'96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

[motorpsych0]

I picked up a 1996 Standard American Stratocaster (Fender 50th Anniversary)on eBay. It has an "American Flag" sticker on the pickguard, and I was wondering if the sticker was factory applied or not. I really want to peel it off, but want to make sure I am not doing the wrong thing. I want to preserve it in factory condition if at all possible. Anyone?

 

[Bones]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

That is not a factory sticker. I am pretty sure.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

The most important thing is the neck plate. Does it have some Anniversary engraving on it? Also, keep the original parts, case, and case candy if possible.
The pickguard stickers are not much of an issue with collectibility, except to prove that the guitar was never a player.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

i remember some Pickguard stickers on USA Strats with a flag... but i do not remember them ever being that large.. if it was me i'd remove it, but keep in mind stickers sometimes yellow and eat into the plastic... If so a new Fender guard will not be a big investment at all.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

That's not the sticker Fender puts on.

 

[motorpsych0]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

OK folks, consider it gone! Thanks for the feedback/comments from all of you.
It's a big help.

 

[Gamera]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

See that third guitar, the midnight wine color? That's my friend's '96 40th anniversary American Strat. The Fender 50th was last year.

His guitar only has a small flag on the headstock. And if I recall correctly it's not a sticker, rather a small 3D flag and banner that's been attached. Looks pretty classy actually. I don't recall what the neck plate was.

 

[Gamera]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

Actually here's a cropped section of another photo that shows it a little better. Actually doesn't look like a flag at all. Maybe it's a star with red and blue streamers...

Actually now that I look at it a little more I don't think it's even a star. Instead I think it's a white "40th."

Actually now that I think even more about it, last year was Fender's 60th. So you're right, '96 would have been Fender's 50th.

And as I think even further, if that's a 40th anniversary Strat, it must be a '94, not a '96.

Nevermind.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

you know the more i think about it the more i think Fender did use a large flag like that in the mid 90's for a bit.....

 

[motorpsych0]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

Well folks, it's too late. I have removed the flag sticker. The white pickguard is "yellowed" underneath, so I will go ahead and replace the pickguard. Note: This Strat has the small round sticker on the back of the headstock, indicating the Fender 50th anniversary.

Gee! I hope I did the right thing.

Regarding the model year, and clarity on the subject in general, here is what I have:

-The serial number lines up with late 1996/early 1997 according to Fender.com
-Fender's 50th "company" anniversary was 1996
-The Stratocaster 50th anniversary was 2006
-This Strat has the small round 50th anniversary sticker on the back of the headstock

Let me know (I'm sure someone will) if I've got the facts straight.

 

[ErikH]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

The Stratocaster 40th was 1994.
The Stratocaster 50th was 2004.
The company 50th was 1996.
The company 60th was last year.

And yeah, that sticker was not factory applied.

The neckplates on all 1994 Commemorative Strats were engraved along with the little flag emblem on the front of the headstock. I believe the Strat 50th Anniversary Strats also had an engraved neckplate and an emblem on the back of the headstock.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

Hey Robert,

Looks like a nice score! Will you be playing this guitar at all, or it is mainly an investment?

- Keith

 

[motorpsych0]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

This will be my daily player. It was just luck that it happened to be a collectable Stratocaster. Fender put out a Hendrix edition in late 96/early 97, but this one is not one of those. But, it does have the rare painted headstock (matches the body, Olympic White). I'm not sure I like the look of the painted headstock, though.

One plus is, it has a Callaham block! Google it.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: '96 American Strat-(Fender 50th) Factory Sticker Question...

I have a 1996 American Standard Stratocaster and it has a little gold "Fender 50th" sticker on the back...made out of metal.

I certainly wouldn't call my 1996 Strat "collectible" though... It was just made in a year that the company turned 50, nothing else special about it.