Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass, P-Bass 1997

In 1998 I was hired by Fender as a “Roadhouse ambassador.” My job description was to travel up to 300 days a year with various music festivals, music tours, and major sporting events such as the ESPN X games. I traveled with a 16 foot trailer called the Fender Roadhouse. The Roadhouse opened up into an interactive exhibit of fender musical instruments — everything from Squier up to the custom shop — that the public could come and play. I was there to answer questions and keep the instruments set-up and in playable condition. (Which wasn’t always easy, since you could be at the New Orleans Jazzfest w/ 95° heat and 95% humidity one day, and then at a snowboard competition in Vail Colorado at 10,000 feet of elevation, 25°, and 2% humidity three days later.)

One side of the Roadhouse was a regularly rotating assortment of guitars that were there for the public to play and ask questions about.

The other side of the Roadhouse was a more permanent display. It was a timeline of Fender’s progression and evolution, and also some items that were meant to be instructive or descriptive of what Fender made.

Among the items on that side of the trailer were an American Standard Stratocaster, Telecaster, and P-bass. There was also an American standard Stratocaster body, only half of which was painted; the other half unfinished allowed people to see what a Strat body looked like under the opaque finish.

It is these 4 items together that I’m offering up for sale.

In 2000, when Fender switched from the “American Standard” line of instruments, to the “American Series” line of instruments, we needed to swap these instruments out on the Roadhouse to keep current.

When I drove the roadhouse trailer to Corona, CA to have the American Series instruments put on the trailer, I asked my boss what he wanted me to do with the three American Standard instruments that were being removed. He told me to cut the headstocks off of them and throw them in the dumpster. 😳

I couldn’t do it. I asked him if I could keep them. He said as long as I didn’t sell them, that was fine with him. Well, it’s been 20 years, so hopefully the statute of limitations on that promise is up.

Obviously this is a one of a kind offer. Included in this offer is all three of the American Standard instruments and the half painted American Standard Strat body, as well as all the written documentation I can provide to prove their provenance, and to prove that I am who I say I am.

I’ll also include a bunch of Fender collectible goodies, including the Roadhouse laminate “crew” and “VIP” passes pictured and some other stuff I’ve been holding on to for 20 years and am ready to let go of.

My asking price is essentially market value for the three instruments (roughly $800 each), + $200 for the Strat body + $150 for the provenance and documentation (and goodies l’ll be including).

My goal is to keep this collection together.

These three instruments traveled together for 2.5 years on the Roadhouse and are a part of Fender’s legacy and history. I’m trying to keep them together and keep their story alive.

If I have no takers or reasonable offers, I’ll piece them out and just sell them for their value as American Standard instruments. But I’d MUCH rather keep them together and keep their story (and mine, I suppose) alive and in the hands of a collector, historian, or general enthusiast. Is it you?

Feel free to drop me a line with any questions!