Opinion on 2008 American standard in front of 2010 American standard

[bluejazzoid]

you are a businessman

Heh - perhaps in the sense that I thoroughly enjoy the business of taking Strats apart and putting them back together.

I love playing, and I've played Strats a long time, so my tinkering arose from having screwdrivers handy and having the desire to have them play, sound and feel the way I like them.

 

[Stratafied]

Can’t go wrong with either, welcome to strat talk. Don’t listen to those Les Paul guys.

 

[Hanson]

Guyes! This is my first post ever on this forum and you are so kind and helpful! Thank you all.

first 2pics is 2008.
And other 2 is 2010 with more buatifull neck. But on a plate you see this spot from sticker View attachment 505790

Well, they are both Black, so you can’t go wrong.

Check for fret wear and go with the least amount of fret wear.

 

[Baelzebub]

Guyes! This is my first post ever on this forum and you are so kind and helpful! Thank you all.

first 2pics is 2008.
And other 2 is 2010 with more buatifull neck. But on a plate you see this spot from sticker View attachment 505790

It's a very friendly place with lots of knowledgeable people. Hope you stick around.

That first serial number is on the Fender site but it doesn't list a make. It's pretty clearly and American Standard though and a 2008. One reason the other neck might feel better is that the neck on the first pic looks a little off.

See how the 12th fret dots don't fall between the D/E and G/B strings?
Compare it to the neck on the second guitar.

It looks a little off to the bass side but it's an easy fix. You loosen the neck bolts and pull the neck up as you hold the body and then tighten them up again. Very common and easy.

The second serial number doesn't come up in Fender's database at all, but that's not uncommon. Not all sellers/buyers register their instruments.

What's a bit more concern is that of the two less reliable databases that just use an algorithm to parse the numbers comes up with a wrong year and country for that neck, at least. But as I said, they're not really all that reliable, and on the face of it, that looks to be what the seller says...a 2010.

One way to be fairly certain is to get the numbers off the back of the pots and see what year those were. It's always a good idea, if possible, to get a look under the hood. You'll be able to confirm pickup types, date codes on the pots and see if the soldering is original.

Understand, I'm not looking to cause any alarm here, just giving you an idea of how to go about picking them apart.

If you're talking about the sticker imprint on the pickguard, as pointed out that's easily replaced. And that, to me, would indicate that that guitar sat for a long time without being played.

If that's the case it should have very little fret wear, which would also make it the better choice, assuming the 2008, which you said needs some setup, has either more fretware or is in need of more than just a typical setup, as in needs some frets leveled or something else.

Not that needing a setup is unusual. Most guitars, even new from the manufacturer can benefit from one. You should learn to do those yourself if you don't already know how.

You can find lots of help with that here, also.

 

[SnakeJake]

Especially on a stratocaster forum.

I did NOT advise ANYONE to buy a Gibson. I bought one. AND I bought A Strat. AND I bought a Tele. I say play what you feel is best for YOU. Play the guitar no matter what make that gives you the sound you are looking for. Play the guitar that makes you a better player. Be was my first choice. I to was my second choice. My third choice was something different. It took me 32 years get my Strat. I played that one for 7 years. Still do when I want to rock out. My Tele I use for country lead work. The third guitar I use for Gospel compositions. I never intended to insult anyone here. But I can't help wondering if at least one of you folks have something outside of Fender and why?

 

[Sparque]

A limerick, in honor of this occasion;

I love my Fender Strat
And whenever my wallet is fat
I consider buying a Les Paul
They are very costly, after all
I guess I'm more a player than an aristocrat


Okay, I'm gonna shut up now.

 

[bgmacaw]

Don't buy guitars based on "year" or other arbitrary labels. Instead, look at the features (pickups, neck radius, etc) and if you like how it feels and looks to you.

I also strongly recommend playing and examining any guitar you're considering buying before purchase, especially in the price range you're looking at, if at all possible. That way you can detect wear and possible modifications before you buy and you can probably tell if the guitar meets your expectations.

 

[rockon1]

My motto-never buy signature models. Theyt were made for someone else.

 

[mork_sorka]

It's a very friendly place with lots of knowledgeable people. Hope you stick around.

That first serial number is on the Fender site but it doesn't list a make. It's pretty clearly and American Standard though and a 2008. One reason the other neck might feel better is that the neck on the first pic looks a little off.

See how the 12th fret dots don't fall between the D/E and G/B strings?
Compare it to the neck on the second guitar.

It looks a little off to the bass side but it's an easy fix. You loosen the neck bolts and pull the neck up as you hold the body and then tighten them up again. Very common and easy.

The second serial number doesn't come up in Fender's database at all, but that's not uncommon. Not all sellers/buyers register their instruments.

What's a bit more concern is that of the two less reliable databases that just use an algorithm to parse the numbers comes up with a wrong year and country for that neck, at least. But as I said, they're not really all that reliable, and on the face of it, that looks to be what the seller says...a 2010.

One way to be fairly certain is to get the numbers off the back of the pots and see what year those were. It's always a good idea, if possible, to get a look under the hood. You'll be able to confirm pickup types, date codes on the pots and see if the soldering is original.

Understand, I'm not looking to cause any alarm here, just giving you an idea of how to go about picking them apart.

