New Fender American Vintage Series - Waiting Room

[P Bass Legend]

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

Quick update

I got a quote on a 63 P for $1,624.99 with a hard case

The Red color is actually Seminole Red, not Frost Red as previously reported. (I think someone guessed seminole awhile back)

If that's true, I think Fender Custom Shop will have trouble. Selling pretty much the same bass Fender NOS P-bass for a much better price!

[petrus61]

Still, I would trade correct vintage spec for posiflex rods in a heartbeat. I've been lusting after an MIA sonic blue for a looooong time, and at around $1700, these are still my cheapest option for what I want.

[sigmafloyd]

Originally Posted by petrus61

Still, I would trade correct vintage spec for posiflex rods in a heartbeat. I've been lusting after an MIA sonic blue for a looooong time, and at around $1700, these are still my cheapest option for what I want.

What about used MIA plus a refin?

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

What about used MIA plus a refin?

Just priced that out with Pat Wilkins and with shipping and assembly, it works out to be fairly more with a new MIA. I don't buy used, much to the detriment of my wallet. I like a bass to be mine from the start. It's just me.

[the art guy]

Seminole Red, huh? Wow. Looks super cool, but seems like a strange choice. I bet most amateur Fender experts have never even heard of that one.

[D.M.N.]

Come to think of it, I don't think Seminole Red was ever listed as a fender custom colour. Not sure why they didn't just go with Dakota...

From my searching, Fender never released an instrument in Seminole Red, listed as a 59 Cadillac colour. Seminole Red was the name used for this colour red by Cadillac, and was called Cardinal Red by Gibson (same colour). Fender used Dakota Red, which was used on 58 Cadillacs, but is slightly darker, apparently.

Here's a 1960 colour chart:

And a 1966 chart:


It strikes me as very odd that Fender, in releasing the new American Vintage as even more accurate than ever before, would issue a colour that never actually was used in '63, so maybe it is simply an ultra-rare colour? Not sure. More info:
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

[David281189]

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Come to think of it, I don't think Seminole Red was ever listed as a fender custom colour. Not sure why they didn't just go with Dakota...

From my searching, Fender never released an instrument in Seminole Red, listed as a 59 Cadillac colour. Seminole Red was the name used for this colour red by Cadillac, and was called Cardinal Red by Gibson (same colour). Fender used Dakota Red, which was used on 58 Cadillacs, but is slightly darker, apparently.

Here's a 1960 colour chart:

And a 1966 chart:


It strikes me as very odd that Fender, in releasing the new American Vintage as even more accurate than ever before, would issue a colour that never actually was used in '63, so maybe it is simply an ultra-rare colour? Not sure. More info:
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

that's very informative! i've never seen a color chart like that from fender, didn't know it was available on the www

[9mmMike]

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Come to think of it, I don't think Seminole Red was ever listed as a fender custom colour. Not sure why they didn't just go with Dakota...

From my searching, Fender never released an instrument in Seminole Red, listed as a 59 Cadillac colour. Seminole Red was the name used for this colour red by Cadillac, and was called Cardinal Red by Gibson (same colour). Fender used Dakota Red, which was used on 58 Cadillacs, but is slightly darker, apparently.

Here's a 1960 colour chart:

And a 1966 chart:


It strikes me as very odd that Fender, in releasing the new American Vintage as even more accurate than ever before, would issue a colour that never actually was used in '63, so maybe it is simply an ultra-rare colour? Not sure. More info:
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

Mmmmm Dakota Red.

[Big Mike Ipp]

To my knowledge it was a rare color in the 60s, but I'm not 100% sure

[sigmafloyd]

It was the first I had heard of it as well. Keep in mind, it's still not 100% confirmed, but that's what I've heard it called from multiple dealers and I know the color code is SMR, so it makes sense. As others have said, I think the best possible thing that Fender could do is have one wildcard color that they do every year. It seems like an absolute no brainer to me to introduce a '1 year only' color every year along with the standard sunburst/white/black/etc. Would love to see that 63 in surf green.

[Willicious]

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

It seems like an absolute no brainer to me to introduce a '1 year only' color every year...

