Fender - Special Editions and FSRs

HAL9000

From time to time Fender produce limited runs of, what appear to be, small variations to their existing range. (For instance a couple of years back they turned out some Classic 50s and 60s Strats in non-standard colours.) As far as I see, these specials do not turn up on their website. Is there anywhere where I can see current and upcoming specials?

TheMarlin

These special runs are usually dealer specific.  A dealer will make the special order, and sell the variation as an exclusive. Sweetwater and PGS do this regularly, as do Thomann in Europe. 

as its dealer specific, you need to keep an eye on dealer websites, rather than manufacturer websites. 

ChuckManual

I have one of these.

My Tele is part of a small run (300 or so) that were made in 1994 to celebrate the 40th anniversary ...of the Stratocaster!

It has no Strat appointments and doesn't have a typical Strat colour scheme or anything - so quite what's Stratty about it, I just don't know! But it's a 40th anniversary (of the Stratocaster) Telecaster all the same...

jeztone2

Also some FSR'a are just things sold in other countries & not elsewhere. The Fender Kotzen Strat for example. 

Gibson seem to do a lot with American dealers. I'd no idea that there was a Gibson Les Paul Traditional Floyd Rose!!! But they made some for Guitar Centre I think.

HAL9000

TheMarlin said:

These special runs are usually dealer specific.  A dealer will make the special order, and sell the variation as an exclusive. Sweetwater and PGS do this regularly, as do Thomann in Europe. 

as its dealer specific, you need to keep an eye on dealer websites, rather than manufacturer websites. 

So how guitars does a dealer need to order for Fender to do a special run? If, say, twenty FretBoarders  decided they'd all like to own a surf green Classic 50s Tele with a modern radius board would it happen?

robgilmo

Yes, for a small fortune.

MattFGBI

Factory Special Run. 

They are usually spec'd up by the product team, or in some cases by dealers, and offered as limited models. 

This year I've put together the spec for many of the Euro FSR models that we should see between July and December. 

jeztone2

MattFGBI said:

Factory Special Run. 

They are usually spec'd up by the product team, or in some cases by dealers, and offered as limited models. 

This year I've put together the spec for many of the Euro FSR models that we should see between July and December. 

@MattFGBI May I ask how pricing is
decided? In Japan the Kotzen Strat & Tele are the same retail. In the UK, there's £600 difference? It seems a lot.  

MattFGBI

That was decided before my time in this job so I can't be sure I'm afraid. 

Parker

MattFGBI said:

That was decided before my time in this job so I can't be sure I'm afraid. 

Someone has to ask - any exclusive previews allowed?

SRich

Parker said:

Someone has to ask - any exclusive previews allowed?

What? ..and have the entire FSR run pre-sold before it hits the dealers....now what good would that do???

Er, wait a minute...

guitars4you

TheMarlin said:

These special runs are usually dealer specific.  A dealer will make the special order, and sell the variation as an exclusive. Sweetwater and PGS do this regularly, as do Thomann in Europe. 

as its dealer specific, you need to keep an eye on dealer websites, rather than manufacturer websites. 

endorse that - also runs are done for various major shows like the NAMM Show in LA each year - from time they might be commissioned by a distributor abroad be it UK or EU etc

Big stores in the USA like Guitar Centre with over 100 branches by commission a run of say a Strat in 4 colours with unique based features, be it colour, scratchplate, pick-ups etc - say 250 in each colour so 1000 piece run

midlifecrisis

a few months ago i picked up an FSR telecaste, which originated from andertons. it was nice, a mexican one in blonde, it had the knobs reversed so the switch was the other way round. it was a nice guitar but i ended up returning it to the seller as someone had scratched out the serial number. even though it was proven legit and not stolen, i didnt fancy having to explain that if i came to sell it on