If you're talking about the sticker imprint on the pickguard, as pointed out that's easily replaced. And that, to me, would indicate that that guitar sat for a long time without being played.

If that's the case it should have very little fret wear, which would also make it the better choice, assuming the 2008, which you said needs some setup, has either more fretware or is in need of more than just a typical setup, as in needs some frets leveled or something else.

Not that needing a setup is unusual. Most guitars, even new from the manufacturer can benefit from one. You should learn to do those yourself if you don't already know how.

You can find lots of help with that here, also.

thank you, man!
I checked 2 guitars by serials: what you mean first doesn’t make a list,
Second one selled like 2011 but is 10prefix number of first half of 2010.

about dots on 12 fret: never knew it. I feeled leek neck not exactly strait really need adjustment.

I will really think I out second one. Many this week could go there

 

[mork_sorka]

See how the 12th fret dots don't fall between the D/E and G/B strings?
Compare it to the neck on the second guitar.

It looks a little off to the bass side but it's an easy fix. You loosen the neck bolts and pull the neck up as you hold the body and then tighten them up again. Very common and easy.

See how the 12th fret dots don't fall between the D/E and G/B strings?
Compare it to the neck on the second guitar.

It looks a little off to the bass side but it's an easy fix. You loosen the neck bolts and pull the neck up as you hold the body and then tighten them up again. Very common and easy

Thank you for this also. Already by pic can say that the second guitar gave a same issue

 

[Baelzebub]

thank you, man!
I checked 2 guitars by serials: what you mean first doesn’t make a list,
Second one selled like 2011 but is 10prefix number of first half of 2010.

about dots on 12 fret: never knew it. I feeled leek neck not exactly strait really need adjustment.

I will really think I out second one. Many this week could go there

I mean it shows up on the Fender site but it doesn't say what model guitar it is.

 

[John C]

thank you, man!
I checked 2 guitars by serials: what you mean first doesn’t make a list,
Second one selled like 2011 but is 10prefix number of first half of 2010.

about dots on 12 fret: never knew it. I feeled leek neck not exactly strait really need adjustment.

I will really think I out second one. Many this week could go there

Those "10xxxxxx" serial numbers don't show up in Fender's online serial number search function; the were most often incorrectly entered into the database that this function searches. Evidently serial numbers are manually entered at some point in the process; I've heard that it is supposed to be entered by the dealer when they sell an instrument.

 

[SIngles Forever]

Hello, friends. I am buying American standard. And I found 2 of them in my country.
2008 for 1.400$ - and guy sad that is one of best. Played in front of some custom shops and another am standards. And all was bit them.
I went and played it. It was really great. Didn’t play strats for long time and I was so impressed. Guitar need setup. Not been played for long time.

and second one 2010 (10 prefix serial) American standard for 1.150. I don’t know (should play).
Identical guitars. I heard 2008- was some kind of unique year with especially great instruments.
neck on a second have more intresting structure

2008 is not 'better' than 2010 for a standard. That guy is full of it. They are very similar and it really just depends on which feels and sounds better to you.

 

[diogoguitar]

they are the same guitar.
The only thing I can remember is in 2012 they added custom shop pickups, but that was after this 2010 time frame.
Don't pay a premium for the 2010 .. it doesn't make any sense.

 

[wyldelife]

Guyes! This is my first post ever on this forum and you are so kind and helpful! Thank you all.

first 2pics is 2008.
And other 2 is 2010 with more buatifull neck. But on a plate you see this spot from sticker View attachment 505790

The serial on the 2010 looks off.
My 2011 starts off with “US11

 

[tygr1]

This ^.

 

[bluejazzoid]

The serial on the 2010 looks off.
My 2011 starts off with “US11

Not all 2010 Strats have the "US" prefix..... there are some 2010 Strats with serials like the one being discussed (see here).

 

[John C]

The serial on the 2010 looks off.
My 2011 starts off with “US11

This ^.

Not all 2010 Strats have the "US" prefix..... there are some 2010 Strats with serials like the one being discussed (see here).

While I posted in the thread that @bluejazzoid linked to I'll post again here: Fender used the "10xxxxxx" format for roughly the first 3-4 months of 2010, once they had used up the last of the 2009 (Z9xxxxxx") decals. As many of you know Fender serial number decals come in 2 parts - one says "Serial Number" and has the prefix that denotes the year; the other is a 6-digit number. For this "10xxxxxx" format the "10" and the other 6 digits are almost the same font. Circa April 2010 they switch to the current format of "USYYxxxxxx" - so from roughly April 2010 to March 2011 they use the "US10xxxxxx" serial numbers, then in March 2011 the year is updated to "US11xxxxxx", etc. The "changeover" seems to be a bit earlier these days, more February than March (when you check the neck dates).

As I mention in that thread that @bluejazzoid linked Fender still has a typo on their USA serial number page that says the serial numbers that start with "10" should be followed by 7 digits; that is wrong, the "10" is followed by 6 digits.

 

[mork_sorka]

The serial on the 2010 looks off.
My 2011 starts off with “US11

This was period they try new number system. It does not worked so they come back to older system in second half of 2010 vs US10 numbers

 

[jackietreehorn]

I think 2010 was a unique year in a sense that the four digits arranged in that particular order haven’t been used in 4,020 years to denote what year it is. As for strat production, I think the biggest difference is probably the serial number.