Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

For anything to do with Fender, Burns and other guitars; also amps, effects units inc eTap plus any other music making accessories

Moderators: David Martin, dave robinson, Iain Purdon, George Geddes

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby dave robinson » Fri Oct 04, 2019 10:30 am

The '59 Strat came from Manny's in New York over ten years ago and was previously owned by American blues man Taj Mahal. It is one of the very first rosewood slab boards when Fender decided to make the switch from maple. A certain guitar dealer from Doncaster who had a shop in Leeds, tried to get it from my friend for in excess of £35,000 but he declined the offer.
I can confirm the neck date is 1959 as it is with the documentation from Manny's sale receipt, but Malc couldn't remember the month and he wouldn't take the neck off to have a peep. ;)
Dave Robinson
User avatar
dave robinson
 
Posts: 5937
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:34 pm
Location: Sheffield
Full Real Name: David Robinson

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby abstamaria » Sat Oct 05, 2019 12:40 pm

Based on the posts by Dave and Rob, the color of 34346 was most likely the shade we call Fiesta Red now, give or take some tonal variation. We do not know whether Fender referred to it as “Fiesta Red” in 1959; that is probably likely, at least in the factory, because that name was already in Dupont’s list (having been used on the ‘56 TBird) and the fact that Fender used the name in its 1960 color chart.

0328C6CF-1BBB-463C-9D83-743C2B18D529.jpeg
0328C6CF-1BBB-463C-9D83-743C2B18D529.jpeg (44.52 KiB) Viewed 6709 times
User avatar
abstamaria
 
Posts: 1225
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:27 am
Full Real Name: Andres Sta. Maria

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby RayL » Sun Oct 06, 2019 8:17 am

Last Friday night (Sept 4th) BBC4 did a re-run of 'Rock'n'Roll Britannia' which included Bruce with 34346 on the table in front of him. It may have been re-sprayed in its long life but the colour looked a good solid pink to me.
User avatar
RayL
 
Posts: 1256
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:25 pm
Location: Carshalton, Surrey
Full Real Name: Ray Liffen

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby fenderplucker » Sun Oct 06, 2019 2:14 pm

From interview with Bill Carson:

"Tell me about Fender’s custom colors. Did you see those on offer at that time?"

"As nearly as I can remember, George Fullerton suggested this—in fact he went to a local paint store to do the first custom colors to be put into production. I was working for Fender on a full-time basis and was involved in that to some degree, however it was not my idea, because some of the colors that he picked I thought were very feminine. I did not think that we would ever sell any of them, especially like fiesta red and ocean turquoise and some of those sissy-looking things—and they went on to do very well [laughs]. I didn’t think much of them".

Paul
fenderplucker
 
Posts: 275
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:51 pm
Full Real Name: Paul Rossiter

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby bor64 » Sun Oct 06, 2019 5:23 pm

Hi Paul,

I've read Bill's comments about custom colours and at that time I had a good laugh about his statements....
One of his personal strats was also red ... Cimarron red....also in the same ballpark as that sissy colour fiesta...
The Bill Carson's signature strat of later years was also Cimarron red.

Hi Dave,
Off course your mate isn't looking forwards to brake the bond between body and neck for a peak....neither am I (the last time I removed one of my pre -cbs necks (set up)was years ago).
35K is a lot of money, you can buy a almost pristine f red strat for near about that price....so I reckon the purchase price for the dealer is way lower.
So I can imagine if "that" dealer was intended to pay 35k the selling price would be :shock:

Cheers Rob
Last edited by bor64 on Mon Oct 07, 2019 12:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"afterwards everyone is clairvoyant"
User avatar
bor64
 
Posts: 529
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:22 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Full Real Name: Rob Aartsen

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby bor64 » Sun Oct 06, 2019 10:24 pm

With this picture all of the above mentioned "sorrows" began ;)

https://app.box.com/s/a661sfms2viemygr60h8pap3317vzn5z


Cheers Rob
Last edited by bor64 on Mon Oct 07, 2019 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"afterwards everyone is clairvoyant"
User avatar
bor64
 
Posts: 529
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:22 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Full Real Name: Rob Aartsen

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby abstamaria » Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:08 am

Thanks, Paul. In Duchossoir's book, George Fullerton recounts he had the shade he had in mind mixed at the local paint store, and Fiesta Red was the result. He reckons it was late 1957 or early 1958.

What bothers me about the story is that a color very similar to what we now regard as Fiesta Red was used on the 1956 Thunderbird, which Dupont supplied and Ford called “Fiesta Red.” Before it cane out with its first color chart in 1960, Fender offered custom paint in any Dupont color and appears to have used Dupont almost exclusively. All that seems to run counter to Fullerton’s recollection.
User avatar
abstamaria
 
Posts: 1225
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:27 am
Full Real Name: Andres Sta. Maria

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby bor64 » Mon Oct 07, 2019 12:50 pm

Andy,

That's my vision too.....it's to much coincidently .
I've wrote is a earlier reply, my guess is it was the other way around .
Walking by a Fiesta red 2219-H T-Bird a few times...and presto....
In that same reply I mentioned that a few of the old hands from the early days at Fender are claiming all the same influence on the development of the strat.
Even the ex- head of sales is talking Freddy Tavares down... and claimed, he had more influence in the development part of the strat....

Cheers Rob
"afterwards everyone is clairvoyant"
User avatar
bor64
 
Posts: 529
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:22 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Full Real Name: Rob Aartsen

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby dave robinson » Mon Oct 07, 2019 1:24 pm

Well the Fender employees can claim as loud as they like, but the colour 'Fiesta red' already existed before it was used on a Strat. It's a Dupont Ducco colour - end of. :|
Dave Robinson
User avatar
dave robinson
 
Posts: 5937
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:34 pm
Location: Sheffield
Full Real Name: David Robinson

Re: Roman Red (that Fiesta Red topic again)

Postby abstamaria » Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:40 pm

bor64 wrote:Andy,

That's my vision too.....it's to much coincidently .
I've wrote is a earlier reply, my guess is it was the other way around .
Walking by a Fiesta red 2219-H T-Bird a few times...and presto....
In that same reply I mentioned that a few of the old hands from the early days at Fender are claiming all the same influence on the development of the strat.
Even the ex- head of sales is talking Freddy Tavares down... and claimed, he had more influence in the development part of the strat....

Cheers Rob


Your story is far more credible, Rob.
User avatar
abstamaria
 
Posts: 1225
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:27 am
Full Real Name: Andres Sta. Maria

PreviousNext

Return to Gear

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 28 guests

Ads by Google
These advertisements are selected and placed by Google to assist with the cost of site maintenance.
ShadowMusic is not responsible for the content of external advertisements.