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CBS USA STRATOCASTERS

1968 Stratocaster

Stratocaster Line CBS (1968- 1971)

Colors:

STANDARD:

Blonde

Sunburst (No upcharge)

CUSTOM: (Order Only)

Black

Olympic White

Candy Apple Red

Lake Placid Blue Metallic

Sonic Blue

Ice Blue Metallic (-1968)

Charcoal Frost Metallic (-1968)

Seafoam Green (-1968)

Teal Green Metallic (-1968)

Dakota Red (-1968)

Fiesta Red (-1968)

Ocean Tuquoise Metallic (-1970)

Firemist Gold (-1970)

Firemist Silver (-1970)

MODEL# Not Implemented

BODY

Wood: Alder or Ash

Lacquer: Nitrocellulose (some) or Polyester

Shape: Standard Stratocaster

Contour: Moderate Carve

Pickguard: 3-Ply White ABS Plastic

Serial: Neckplate |6-Digits

NECK

Wood: Maple + Skunk Stripe

Fretboard:

Indian Rosewood (standard)
2-Piece Maple with No Skunk Stripe (returned 1969) (on request)

Inlay: Plastic Pearloid Dots

Side Inlay: Plastic Pearloid Dots

Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose or Polyester

Neck Profile: Standard “C”

Neck Thickness .850 - .960 (Varies)

Headstock: CBS Large Profile (Nitro Finished Front)

Nut Width: 1.650” (41.9 mm +/-) Varies

Nut Material: Bone

Scale: 25.5"

Radius: 7.25”

#Frets: 21

Fretwire: 6230 Vintage Frets

Trussrod: Heel Adjust Single-Action

MicroTilt: No

Heel Stamps: Large Date Stamp (Ex: 2NOV65B)

HARDWARE

Bridge: 6-Screw Synchronized Tremolo

• Mount Spacing: 2-7/32 (56.4mm)

• String Spacing: 2–7/32 (56.4mm)

Saddle: Bent Steel Pat.Pend Saddles

Block: Milled Steel

Trem Arm: 10-32

Tuners: Schaller Germany F-Tuners

String Tree: 1 x Butterfly (Plastic Spacer)

Knobs: White ABS Knobs

Neckplate: Chrome 4-Bolt “F” + Serial

Strap Buttons: Standard

ELECTRONICS

Switch: 3-Way CRL-1452 / White Tip

Wiring: Standard Selection (N/M/B)

Pots: 3 Pots

1 x CTS 250k Master Volume
2 x CTS 250k Tone (#1 for Neck #2 Middle)

Treble Bleed: Green Mylar 0.47uf

Pickup Config: SSS

Neck Pickup: Grey Bobbin Staggered Pole Single-coil

Middle Pickup: Grey Bobbin Staggered Pole Single-coil

Bridge Pickup: Grey Bobbin Staggered Pole Single-coil

CASE: Black Tolex Case with Orange Interior (Optional)

INFO:

Some major changes done by 1968:

Decal now changed to black style with two Pat.No under and large “With Syncronized Tremolo” . The decal was now applied under lacquer, which was still nitrocellulose because polyester would destroy the decal. So necks where now part Polyester with Nitro lacquer on front headstock. The decal also changes to have just one pat.no by 1970.
Fender ends deal with Kluson and signs contract with Schaller Germany to make the new F-Style tuners.
Nitrocellulose is gradually changed to Polyester/Polyurethane, But some still have Nitrocellulose necks trough 1968 with Polyester bodies
PVC Wiring is used instead of cloth-wire
Lower value green mylar capacitor replaces the Dime caps.
Skunk stripe maple necks on order since 1969
Model Numbers are first seen in 1970 Price lists.