OffsetGuitars.com

More info, FWIW:

Before 1960, Custom Colors were truly custom. For instance, a guy would come in and say, I want a Strat in that nice blue color of the new '58 Buick Limited...  or I want a Jazzmaster that matches  ____________ ,  and they'd send some kid on his bike down to the auto paint store (or a similar scenario).

All they did in '60 is consolidate the popular automotive colors and put them on a chart for people to choose from, and stock accordingly. They still did true customs as well, like the famous Pink Sparkle Jag. 

fullerplast wrote: The custom name prefix was simply deleted, probably to avoid confusion (and possibly anger) from people who were paying an extra charge for the privilege of having a "custom color" on their upper line Fenders. Adding the student model to the chart and charging extra for those colors was simply not a good idea from a marketing or manufacturing standpoint.

I have always had the same idea about why they didn't designate the student models with the normal custom color names. At the very least, it makes sense and is probably as good a theory as any at this point.

Plus, I don't think Dakota red would be as cool if it were just called "red" on Jazzmasters 


Justin

it makes sense and is probably as good a theory as any at this point.

Thinking more about this, it also seems that this would free Fender up to use other vendors for the Mustang paint if they wanted (or needed) to. They wouldn't be locked in to having to use a trademarked name brand color (like a $trat owner was specifically paying extra for). That could be a factor, as they made a gazillion of those things during the "guitar boom"  when every kid on the planet wanted to be a rock and roll star.

Interesting stuff on the colour names.
I voted for the Blonde. My refin jaguar has the exact same colour scheme as the black JM (tortie plate, non-matched headstock) but I tend to prefer the lighter colours on the bodies.

1. Blonde
2. Red
3. Head

I'm gonna go for the black one...

I just broke the tie between blonde and black.  Black is obviously the best choice, no question about it .