NGD - 2004 Fender MIJ ST-43 Stratocaster in CAR

[PawFurro]

Well I couldn't get this old CAR strat out of my head since I tried it back in Jan - even though I eventually picked up a new American Performer!

I didn't go with it the first time as my head said it's got a chunkier neck than I've been playing with a gloss back (I'm used to satin), vintage frets, ceramic (I think) pickups with a fair bit of hum in positions 1, 3 & 5, corroded saddles and a number of dings from life but it had awesome tone & just a certain "mojo".

So when I noticed they had reduced the price and they accepted a slightly lower offer (it had been listed for 18 months!) I pulled the trigger with the intention of giving it a go and if I don't like it I can sell it and shouldn't lose anything, otherwise my Performer or Player Tele may go!

If anyone else has a MIJ Standard tell me what you think of yours - this one is an R serial number.

 

[Lonn]

That sat unsold for 18 months? Gorgeous.

 

[PawFurro]

That sat unsold for 18 months? Gorgeous.

They initially had it at the equivalent of USD$900 which was a bit ambitious and it gradually kept coming down until I got it for the equivalent of US$530. Plus you aren't down here @Lonn

The guy in the shop also said that no-one wants red guitars and that if it was black or Olympic white it would have sold ages ago!

 

[Lonn]

Ha!

 

[PawFurro]

Well it's definitely a bit budget on the inside with a PCB switch, mini pots, ceramic magnets and no shielding at all but it does sound good and the routing and finish is super-clean! I ran out of shielding tape so only put a bit in around the controls for now.


Put it back together, gave the rosewood a good bit of lemon oil, changed out the grimey string tree and knobs and gave it a bit of a clean and it came up alright!

Only things to do now are finish the shielding job and get some new Gotoh saddles & an output jack plate as they are a bit corroded and I'm done!

 

[Murdog]

Nice! HNGD!

 

[pcampbell]

That would have been difficult to resist, for sure. CAR just looks so good on a strat.

Congrats.

 

[PawFurro]

That would have been difficult to resist, for sure. CAR just looks so good on a strat.

Congrats.

Thanks!

CAR really does look good on a strat and I've been GASing for one for a while.

What I didn't realise is how much it changes depending on the light and angle - I saw it for the first time in sunlight today and wow! Also the back of the neck is also a bit flamed in addition to having a cool grain too!

 

[ETucc]

That sat unsold for 18 months? Gorgeous.

That’s what I was thinking! There’s even some light figuring in the neck… I would just put some new saddles on there from Fender and deck the trem… dreamy.

 

[LostPlectrum]

The guy in the shop also said that no-one wants red guitars

No one wants red guitars?! Madness.

 

[ETucc]

No one wants red guitars?! Madness.

Fiesta, Dakota, Candy Apple, Candy Cola, Torino…

 

[PawFurro]

That’s what I was thinking! There’s even some light figuring in the neck… I would just put some new saddles on there from Fender and deck the trem… dreamy.

Yeah this is one heck of a neck - the rosewood really needed a bit of oil as it transformed to a nicer darker colour and the edges arent rolled but not sharp. Action is nice and low too with the vintage frets

 

[PawFurro]

No one wants red guitars?! Madness.

He also mentioned 3TSB as unpopular which I happen to also like.

I guess I'll do a family shot of my misfits at some stage

 

[ETucc]

Yeah this is one heck of a neck - the rosewood really needed a bit of oil as it transformed to a nicer darker colour and the edges arent rolled but not sharp. Action is nice and low too with the vintage frets

Stop rubbing it in!

 

[PawFurro]

Stop rubbing it in!

Sorry got a bit excited - my wife's eyes glaze over and she tunes out when I talk guitars.

My son was more receptive when I showed him the guitar and told him all that - his response was "Red!" and proceeded to drive his toy car all over it as he's 2

 

[D7alt]

Looks great. Congrats!

 

[Exhead]

Very nice. HNGD!

 

[ETucc]

Sorry got a bit excited - my wife's eyes glaze over and she tunes out when I talk guitars.

My son was more receptive when I showed him the guitar and told him all that - his response was "Red!" and proceeded to drive his toy car all over it as he's 2

Mine just turned 4, but he loves music. Hook him early!

 

[LostPlectrum]

He also mentioned 3TSB as unpopular which I happen to also like.

I guess I'll do a family shot of my misfits at some stage

I can understand that to an extent: while I think 3TSB is a great finish in and of itself (one of my Strats is 3TSB), it’s pretty ubiquitous, so I suppose some people find it too boring or ordinary.

 

[Lonn]

Well it's definitely a bit budget on the inside with a PCB switch, mini pots, ceramic magnets and no shielding at all but it does sound good and the routing and finish is super-clean!

I've had just about every brand and model of pickup out there but I'll say this......the pickups/electronics in my 89/90 MIJ ST-362V are just like yours. They look cheap but they sound great. Out of all the guitars I have (even the new "dream strat"), it's the first one I pick up.