Starcaster solid body prototype

guitarnerd.com.au · Post by **guitarnerd.com.au** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 11:17 pm

I had a search and couldn't find a thread on this, so I apologise if it's been posted before. Has anyone seen this?

It's apparently a solid body Starcaster prototype, complete with plate that says "Fender/Rogers/Rhodes, Research & Development Prototype, Equipment S/N 1085"

Here's the link: http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/F ... Type-21512

Love that german carve!

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 4:41 am

WHOA. Rare bird that one!

jimboyogi · Post by **jimboyogi** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 4:58 am

That is fantastic!

I love the way we are seeing some really interesting prototypes come to light lately, both this and the lucite one. It goes to show that Fender were very busy working on new designs in the CBS era, and not just resting on their Leo laurels. This was also the era that the WRHBs were introduced, and Teles got revamped to use them.

If this neck through solid body didn't have those toggles, then I think it would look completely badass. I really love the way that the German Carve routes just kind of stop around the neck, with a rounded route. Dig the pick guard shape as well.

Interesting that it is using Gibson shaped HBs?

loveinathens · Post by **loveinathens** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:08 am

jimboyogi wrote:Interesting that it is using Gibson shaped HBs?

Might be the Seth Lover connection?

Carbohydrates · Post by **Carbohydrates** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:08 am

Hm, would've guessed it'd cost more! I've seen regular production Starcasters at that price point.

Pacafeliz · Post by **Pacafeliz** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:13 am

Carbohydrates wrote:Hm, would've guessed it'd cost more! I've seen regular production Starcasters at that price point.

yeah!

and it's neck-thru. INSANE!

pad · Post by **pad** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:27 am

someone has to do neckcopys for jazzys and jaguars ! (scale wise)

noisepunk · Post by **noisepunk** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:14 pm

Interesting, I somehow like this more than the hollow version.

zakmaster · Post by **zakmaster** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 2:17 am

Very cool post. Interesting guitar.

It is amazing how right Fender got each model so right the first time. Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar. They haven't really come up with anything that rivals them since the early '60s. I know, there are some other cool models. But each of these are so classic, and models like this Starcaster, while cool in their own way, look like they could be developed by another company. Those 4 are so classic Fender.

BTW, I don't mean to insult the bass players. I know the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass also fit the iconic catgory, I just don't know that much about bass.

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 1:50 pm

zakmaster wrote:It is amazing how right Fender got each model so right the first time. Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar. They haven't really come up with anything that rivals them since the early '60s. I know, there are some other cool models. But each of these are so classic, and models like this Starcaster, while cool in their own way, look like they could be developed by another company. Those 4 are so classic Fender.

Basically yes - the Starcaster and the Coronado etc are designs by Roger Rossmeisl who had worked at Rickenbacker previously. So they really were the product of a completely different design aesthetic.

zakmaster wrote:BTW, I don't mean to insult the bass players. I know the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass also fit the iconic catgory, I just don't know that much about bass.

Probably an even stronger win for Leo Fender since he pretty much invented the electric bass guitar, or at least the first practical and successful model. Prior to that the bands were using enormous double basses and if they needed to amplify, they'd put a pickup on the huge acoustic instrument. Obviously it was totally impractical for touring bands. In 1950 Leo came up with both the Precision Bass and a loud amp with a large enough speaker to reproduce bass notes as a package solution. The concept of putting 30" strings on a solid body - and a bass with FRETS! - were roundly mocked at the time but took over completely with the rise of rock music.

gil · Post by **gil** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:48 pm

Wow, that's a really neat prototype. I wonder if Seth Lover had anything to do with those pickups.

gishuk · Post by **gishuk** » Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:27 am

not entirely sure how i feel about this one tbh, to me it looks strangely dated in a way that the final starcaster design doesnt, but the carve and neck through is cool.

FPicker · Post by **FPicker** » Sun Sep 30, 2012 1:38 pm

zakmaster wrote: .

It is amazing how right Fender got each model so right the first time. Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar. They haven't really come up with anything that rivals them since the early '60s.

The first two I'll grant you, but many players disagree about the last two. Players certainly disagreed during their original production lives, to the point where those two models were commercially unsuccessful and Fender discontinued them, in 1980 and 1975 respectively. These models have had a resurgence in recent years, but with many variants from the configurations of those originals. Many purchasers of these variants would not think that the model as originally configured was "so "right", otherwise they would have bought one with the original configuation instead the variant they did purchase. And even with this resurgence of interest and the many variants , these models still represent a niche market IMO.

dfordishes · Post by **dfordishes** » Sun Sep 30, 2012 11:31 pm

Always loved the starcaster shape, but I hate maple fretboards. Great find!

IPLAYLOUD · Post by **IPLAYLOUD** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:42 pm

There is a very similar Bass prototype I have seen. Tuners on the body.
I never saw this guitar. Wow!

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Starcaster solid body prototype

Starcaster solid body prototype

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