Okay - now the new models for 2012 - we've got the Select Strats, the upgraded American Standards and the new American Vintage models; for the purpose of this list I'm considering the new AV '59 Strat to be one model with either maple or rosewood fingerboards available. Also with the introduction of the new American Vintage series the original AV '57, AV '62, and AV '70s have all been discontinued. At this point it appears the Hot Rod '57 and '62 are still alive, but it also appears that the Highway 1s have finally been discontinued although there are still some available through Fender.
Here are the new additions:
85. American Select Stratocaster (2012 – present) – Similar to the American Deluxe, the Select line is a new upscale model. Features a figured maple top, alder body, pearloid pickguard. Has the rounded neck heel, maple fingerboard, chrome locking tuners and chrome Deluxe bridge with snap-in arm. Compound radius neck (9.5" radius to 14" radius), maple or rosewood fingerboard, 3 American Select single coil pickups. Schaller straplock buttons and locking clips. Tweed case with special American Select medallion.
86. American Select Stratocaster HSS (2012 – present) – Similar to the American Deluxe, the Select line is a new upscale model. Features a figured maple top, alder body, pearloid pickguard. Has the rounded neck heel, rosewood fingerboard, chrome locking tuners and chrome Deluxe bridge with snap-in arm. Compound radius neck (9.5" radius to 14" radius), maple or rosewood fingerboard, 2 American Select single coil pickups and an American Select humbucker. Schaller straplock buttons and locking clips. Tweed case with special American Select medallion.
87. American Standard Stratocaster (version 3 2012 – present) – Continued evolution of the version 2 American Standard with revised thinner finish, aged white plastic parts and the addition of Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s pickups. All other features carry forward. SKB rectangular molded plastic case with TSA-approved locks.
88. American Standard Stratocaster HSS (version 2 2012 – present) – Continued evolution of the American Standard HSS with revised thinner finish, aged white plastic parts, and 2 Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s single coils combined with the Diamondback humbucker. All other features carry forward. SKB rectangular molded plastic case with TSA-approved locks.
89. American Vintage 1956 Stratocaster (2012 – present) – All-new American Vintage series guitars that are even more accurate recreations. The 1956 Stratocaster features a new formula nitro lacquer that is not tinted to resemble an aged guitar, the 10-56 larger soft V shaped neck, maple fingerboard only, single-ply white 8-screw pickguard, new 1956-spec pickups, more accurate replica tuners, bridge saddles, and headstock decal. Now with modern wiring (5-way switch, master volume, tone control for neck pickup, tone control for middle and bridge pickup) from the factory with vintage wiring kit in the case, recreated 1956 manuals, revised and more accurate tweed case.
90. American Vintage 1959 Stratocaster (2012 – present) – All-new American Vintage series guitars that are even more accurate recreations. The 1959 Stratocaster features a new formula nitro lacquer that is not tinted to resemble an aged guitar, a medium-slim D shaped neck available with either a 1-piece maple neck or slab rosewood fingerboard with clay dots (1959 marked the Fender’s transition year to rosewood fingerboards), single-ply white 8-screw pickguard with the maple fingerboard and 11-screw 3-ply nitrate-green pickguard with the rosewood fingerboard, new 1959-spec pickups, more accurate replica tuners, bridge saddles, and headstock decal. Now with modern wiring (5-way switch, master volume, tone control for neck pickup, tone control for middle and bridge pickup)from the factory with vintage wiring kit in the case, recreated 1959 manuals, revised and more accurate light brown tolex case.
91. American Vintage 1965 Stratocaster (2012 – present) – All-new American Vintage series guitars that are even more accurate recreations. The 1965 Stratocaster features a new formula nitro lacquer that is not tinted to resemble an aged guitar, a medium-large C-shaped neck available with a round-laminate rosewood fingerboard and year-correct pearl dots, 11-screw 3-ply white pickguard, new 1965-spec pickups, more accurate replica tuners, bridge saddles, and transition-style headstock decal. Now with modern wiring (5-way switch, master volume, tone control for neck pickup, tone control for middle and bridge pickup) from the factory with vintage wiring kit in the case, recreated 1965 manuals, revised and more accurate black tolex case.