Fender's American Original Series

The American Original Series


     For 2018, Fender guitars have opted to rename and retool the American Vintage Series into the American Original Series. Featuring 11 total instruments in this new series, we'll be focusing on the three left-handed models: the 50's Stratocaster, the 60's Stratocaster, and the 50's Telecaster.

The 50's Stratocaster

     The 50's Stratocaster is still just a Stratocaster, but with unique features not currently found in other series of guitars, unless you want to visit Fender's Mod Shop, or perhaps the Custom Shop. It features a thick maple soft-v shaped neck sprayed with clear gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, which should provide comfort for those who like chunkier necks. It has 21 frets, described as "vintage tall" on Fender's website, but no further description was given. These frets are probably narrow, around .078" with a height between .046" and .052" to make for easier bends and overall playability. The fretboard radius is 9.5", which is a spec found on modern Fenders, but then again, these aren't instruments spec'd to the originals, they are simply nods to the instruments of that era. The headstock features the classic spaghetti logo, a string tree for the E and B strings, a bone nut, Kluson style tuners and a 'vintage style' truss rod.

     The body is made from Ash and painted with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, the only color being available for lefties is 'white blonde'. More traditional features include a single-ply pick guard, standard strap buttons, a vintage style 6-point tremolo, and typical pickup wiring. The pickups are Fender's Pure Vintage '59 pickups that come with 5-way switching instead of the vintage correct 3-way. Add in one volume knob and two tone knobs, and you've got yourself a vintage-style Strat with some modern improvements. Includes a hardshell case. Price: $1,949.

The 60's Stratocaster


     The main differences from the 50's Strat to the 60's Strat is the addition of a round-laminated Rosewood fretboard, (which means that a thin veneer of rosewood is placed over the maple neck) a full, rounded 60's C shape neck profile with no skunk stripe, a slotted truss rod nut that adjusts at the heel of the neck (Hope you don't mind removing the neck to adjust the truss rod!), a slightly thicker 60's logo on the headstock, an Alder body, a trio of Pure Vintage "grey bottom" '65 Stratocaster pickups, and it comes in Olympic White with a mint green pick guard! Like the other two models, Fender's website notes that this guitar has "Vintage-Accurate Body and Neck Radii", assuring you that you'll get the sound as well as the feel of a vintage instrument, without the high price.

Includes a Vintage-Style hardshell case. Price: $1,949.

The 50's Telecaster


      The 50's Telecaster isn't too different from Fender's '52 Tele that were made in left handed for some time. With a butterscotch blonde stained Ash body, Black pick guard, and dual pickups, it's a Tele, all right.

The neck on this guitar is chunky, almost Gibson style chunky. The fretboard is a 9.5' radius with narrow tall frets, so you can assume similar feel in the fretboard department from all three guitars, not including neck shape. The frets - narrow tall - are probably welcomed in the presence of the thick neck. the truss rod adjusts at the headstock.  Fender's website notes that all guitars in this series have "Vintage-accurate body and neck radii". The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice things like the router bump located on the inside of the lower horn of the 50's tele. Similar features include a three way switch and a vintage correct bridge with brass barrel saddles. The pickups - Fender's Pure Vintage '52 single coils - are based on the early 50's pups and use Alnico III magnets. Kluson style tuners, classic electronics, and standard strap buttons complete the package. Includes a hardshell case. Price: $1,799.

Overall


     Mixing vintage tone and modern playability has always been a wise tactic for guitar companies such as Fender. These are an excellent choice for anyone who loves vintage tone but doesn't love the price tag usually associated with vintage instruments. These guitars can be found on Reverb.com, Amazon, and other online instrument dealers.