I just wanted to relay a story of how I almost got ripped off on a purchase of a 1979 Strat. I had been talking to a guy for about a month who was selling a 79 Strat. I should have known better as his price was below market price. The guitar was pretty beat up but the neck was great and there were no major issues. So I finally agree to purchase the guitar and picked it up Saturday. Well, on sunday, I decide to take it to my local Guitar Center and see my "guy" there and show him my new addition. Well, you shoulda seen everyone checking out the guitar. My suspicions were raised when I realized the pots were wired backwards. we took the pick guard off and you shoulda seen the mess. The pick-ups were not even Fender pu's, the pots were some knock-off and the body was routed for a humbucker and was not even real wood! Well, you can imagine my embarrasment. Stupid me, I never checked out the guitar enough, mainly because I am new and even if i did look under the hood, i wouldn't know what to look for. The good news is the guy agreed to give me my money back. Yes, the neck was real (1980), but missing the shim. Lesson learned on my part. Please don't reply that I should have done this or that to make sure it was real, I know, i beat myself up already, you don't have to. Just a lesson to everyone to simply unscrew the pickguard and take a look. I was afraid to do that because of course it wasn't my guitar until i bouoght it. Thankfullythe guy i bought it from was a stand-up guy. He felt bad claiming that he didnt know either and that was the way his dad bought it 20+ years ago.

I would have made the same mistake so don't feel badly on your decision. I will keep that in mind if i ever buy used. I will also be sure to check serial numbers too. I'm glad the guy that sold it to you was good enought to do what he did. You could still get it at a lower price right or did you lose intrest in it? The difference in the price would buy some sweet new pickups.

I lost interest in it all together, the neck was missing the shim and I was so dissapointed i bagged the whole thing.

A valuable lesson humbly learned... Glad you were working with an honest guy...

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

You are lucky indeed, and dont ever feel funny to ask someone to remove a few screws when paying for something. I totally believe the guy was on the up and up when he said he did not know. I am glad you did not get taken as we have seen happen to so many others of late. More the reason to be super cautious these days.