I need to know what age & what is special about the Fender Stratocaster handed down to me

I have had a Fender Honey blonde Stratocaster handed down to me.I have been told its a special one.
It has a small round chrome badge on the back of the head with Fender 60 and a diamond shape below that , the serial number starts with Z6.By all accounts its only been played 3 times .Its very clean and looks like new.
I have never owned a Fender before.
Can anyone enlighten me as to what is so special about this Guitar.???
Thankyou :

You can write to <consumer relations> at Fender and Jeff Krause can answer the questions concerning when it was made, where it was made, give you the spec sheet on it and estimate it's worth.
Regards,
kcbuck

Kcbuck ,
Thankyou for the information , I have done just that , Now to see what information I get back .
Cheers Tapman

I'm not that high-tech.... Go to fender.com, click on contacts and select consumer relations. Usually Jeff or Ed will be responding to requests for information....
Regards,
kcbuck

You have a (special) 60th (diamond) anniversary Strat built in 2006 (Z6) made in USA unless there is an M (for Mexico) in front of the Z. Looks like the "Deluxe" model but can't tell for sure. That info might come from your Fender support inquiry.

Fender consumer relations will supply the information or respond to the questions asked so ask all the questions you want answers to. They are not mind readers....
kcbuck

Hi there Stratmanshow,
The info I got from Fender does not support that the Guitar is a deluxe version. It states its an FSR American Stratocaster , American Series . But nothing about A 60th Anniversary Strat.
Over here in England I have been offered 700 English Pounds for it ,

So in your expert opinion , is this a collectable instrument or not .
Dont worry , I will not quote you on it .
Cheers Tapman

Kcbuck ,
Sorry that my other messages sounded as though I was so thick.

I do not use the PC that much & this Instrument is new to me , as I only have a couple of Classical Guitars , not Electric.

But I would like to say that your information was very fruitful& the results for Jeff Krause were very helpful. So I thankyou for your help mate . Have a good weekend ,
Kind Regards
Tapman ( England)

We're a friendly sort in Texas and you are quiet welcomed....

Hi .

I have a relative in Dallas outskirts.

Your right about the friendly atmosphere Texan's emmit .

all the best

Tapman

This is the rear view of the Guitar

Tapman

I live in Acto, TX about am hour from Dallas. However, Ft. Worth has more down to earth people than Dallas. Dallas is more preppie as they have Deep Vellum as a night spot and Ft. Worth has the Stockyards or Cowtown as we call it and Billy Bobs of Texas where ZZ Top played a few weeks ago. The wife and Levi went, I was out of town on business.....

Well Tapman, I am hardly an expert but... sure, it's collectable but it probably has a decade or so to go before it's value starts to move much. The FSR means Fender Special Run and in this case an FSR 60th Ann.... I haven't seen an 06 USA FSR natural ash colour like this before though. Being a FSR it must have .something. special about it ( pickups, finish, or? ) It looks a lot like this Mex model hxxp://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-FSR-Standard- Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar-102545274-i1371719.gc (change the "htxxp" I'm not sure if slash allows links here)
Did Jeff give you any other specs besides "American & FSR" ?

Stratmanshow ,
Well here is the Spec I got , from Jeff .
I hope it loads up for you , because the pic of the rear of the Strat ended up on Community Photos .
Anyway I believe the instrument has a bypass on the lower tone between 9 & 10. Still if the Spec loads up you should see what it has .
Tapman

Stratmanshow
Well it would not upload the file as not a jpeg , So I will Type some of it.
Pickups 3 American Strat Single coil pickups. Standrad pickup settings on the 5 position blade , Controls : master Volume, Tone 1 (neck), Tone2 . delta-ToneTM "no-load" tone control middle & bridge pickups. Strings Fender Super Bullets TM3250L(.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel. p/n 073-3250-003. H/S/H Pickup Routing.Machine Heads : Fender /Schaller Deluxe cast /Sealed tuning machines. Body Ash . Maple Neck, Rosewood fingerboard. 22 Medium jumbo Frets. Scale length 25.5" . Width @ Nut: 1.6875"..
Unique Features: Matching Painted Headstock , Chrome Applique Fender Logo, "Parchment" Knobs & Pickup covers, Original Headstock shape . also came with Hard SKB moulded case,with middle pocket, black Faux Fur interior. RRP:$1499.99 made Nov 2006 , introduced 2007.
There are other details but they are standard .
Waht you say ,
Regards Tapman

OK it's basically this guitar... http://cgi.ebay.com/06-American-Fender-FSR- Stratocaster-Fiesta-Red-New- MINT_W0QQitemZ320362124513QQihZ011QQcategoryZ156025QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It's unusual though because of the natural finish. Why don't you give "learning to play" a try? You've got an advantage over most beginners because you have a good quality guitar to learn on!

Stratmanshow.
I have heard of Power chords & amazing things like diads & triads . Mixalonian & other such wonderful phrases from rock guitarists.
I have a Spanish Guitar and a Ovation applause . But tend to play basic strum Chords and basic Spanish pick themes.
I have tried the Guitar and it does match the Spanish guitar in the Natural colour .
You know , what . I shall keep it - for a while at least and give it a go , might even get a book on how to play Rock , the way you must .
What do you suggest ??
And thanks for all the help you have given so far
Tapman

That "delta tone control" or whatever that was on the middle pickup may be unusual too, to make it an FSR guitar? Great grain structure on that body! It's funny they say in the specs "headstock painted to match body" when they are both natural, not painted, does that count? Ha-ha! I guess I could say the same for my two Peaveys in natural. I never realised that was a special feature until now.

All guitar playing is similar in theory. My favorite (and apparently just about everyone else's) books on theory are the Fretboard Logic series. They are excellent! Get the "Special Edition" for about $15 USD on amazon.com. By far the best $15 you could possibly spend on learning how to play a guitar. If you want to add book 3 or videos later, do that separately. Personally, I don't think the videos are that helpful.

I forgot to mention, it's MOST special feature is that IT WAS HANDED DOWN TO YOU. By who I don't know, but someone must really like you to give you a $1500 guitar for free.

So if you sell it, you'll have a short-term monetary gain, but the guitar would be gone forever. Hold on to it.

Fender just raised their prices here in the states by a substantial margin, which will soon be felt in the used market as well. Even if you decide to "throw away" such a great gift, you be MUCH wiser to do it a year or two from now, when the FULL force of the price increase is felt world-wide all the way down to the used market. I've already seen price increases on used Mexican Fenders on craig's list by about $100, so it IS happening. But you still CAN find the occassional $250 MX Fender too, so not everyone "knows" about the price increase yet.

Shontsy,

Cheers mate , for that info . I will definately hang on to the guitar , sounds I would be a Fool if I were to get rid of it now.

The book sounds a good buy so I will look out for it.

The guitar was handed to me , by a relative who was on his last legs due to a severe illness ( since he has passed on ). I hung on to it for a while but was curious when I was given a letter that said the Guitar was a Special Fender . Although the instrument was in a pre-formed black Fender logo'd case and all the Tags , set up info etc , bumper sticker and Fender Strap was all with it , no Lead . I got curious. Thus why I was advised to join this site more so than any other as was told that I would get a more helpful response . And to date I have .
So thankyou for your input it is very welcomed.
Tapman

Hi there .
Just to let you know , I shall reply to your last coment soon .
Been very busy here .
have a good weekend again , hope your not working and missing out again on anything good .
Cheers Tapman