I've been trying to figure out my Squier Strat for some time, meaning that it doesn't seem to fit any descriptions I've seen. Maybe there are others like it. I bought new it at the end of '97 and it was set up by the GC in Boston after my friend (who sold them one of his vintage Strats for large amounts of $) haggled on my behalf. It wasn't expensive - $150 - no amp/package. Typical black w/white 8-hole single-ply pg. Looks like a late 50's Strat - it has a small headstock (3.25" at the widest), a full and heavy 1.75" body, 22 fret neck (rosewood), "D" neck, 42mm at the nut. The trem claw sits up tight at the top of the cutout and there's a 3-spring "M" pattern(not parallel like usual) to the block. It had some heavy strings and the intonation was/is great. Everyone who's played it has been super impressed. The mystery (to me) is that the neck plate says NCXXXX Made in China (no other stamps) but the description hasn't matched other MIC that I've read about. Of course there's a tiny Affinity sticker on the headstock ball and the larger "Squier" is solid black script with the "BY FENDER" in all caps in block letters below. These are typical of Squiers. Just today, I noticed that the neck plate has a plastic trim piece around it and I haven't read any references to that anywhere. I haven't taken the neck off so I can't speak to what I'd find there. The smaller headstock, full thickness, and now the plate trim confuse me. Maybe it's an old Bullet, but it's definitely not a piece of junk. Any help?

Could you post a picture? There are instructions in the FAQs

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I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!

Will do. I'll try to get something up tonight.

Try here - http://www.me.com/gallery/#100013/claw Never used it before so I can't vouch for it working. Thanks for looking.

My network is blocking the site. I looked at the serial # reference and so far that indicates it was a Squier Bullet Strat. Sorry I've not been of much more help yet.

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I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!

Sully,

Don't know why you'd get blocked, but I'll try another way. In the meantime, yes, I thought it was a Bullet (not of the new Bullets) by the number. But as I wrote, it doesn't really fit the description, which is why I'm a little suspicious of the plate and number. Well, onward. I just put two roller trees on today and it sounds okay - I didn't know what to expect since the trees are different heights than the gull wings.

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Okay - let's try this one:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sbaron33/Sq ... directlink

This is my Squire Strat that sounds very much like yours.

Mine is a 1994 Squire Stratocaster Bullet series serial # NC XXXXXX Made in China. Mine is first attempt at a heavy relic finish. It plays really nicely, but looks well worn. Nothing special at all, but a pretty nice project guitar after some work, and set up. I would never relic a nice MIA Strat, but this Bullet was a perfect cndidate for my first try.

Sure looks like it except for the 11-hole pickguard and different decals on the headstock (same size though). Mine doesn't say Bullet. Your pickguard also looks bright white - mine aged already. Your saddle plate is just as crooked as mine. It looks like you've replaced the nut - what kind? Is the trem claw up tight against the side of the routed hole and does your have 3 springs arranged in an "M"? Most others I've seen have 3 in a parallel row. Now my big question because I've not seen it mentioned anywhere - is there a plastic trim piece around the neck plate? What mods have you done, what is planned? I just changed the string trees to rollers and am getting some upgraded Fender tuners, and am considering new pots since these have always seemed to be less than good. My, like yours, plays well.

Thanks for the pics.

You are very sharp. I DID replace the pickguard. The 8 hole pickguard was really scratched, I mean like gouged with a screwdriver or something by the previous owner. I replaced it with another Squire guard I had from another modded guitar. The nut is a graphite Tusq piece that fit fairly well. I bought the guitar as a relic project. I have never had a relic finish guitar, so this is my first. I always tried to make my guitars look new, not old and beat up, so this is a first. It was already pretty beat up when I got it, so I am just making it playable and sound good. I only paid $60 for it, so it is a good project piece.
So far, so good. It has a really fat neck, and it feels big in my hands, which is kinda cool. Has a real solid feeling to it.

Oh yeah, the neck plate sits in a plastic frame that surrounds and goes under the neck plate. I am not sure why it is used, as other Fender guitars don't have it. Maybe the body wood it too soft, and the metal neck plate would imprint into the body. I am not sure.

This is great. Your supposition re: trim frame makes sense - never thought of it. Maybe they wanted to get the plate on without waiting for the paint to dry completely and the paint to metal might affect the sound. A new nut is now in my plans since it doesn't seem like a terribly difficult job.

Yesterday I removed the neck since I had taken down the strings to replace the cheapo tuners and lo and behold I saw the date on the neck. I bought the guitar on the 5th January of 1998 - I have the receipt and it's just after my first lumbar spine fusion, so who could forget that - anyway, the date on the neck was stamped "1998". I doubt if this guitar was express shipped from China to Boston between the 1st and the 5th, so either they predated the neck sometime in 1997 or someone has sneaked into my house and switched the neck, which is not likely. The serial # NC761213 on the plate should indicate a build sometime in '97. The only other option is that the GC changed the neck, but again, where would they get a neck stamped 1998? Ah sweet mysteries of life or as Aice said, "Things get curiouser and curiouser".

P.Strat - I'm curious(er) about how you posted your pics in the message. I went to the FAQs as instructed by Sully and read that one must link to a public access site. I first put mine up in Apple MobileMe and then in Google Picasa, which are both supposed to be public access, but then you posted directly in the message. How, please.

I use photobucket. It is really easy. Download photos to your home computer from your camera. Get a photobucket account. Upload photos from your home computer to photobucket. Copy the photo from photobucket from the heading Message boards(html I guess)Open up a tab to Fender forum and paste it into your reply.