, but he did ask Dan Smith to spec out a guitar he'd like to have, and Dan came up with these details.

 

[tuningmachine1980]

I can tell you that R&B stands for Rich Briere. He was the Fender Sales Rep for the upper state NEW York area. He commissioned the run of these for the Custom Shop dealers in his area.

I don't remember too many details about these, but he did ask Dan Smith to spec out a guitar he'd like to have, and Dan came up with these details.

Thank you for the information, it is helpful.

 

[Joe M]

Thank you for the information, it is helpful.

FWIW, if you didn't know, you just got info from someone who definitely knows what he's talking about....

 

[Duncan]

FWIW, if you didn't know, you just got info from someone who definitely knows what he's talking about....

It's a bit of a fluke, but I happened to be traveling with Rich Briere through his territory the week these guitars started coming into his dealers. And every Custom Shop dealer we talked too was mentioning their guitars coming in after a bit of a wait. If I had not been out there, I probably wouldn't know about these. I was working elsewhere at Fender for a few years, and this was prior to me working in the shop.

I remember the set neck, the mahogany, and the crazy pickup assortment as being quite different. (Crazy and different in a good way)

And another fluke is that I have one of the other Dan Smith Strats mentioned in this thread. It's the production model, and it does not say Dan Smith on it. I believe mine has a 1981 or '82 date on it.