fender usa

Buying an American Standard Fender Stratocaster Buyers Guide 

By Mark P Andrews

American Standard StratocastersFender herald from the factory in Corona located in California. Originally called American Standard until around the year 2000, they then underwent some changes and were marketed as American Series Stratocasters. This label identifies them as the regular standard Fender offering of the Strat model.

The serial number for the American Standard Series Stratocasters will be found on the rear of the headstock. If from the 1990's this serial number will start with Nx, the 2000's serial numbers will start with Zx, the 'x' equates to the last number of the model year..

The regular American Standard Series Stratocaster will come with 3 high quality single coil pickups made with alnico magnets, or to be even more specific alnico 5, this is one of the key differences over the lower priced non USA models.