Homer Haynes Limited Edition (HLE) Stratocaster (1988)

Model info: The Fender Custom Shop was co-founded in 1987 by John Page and Michael Stevens. Though its primary purpose was to produce one-off custom instruments for artists and the public, in 1988 the Custom Shop released its first limited edition Stratocaster, the Homer Haynes Limited Edition (a run of 200). The instrument is based on a 1957 Strat and featured a gold anodized pickguard (a plain white guard was also included in the case), gold hardware, and a Custom Shop logo and serial number (1-200) on the back of the headstock.

Notes: The HLE was Fender’s second offering of a “numbered” limited edition Stratocaster, the first being the 1979 25th Anniversary Stratocaster. The number of the Anniversary Strats produced is believed to be 10,000 (their neckplate bears a number 25XXXX, except for the prototype (#000000) and first production unit (#000001). Only 200 of the HLE Strats were made. Homer Haynes was the guitar-playing half of the musical comedy team Homer & Jethro.