Any Info??? 1990-1991 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Blackburst Floyd

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Any Info??? 1990-1991 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Blackburst Floyd

Yeah, there were a few years that they made black pearl dust and blue pearl dust Strat Plusses....I believe 89, 93, and 98. They're some of Fender's rarest colors.

I got to this thread late, but I'm pretty sure it was a featured guitar at NAMM, and GC asked them to do a small run of them exclusively for GC. That's why GC is part of the model on the sku.

I love the pearl dust colors, but didn't like anything else about Strat Plusses.
I bought a blue pearl dust Strat Plus, then raided the body to use with a later model American Std. A year later, I spotted a black pearl dust body on Ebay for $130, and did the same thing again. They look so much better with a black pickguard.

The silver pearl dust has a C/59/Cool Rail, and the blue pearl dust has a vintage A5 set wound for me by Chubtone w/aged white covers/knobs.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Any Info??? 1990-1991 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Blackburst Floyd

I got to this thread late, but I'm pretty sure it was a featured guitar at NAMM, and GC asked them to do a small run of them exclusively for GC. That's why GC is part of the model on the sku.

Pretty much what the guy w/the Maple Board one that was on eBay told me, as well as Fender's Mike Eldred - Custom Shop Director of Sales and Marketing, who agreed w/the below description from the Maple Board Owner's eBay listing text...


"This is a rare 1990-91 Fender Custom Shop Prototype Stratocaster Ultra in Blackburst with a matching painted headstock, Gold Lace Pickups, a factory German Floyd Rose with the locking nut and Clapton modification.

This is the first year Fender factory installed Floyds and possibly one of the first to have a locking nut not the Wilkinson Roller nut on most Plus and Ultra models. Stays in tune whenyou use the tremolo.

This Custom Shop Ultra has the Eric Clapton mod; a mid-range boost/roll off that is used on the Eric Clapton model Stratocasters today. The neck on this guitar is thin, quick and straight as an arrow.

You won't find another one like this in Black burst a rare finish used by the Fender Custom Shop with painted headstock to match! Also included is the original tweed case with crushed purple interior.

Ultras were introduced for the first time at the NAMM show in 1991 and were only made until 1995. The Ultra was the top of the Fender line higher than the popular Plus model."


...other than that, there is no info on them at Fender...Eldred thought it would have been a run of 25 Quantity. Oddly, the Maple Board one is listed as a 1990-1991, the one on eBay now is listed as a 1988 and the Serial Numbers all start with a "9" which would indicate them as 1989 per Fender's Serial Number Index indications.

I totally agree about the Pearl Bursts, they're gorgeous, much like an Antiqua in the way they are finished. Sounds like you built out a couple of nice ones w/those bodies as well.