Fender Announces 1997 Collector's Edition Guitars

July 16, 1997 -- Fabulous articles have passed through the world-famous Christie's and Sotheby's over the years, including musical instruments. To avoid and auctioneer's bidding war somewhere in their future, guitar collectors should begin making room in their vaults for an annual new addition. The Fender Collector's Edition Series is making its debut!

The first of the yearly series, the 1997 Collector's Edition Stratocaster®, will be unveiled at Summer NAMM in Nashville. The beautiful three-tone Sunburst finished guitar is a vintage '62 Strat with some unique tweaks.

Fender will only produce 1,997 of these Collector's Edition Stratocasters to make the year it was produced. As an added benefit, a serial plate on each neck ensures the guitar's identity as a limited model.

Considering that Fender's guitar sales are in excess of 400,000 per year, a model from Fender with a limited production number of less than 2,000 is one that will be in high demand.

The 1997 Collector's Edition Stratocaster boasts a rosewood fingerboard dressed with 21 medium-jumbo frets, white pearl dots and a special oval inlay at the twelve fret engraved with the year. Outfitted with Texas Special^TM pickups, the Strat features a brown shell pickguard and gold hardware. A brown vintage strap and brown tolex case with gold lining is also included. U.S. suggested retail price is $1799.99.

For more information, visit their web site at www.fender.com.