That would be brilliant.
Did they do that back in the day?

[sigmafloyd]

Originally Posted by Willicious

That would be brilliant.
Did they do that back in the day?

I think all of the custom colors were available in the 60s for an upcharge. It's kind of funny, but I think nowadays some people think of sunburst as a premium color (i've even seen some guitars that were more expensive in sunburst vs. solid) but back then sunburst was thought of as the base model, which is why we see so many sunbursts still around.

Sidenote - i really wish the black 64 J had a matching headstock.

[D.M.N.]

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

It was the first I had heard of it as well. Keep in mind, it's still not 100% confirmed, but that's what I've heard it called from multiple dealers and I know the color code is SMR, so it makes sense. As others have said, I think the best possible thing that Fender could do is have one wildcard color that they do every year. It seems like an absolute no brainer to me to introduce a '1 year only' color every year along with the standard sunburst/white/black/etc. Would love to see that 63 in surf green.

I'll hold out for a 64 Jazz in Burgundy Mist myself.

[basswest]

Originally Posted by denton57

Thanks Sigma for doing the research on this.. It's exciting. Finally different choices for the AV line after years of the same thing. I think it would be cool If they made small changes every year.. Like Sherwood green replacing the red for a year, etc..

Yep, you can bet the revamp is just for starters. Fender will sell these current vintage reissue custom color offerings by the boat load, and then gradually get around to pleasing anyone left behind; turning out Shell pink, Sherwood green, Shoreline gold or whatever particular rainbow finishes people have been screaming about for all these years. But will it be next year.........or 2015 that we see the next choice(s)?

Me? Getting too old to wait around. Trying to decide between Sonic blue and the Brian Wilson model. Have waited a very long time to buy what is (by now) likely to be my last p-bass. I'm pretty stoked about the 63's, and the street price, if it's for real.

[ericbroski]

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Come to think of it, I don't think Seminole Red was ever listed as a fender custom colour. Not sure why they didn't just go with Dakota...

From my searching, Fender never released an instrument in Seminole Red, listed as a 59 Cadillac colour. Seminole Red was the name used for this colour red by Cadillac, and was called Cardinal Red by Gibson (same colour). Fender used Dakota Red, which was used on 58 Cadillacs, but is slightly darker, apparently.

Here's a 1960 colour chart:

And a 1966 chart:


It strikes me as very odd that Fender, in releasing the new American Vintage as even more accurate than ever before, would issue a colour that never actually was used in '63, so maybe it is simply an ultra-rare colour? Not sure. More info:
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

I love the difference in sonic blue's definition.. Six years

[sigmafloyd]

FYI, another good resource for a list of Fender colors is johnk's custom bass order page http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/order.html

[A-Step-Towards]

It was a 10% upcharge for a custom color back in the day. That was such a cool concept, wish they still did it.

[dmk]

Originally Posted by Big Mike Ipp

To my knowledge it was a rare color in the 60s, but I'm not 100% sure

Here's an example of a 63/64 Seminole Red Stratocaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvj0C...LdIv1Q&index=2

I like the fact that Fender is offering a color that would have been considered "custom" from that time era. Shows they are somewhat serious about the Vintage concept. Fender could have easily chosen Dakota Red or Fiesta Red instead.

[D.M.N.]

Huh. Interesting. I'd just like to see a colour chart showing it, or any documentation of it, as this is honestly the first time I've ever heard of it being used by Fender. No mention of it used any year on the site I linked above, which is fairly well regarded, but obviously could well be mistaken. The other interesting thing is the guy mentions an S stamped under the guard, which the linked page described as a practice used to identify instruments sent back to the factory for refinishing. So while Seminole might not appear on the colour charts, maybe it was a very rare, customer request only option. There was a CS Tele in Seminole I found on the internet as well, and there was debate about the historical accuracy of this colour, or whether or not it was ever an official Fender colour.

Still a cool colour, if a little bit of an odd option given that it's fairly obscure and the 65 Strat is already using Dakota Red (and it was available starting in '60).

[sigmafloyd]

luar green is another very rare color that isn't on this chart that I'd love to see make a comeback