At the dawn of the Schultz era, things began to come back into focus, and in 1985, with Schultz and his investors now owning the company, Fender faced one of its most daunting design challenges yet: Build a better Stratocaster. Not a reissue, not a cost cutter, not a “Cadillac,” not an import — just a basic U.S. Strat. "It's an American rock 'n' roll icon. There is no more recognizable guitar in contemporary music than the Strat". Who can forget the singular sound of the Everly Brothers' guitar in 'Wake Up Little Susie' and 'By By Love'? It was the sound of a Gibson flat top, one of the finest acoustic guitars ever produced. The buzz was Kramer and Jackson in that mid-’80s era. But when George Blanda and Dan Smith came up with the American Standard, it seemed to be the right thing at the right time. This 50th anniversary model features three new Custom Shop Vintage 1954 single-coil pickups, a special commemorative 50th anniversary neck plate, and “Parchment” knobs and pickup covers. The construction, technology and player-centric design of this guitar makes it truly state of the art. With the recreation of the Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster guitar, we acknowledge our past. With the 2004 American Deluxe Series 50th Anniversary Stratocaster, our eyes are focused firmly on the future. The other key detail: It would be made in the U.S.A. To make sure no one missed the point, the new guitar would be called “American Standard.” Conspicuous designation of the U.S. origin of certain models or whole series would be a regular fixture of Fender strategies from now on. (American Standards built in 1994 bear a red, white, and blue medallion on the headstock, commemorating the instrument’s 40th anniversary. "From a technical standpoint, it was a genius invention because it's absolutely practical -- it moulds into the body perfectly. As soon as you hold one, it embraces you," said Smith, an acclaimed jazz recording artist. Beginner Guitar Lesson.
