Trying to find info on my Custom Shop Strat

[paulman]

So I want to sell my Custom Shop Strat that I've had since the late 90's so I can buy @Lt. Bob's Mark V. Of course I want to give all the information I can about it to potential buyers. Problem is, the serial number doesn't come up in the Fender database (they tell you straight up it's not a complete database and that if your SN doesn't come up they can't help you) and it's really hard to figure out for sure exactly what the model is. I bought it brand new at a Guitar Center in either 1999 or 2000. Saw it, played it, fell in love with it, racked up a credit card and bought it. Never knew any details on it, I don't think I paid much attention to the manual or anything that came with it and has long since been lost. I do know that it's an American Classic, which is the Custom Shop version of the American Standard. Pretty sure the pickups are Texas Specials. But I haven't figured out what year it is. I keep seeing conflicting information on how to interpret the serial number, which is CN506878. And every time I think I've found the correct model, the color isn't listed as a possibility (Daphne Blue). I know some of ya'll are WAY more knowledgeable about this stuff than I am. Anybody able to help?

Here are some pics. It's in great shape, but I still need to clean it up a bit.

IMG_1300.jpeg

IMG_1301.jpeg

IMG_1302.jpeg

IMG_1303.jpeg

IMG_1304.jpeg

[Lt. Bob]

purty guitar man!

I'm not knowledgeable about Strats so hope someone else can help.
Oooh ..... I have a Facebook group with a couple of guys that might know something ..... I'll check

[Greg_L]

Look at the pot codes. There might be dates on them. Also in the neck pocket.

[CrowsofFritz]

C means cort or custom (most likely custom) and N means 90s. If the next number is 5, it is most likely a ‘95. I say most likely because there’s delays from production to the finished product at the end of the year.

[CrowsofFritz]

Well, ignore my comment on the numbers. That could be wrong. The lack of uniformity in Fender serials is astounding.

[paulman]

Well, ignore my comment on the numbers. That could be wrong. The lack of uniformity in Fender serials is astounding.

That's the problem I've been running into. Every time I think I've got it, I don't.

[paulman]

Look at the pot codes. There might be dates on them. Also in the neck pocket.

Thanks Greg, I'll do that.

[paulman]

purty guitar man!

I'm not knowledgeable about Strats so hope someone else can help.
Oooh ..... I have a Facebook group with a couple of guys that might know something ..... I'll check

Thanks, that would be great!

Yeah, she's a beaut. I drove from Ft. Rucker, AL to Atlanta just to go to Guitar Center and find myself a mid-level black Strat. I found one, played it, then looked up and saw this hanging way up above everything else, calling to me like an angel from heaven. I just wanted to see it up close, didn't think I'd buy it. Once I played it, it was all over. It plays like butter. When I got to the Navy band here in Jacksonville, the lieutenant made fun of this guitar, asked me if I got it from a pawn shop. He just didn't like the color, cause he was an old fuck with apparently the same pedestrian taste in guitars that he had in rock music. But when I handed it to him to play, he was blown away. Took back everything he said except that he didn't understand why I'd choose that color.

As great as it is, my Tele is more versatile and customized exactly the way I want. And nothing beats @muttley's pickups. So the Tele is all I ever really play, as evidenced by the rusty strings on the Strat. I'm not dying to get rid of it, but I'd certainly rather have your Mark V. And I ain't gonna find a better deal than what you're offering.