SSS Strats Made in Mexico

The Tex-Mex

This is a short lived model with some differences to the Standard SSS models. It was around for a year before being replaced by the Jimmy Vaughan Tex-Mex (see artists' models).

Specs

Body: Poplar laminate with veneer on the sunburst models.
Neck: Maple
Headstock see picture below.
Fingerboard: Rosewood or Maple 9.5” 241/mm Radius
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver Frets
Nut: 1 11/16" (43mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Vintage Style
Bridge: Vintage Style Tremolo
Pickguard: 3-Ply White/Black/White
Pickups: Tex-Mex Trio (Calibrated, overwound, single coils)
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade Switch
Controls: Master Volume, Tone (Neck), Tone (Mid)
Colors: (306) Black, (309) Candy Apple Red, (332) 2 Color Sunburst, (341) Vintage White, (372) Sonic Blue (Polyester Finish)
Other Features: Models produced in 1996 will have 50th anniversary sticker on the headstock.
Available in 1996 and 1997

The Tex Mex easily differentiated from the standard by the logo and the vintage style tuners.

Flip Flop
This is a special edition of 200 units made in 2004. It has a body and matching headstock in a sparkle which flips from green to blue depending on light, angle and such.

   
The Flip Flop
Specs of the Flip Flop are similar to the Standard other then the finish, the Mint Green 3 ply pickguard and the Fretboard is Maple only.

2016 FSR

This is a 2016 limited edition in Opal White with one off plastic and matching headstock

2002 FSR

This unusual finish is a 2002 FSR not sure how many there are but this one was in the UK
 

2013 FSR

This FSR is in Arizona Sunset Metallic

David Lozeau
In 2015 the artist David Lozeau designed 4 stratocasters for Fender which were released as FSRs not sure of the numbers but a few of these have turned up. He also designed a further one released in a limited edition of 100. There were also 2 custom shop guitars but that's not for here.These all had the same specs as a MIM standard.

This design is Dragon


This is Tree of Life


Sacred Heart


Rose Tatoo


The limited edition of 100 the Vodoo Priest

As at February 2017 the SSS Standard is available in the UK in Arctic White, Black, Brown Sunburst, Candy Apple Red or Lake Placid Blue all with Maple or Rosewood. Retailing at around £550 or so. The Plus top version being around £650 is available in Aged Cherry Burst with Maple or Tobacco Sunburst with Rosewood.
In 2018 the standard strat is still available but in Sunburst only with either a Maple or a Pau Ferro Board.

Mexican Strat Anomalies

One or two very early models have turned up with very odd specs. It seems that there were a few made in those days with very random parts. Here's a quote from a post on strat talk from "harrysmo"
I contacted someone at Fender Customer Support by email with questions about 1990 MIM's. They responded with telling me that 1990 was the year they first started making strats in Ensenada. There were chronic parts shortages while ramping up production. They would get parts from wherever they could to build guitars. They even bought parts from non-Fender suppliers to meet production goals. The Schaller-style tuners were probably bought from an aftermarket supplier, hence no "Fender" designation. The bodies were acquired from U.S. Fender and Squier. The necks were resourced from all Fender divisions to meet demands.
One turned up that appeared to have a US AVRI neck, some pictures

This one has a gold logo the truss rod adjustment at body end neck could be a 60s AVRI


Correct logo but again TRA at body end again possibly an AVRI neck.


Again a gold logo the truss rod adjustment at body end neck could be a 60s AVRI

Mexican Stratocaster Squier Series and Traditional

The Squier series and the Traditional are the same guitar the name was changed in 1996 but nothing else except a change to a 3 ply pickguard. Despite the different name they are both Model 13-3602 Maple neck 13-3600 Rosewood board or 13-3620 Left handed with a Rosewood Board. They are a cheaper guitar than the Standard model having cheaper components fitted, such as the Trapezoid tuners.
Specifications

The left handed version was only available with a Rosewood board and wasn't available in Torino Red.
In 1997 they produced a limited edition of Hank Marvin signature stratocasters in Fiesta Red. 300 units were produced of what was just a different coloured traditional with a signature and only available with a Maple board.

 
Traditional series headstock and a Squier series headstock.

A word about available colours
I have shown what colours were available at different times for some of these guitars if you see one in other colours it doesn't mean it isn't genuine, there are lots of FSRs and short runs of colours which never appear in catalogues.