ELAN III

 

 

The Elan III has a Honduras mahogany neck and body, flamed maple top, ebony fretboard, 22 frets, pearl tuner buttons and gold hardware (though chrome might have been made available as well). The difference with the Elan (I) is that it has a Dimarzio humbucker-single-humbucker pickup configuration and a Floyd Rose Pro/Gold tremolo (factory-fitted Floyd Rose licensed tremolos by Kahler also seem to have been quite normal), as well as sharkfin fretboard inlays. The sharkfin inlays are not pearloid as with other models. They are made of a flat metallic silver material. Also, there is a red accent to the upper left of the sharkfin on the 12th fret. This accent is red metallic material, similar to the sharkfin material.

It used to retail at $1999.99. They may have been intended for the non-domestic (e.g. non-Japanese) market only.

Heartfield colour codes available for this guitar: Amber (720), Sapphire Blue Transparent (727), Antique Burst (737) and Crimson Red Transparent (738). Crimson Red Transparent exists in two variations: The one with clear lacquer (where you can see the off-white binding) and the tinted lacquer (where the binding is also tinted red).

A 1990 Japanese catalogue mentions VBS-Violet Blue Sunburst, ATB-Antique Burst (urethane), AMB-Amber Burst and STR (See Through Red).

First documented month of manufacture: January 1991 (serial number A91071, see guitar below). Last documented month of manufacture: October 1992 (serial number J92276, see guitar below). The guitar appeared in Fender Frontline first in winter (i.e. early) 1991 and last in autumn 1993.

Click on a serial number to view an instrument's known history.

 

  D91787

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: A91071
Remarks: Has a Kahler-branded tremolo. Pickups are Seymour Duncan SH-1.
Above photo credits: The owner, Heartfield Forum member tiboard.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: A91073
Remarks: The colour is Amber.
Above photo credits: The owner, Paul S. Abrams.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: A91176
Remarks: This guitar is unusual because it has the apparently factory-fitted Floyd Rose-licensed Kahler tremolo installed (click here for detail), and all the hardware is black as opposed to the usual gold-plated hardware. The colour is Crimson Red Transparent (tinted).
Above photo credits: The owner, John Simmons.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: B91780
Remarks: Black hardware on this amber Elan III.
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: B91858
Remarks: Black hardware on this amber Elan III, including a Kahler tremolo.
Above photo credits: The owner, Pete Haase.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: D91787
Remarks: Antique Burst.
Above photo credits: The then Wim Visbeen.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: D91800
Remarks: Beautiful Sapphire Blue Transparent!
Above photo credits: The owner, Dan Rozenberg.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: D91804
Remarks: Very nice wood grain on the body of this Crimson Red Transparent Elan III.
Above photo credits: The owner, Debbie Evans.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: D91806
Remarks: The colour is Crimson Red Transparent.
Above photo credits: The owner, John Simmons.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: G91784
Remarks: This is Antique Burst.
Above photo credits: The owner, Ugo Grave.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: H91710
Remarks: This guitar has non-original knobs. The colour is Sapphire Blue Transparent.
Above photo credits: A previous owner, the late Al Reader.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: I91796
Remarks: The bridge pickup has been replaced by a Seymour Duncan. The colour is Amber. Pretty tight tigerstripe on this one!
Above photo credits: The owner, John Simmons.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: I91800
Remarks: All-original Crimson Red Transparent with clear lacquer.
Above photo credits: The owner, Matt Speier.

Type: 1991 Fender Elan III
Serial #: K91782
Remarks: Click here for a detail of the back of the headstock.
Above photo credits: The owner, Dean Medlock.

Type: 1991 Fender Elan III
Serial #: K91786
Remarks: This Amber Elan III with tinted lacquer has gold hardware.
Above photo credits: A previous owner, the late Al Reader.

Type: 1991 Fender Elan III
Serial #: K91788
Remarks: This Crimson Red Transparent has clear lacquer.
Above photo credits: The then owner, Gary Schelin.

Type: 1992 Elan III
Serial #: J92270
Remarks: Click here for a detail of the body, with its beautiful flame maple top.
Above photo credits: The then owner, Raymond Whitlock.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: J92273
Remarks: The colour is Amber.
Above photo credits: The owner, Eric Tolnes.

Type: 1991 Elan III
Serial #: J92276
Remarks: The colour is Amber.
Above photo credits: The owner, Victor Gazal.

 

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