Fender Foto Flame Telecasters and Stratocasters

Norman86

http://xhefriguitars.com/page7.html

The “Foto Flame” series was a short-lived, inexpensive attempt by Fender to compete with a growing “flame top” market such as PRS and Dean guitars. The “Foto Flame” is an thin piece of photographic film of some very highly figured wood laminated to the guitar, (thus the name Foto), developed by Fender, in connection some photographic corporation. (I have heard both Polaroid and Kodak, but most likely Fuji). The Foto Flame guitars, with the flame on top, usually have a Basswood cap on Alder or, in the case of the Foto Flame being on front and back, the whole body can be made of Basswood. When the “Foto Flame,” film is applied to the Basswood top, it makes the guitar appear as if it had high-end matchbook, figured Maple. The way they shrink wrapped this film around the guitar is amazing and it is hard not to think it is real wood. The Japanese are masters at copying, as these guitars testify. In fact, the Fender USA guys "almost cried" when they saw the MIJ quality as Fender USA was trying to get back up on its feet after the CBS buyout in March of 1984.

:drool: :-[

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I have one - a 1994 Strat, curiously in HSS format with a Floyd Rose. Andrew Bryson also has one (same colour and year of manufacture), but his is in the more common SSS configuration. Though mine tends more towards treble than I'd like (I think this has a fair bit to do with the Floyd Rose), it's the best feeling/playing guitar I've ever owned and it's a very well-crafted instrument.

Norman86

Stratisfear wrote: I have one - a 1994 Strat, curiously in HSS format with a Floyd Rose. Andrew Bryson also has one (same colour and year of manufacture), but his is in the more common SSS configuration. Though mine tends more towards treble than I'd like (I think this has a fair bit to do with the Floyd Rose), it's the best feeling/playing guitar I've ever owned and it's a very well-crafted instrument.

Pics please? Or a link to a pic?? :yup:

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Norman86

:-[ Gorgeous!!! Really!!! Thanks Stratisfear!!

Sean

Wow, interesting link, thanks Norman ?

Norman86

Sean wrote:
Wow, interesting link, thanks Norman ?

My pleasure ?

I have been scaling the web for interesting Fender articles / news etc!
So i cant even tell you how i came across this link! lol!

But there is some really interesting info on them guitars, and some really purdy ones on there too!

DonovanB

That is an awesome strat. I call shotgun if you ever sell it.

singemonkey

I can remember back when foto-flame strats were hanging up in Bothners. This technique was also employed on the cheaper made-in-Japan Gibsons - trading under the name "Orville" (the more expensive ones were called "Orville by Gibson") which ultimately became Epiphone Japan, which in turn has largely died out except for the Elitist line.

Here's a typical Orville foto-flame top LP:

Norman86

They aren't exactly ugly guitars hey!!

Photo flame quilted maple on swamp ash vs true quilted maple... Might be a tonal difference, but i wont mind! Its mostly looks anyways! In my humble (probably untrained) opinion!

MIKA-the-better-one

I cant stand the foto flame look........ I think its the same as gold hardware, just dont like it

Sean

singemonkey wrote:

LOL , somehow I knew a pic of a Les Paul would find its way onto this thread ?

Norman86

MIKA the better one wrote: I cant stand the foto flame look........ I think its the same as gold hardware, just dont like it

Horses for courses Mika...

I cant stand gold hardware either, but on the right strat, it looks awesome!
I saw a stunning example a few weeks ago at Costa's place!
I didnt think i'd like it! and i did!

So it just depends on the looks, how well its executed etc!!

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?

The Resident Arbiter of Taste will admit no reasoning, Norman.

Norman86

I will say, the epi's photoflame doesnt look nearly as well executed as some of the fenders on the link i posted!
Nevermind your strat Stratisfear! Yours is seriously beautiful! i can only imagine what it looks like in real life!!!

raithza

If you like that you should check out the aerodyne strats - same vibe but with binding as well!

very pretty (for a strat)

Sean

Norman86 wrote: Nevermind your strat Stratisfear! Yours is seriously beautiful! i can only imagine what it looks like in real life!!!

And what is appealing (to me) is that the flame is more subtle than many on the link. Much nicer imo ?

singemonkey

Norman86 wrote: I will say, the epi's photoflame doesnt look nearly as well executed as some of the fenders on the link i posted!
Nevermind your strat Stratisfear! Yours is seriously beautiful! i can only imagine what it looks like in real life!!!

Not an Epi. An Orville.

Are the Aerodynes foto-flame, or wood veneer?

Norman86

raithza wrote: If you like that you should check out the aerodyne strats - same vibe but with binding as well!

very pretty (for a strat)

Not bad... Except foe the ugly neck plate and weird ass thing going on at the back there!
That alone actually puts me off of it!

If it had a normal neck back and plate, i would consider it!

singemonkey wrote:
Norman86 wrote: I will say, the epi's photoflame doesnt look nearly as well executed as some of the fenders on the link i posted!
Nevermind your strat Stratisfear! Yours is seriously beautiful! i can only imagine what it looks like in real life!!!
Not an Epi. An Orville.

Are the Aerodynes foto-flame, or wood veneer?

My mistake, sorry! I meant Orville!! :-[

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It's a veneer/cap - the back and sides are the basswood grain, AFAIK.