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**DRH** · 10-10-2003, 11:36 AM

Fender Elite series Stratocaster

I bought one of these new sometime in the mid-eighties. I loved that guitar. Heavy as hell but sounded great, very versatile tone-wise. How long were they in production? I only saw two of them ever, one was mine and the other belonged to a friend.

This was the one with the on/off button for each of the 3 pickups. I believe it had an active preamp. It also had some kind of Fender designed trmelo with the fine tuners behind the nut.

Did anyone else ever have one of these?

DRH

**wodka** · 10-10-2003, 11:54 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

I had for a bit years ago. They do have a unique tone. I recall having trouble with it staying in tune. I was going to replace the bridge but I sold it. Ty Tabor of King's X uses these. I've thought about picking up a used one lately. Not much information, but that's all I've got. Sorry.

**wodka** · 10-10-2003, 11:54 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

I had for a bit years ago. They do have a unique tone. I recall having trouble with it staying in tune. I was going to replace the bridge but I sold it. Ty Tabor of King's X uses these. I've thought about picking up a used one lately. Not much information, but that's all I've got. Sorry.

**Manyaxes** · 10-10-2003, 01:25 PM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Abalone Vintage has one on there sight. No price though and it also has that wacky locknut! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

**Manyaxes** · 10-10-2003, 01:25 PM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Abalone Vintage has one on there sight. No price though and it also has that wacky locknut! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

**wodka** · 10-11-2003, 12:03 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Oh, and they only made them between 1983 - 1984 I believe. Now that is officially all the info I have.

**wodka** · 10-11-2003, 12:03 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Oh, and they only made them between 1983 - 1984 I believe. Now that is officially all the info I have.

**Jim Shine** · 10-11-2003, 12:36 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Yes, they were made from approximately June 1983-December 1984. This was one of CBS' last ditch efforts to turn things around at Fender as the company was still living in the shadow of the 1970's bad quality. These guitars are very cool guitars on average not appreciated by regular Fender guys. The coolest versions of this guitar are the Walnut Elite, Gold Elite, and Stratoburst finished Elites (Stratoburst is 1/3 of the guitar is painted one color, the rest another and the transition between the two is painted with a contrasting color). The two things that turned off many traditional Strat players is the tremolo unit (which I have been told was made by APM and is a quality unit) and the lack of the standard Strat jackcup on the face. All silly details to not buy one for. These guitars are great and I believe these will be the only true collectable Fender guitars made in that era.

It sounds like your guitar was upgraded by having the Fender fine tune locknut installed. This was a common mod in the day, but as far as I know, it was not a stock item on the Elites. Most Elites I have seen never had them and it wasn't listed in the catalog. Maybe AbaloneVintage can comment here as he has lots of experience with these guitars.

[ October 10, 2003, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: Jim Shine ]

**Jim Shine** · 10-11-2003, 12:36 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Yes, they were made from approximately June 1983-December 1984. This was one of CBS' last ditch efforts to turn things around at Fender as the company was still living in the shadow of the 1970's bad quality. These guitars are very cool guitars on average not appreciated by regular Fender guys. The coolest versions of this guitar are the Walnut Elite, Gold Elite, and Stratoburst finished Elites (Stratoburst is 1/3 of the guitar is painted one color, the rest another and the transition between the two is painted with a contrasting color). The two things that turned off many traditional Strat players is the tremolo unit (which I have been told was made by APM and is a quality unit) and the lack of the standard Strat jackcup on the face. All silly details to not buy one for. These guitars are great and I believe these will be the only true collectable Fender guitars made in that era.

It sounds like your guitar was upgraded by having the Fender fine tune locknut installed. This was a common mod in the day, but as far as I know, it was not a stock item on the Elites. Most Elites I have seen never had them and it wasn't listed in the catalog. Maybe AbaloneVintage can comment here as he has lots of experience with these guitars.

[ October 10, 2003, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: Jim Shine ]

**abalonevintage** · 10-11-2003, 04:07 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Yeah, it was owned by Ty.......Even though I helped design Ty's Zion, I liked the King's X Elite era better. Now he sounds like all the guys that imitated his style......... [img]graemlins/eyes.gif[/img]

The Elite necks vary enormously from one to another.....and weight too.

If you poke around you can find an awesome one.......They all sound great.

Everyone I've had stayed in tune great.

Candy Green with gold parts is a particular fave of mine.

-eric

[ October 11, 2003, 04:11 AM: Message edited by: abalonevintage ]

**abalonevintage** · 10-11-2003, 04:07 AM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Yeah, it was owned by Ty.......Even though I helped design Ty's Zion, I liked the King's X Elite era better. Now he sounds like all the guys that imitated his style......... [img]graemlins/eyes.gif[/img]

The Elite necks vary enormously from one to another.....and weight too.

If you poke around you can find an awesome one.......They all sound great.

Everyone I've had stayed in tune great.

Candy Green with gold parts is a particular fave of mine.

-eric

[ October 11, 2003, 04:11 AM: Message edited by: abalonevintage ]

**DRH** · 10-11-2003, 09:27 PM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Mine was the dark cherry red transparent.

The tremelo unit was great, the first locking one I ever had. The bar was the snap-in type, fit great. It had absolutely no loosness at all. The bridge was right against the body, you could not pull up on the bar.

DRH

**DRH** · 10-11-2003, 09:27 PM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

Mine was the dark cherry red transparent.

The tremelo unit was great, the first locking one I ever had. The bar was the snap-in type, fit great. It had absolutely no loosness at all. The bridge was right against the body, you could not pull up on the bar.

DRH

**roodyrocker** · 10-11-2003, 10:02 PM

Re: Fender Elite series Stratocaster

I bought one of these Strat Elites in black back when new. I still have it and love that thing! In the mid 80's I replaced the stock pickups with Duncan Hot Live wires (18v active system) and changed to a Kahler Pro tremolo. I saved all the original parts but will keep the guitar the way it is now.
The three individual on/off push button switches meant you could get pickup combinations not available with the standard Strat blade switch. An example being the bridge and neck pickups on, the middle pickup off. Remember at the time most standard Strats had a three position blade selector, not five. I also loved the jack being on the edge of the body rather than on the face like standard Strats. The factory tremolo was unlike the standard one and therefore there was no backplate on the back (just like a Kahler equipped guitar). And while the factory tremolo was O.K. it was no where near a Kahler or Floyd. Thats why I installed the Kahler.
Now that I think about it, I've owned my Strat Elite for well over 20 years! I would buy one again if I could too.

Rudy

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