Airbornestrat,
Congrats on ordering your Tele. Whether its your 1st Tele or your 10th I'm sure you'll love it. I've mentioned in other posts that the middle switch position is one of my favorite tones ever. I'm also keeping my eyes open for the right Tele to come along. I have an American Series Tele with RW fretboard, but I would like to find the right one with a Maple fretboard. Alot of guys on the forums have some very nice Teles. Enjoy it when it arrives and dont forget to post some pics.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

Hi Doc: well as far as the thinness of the nitro is concerned, Fender would protest that that is exactly what some people demand of them and rate the highest.

Eveyone needs to hold their acoustic guitars up to a glancing light and see if the grain on the soundboard shows through the lacquer. If so, it's regarded as a sign of quality...

The chip behind the bridge is different:

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo13 ... 0_0295.jpg

That was either caused by a blow from the block as the trem was being installed, within which case it is indeed bad QC. Or it could have happened from an over enthusiastic up-bend at any time since - perhaps rough treatment by some kid demo'ing it in the store. Maybe it explains the $999 price tag?

Of course, if the bargain price wasn't because of the ding but applied to any MK model ordered, then Randy has every right to ask for a replacement under his warranty. Can he bear to be without that Strat for several weeks though...?

Cheers - C

Hi Ceri,
I haven't really been bothered that much by the chip. The guitar is brand new and was in an unopened box, so I'm sure the mishap occurred at the factory. The low price was due to the insanity going on at Musicians Friend on Fridays. I have considered requesting a replacement, but there is a 32 day wait for this model at Musicians Friend. Not sure its worth the separation.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

Randy you should know I'm always right of course the red ones are faster.

That guitars pickups are texas specials. I've been considering a bareknuckles sultans set for my customclassic. I'd be very intrested to hear about them (hint hint, you know who you are ). Theres a shop round the corner from me selling them at the same price every other pickup manufacturer sells at. I'm having to wait till they come in. Though I dont want the rwrp middle pickup, as per Knop spec.

To my mind I'd have that guitar sent back, unless ofcourse there was some other factor to the guitar that you didnt find on any other of the same model. I pretty much view the return of imperfect instruments as our responsibility. How else will FMIC know when they're crossing the line, if we dont tell them.

That said I've bought guitars that had very apparent faults, knowing the fault was there. Sometimes our desires get the better of us.

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No no and no

Hi Niki,
I think the pickups are great. I find that I like them better the more I play it. They are still very Stratty sounding, but with a little bit more of an edge. They sustain well and the lows are pretty tight. I like every switch position, and I really like these pickups with overdrive or distortion as well.
I'm hesitant to send it back due to the long wait for a replacement. The chip is small and in an area where it is not easily noticable, but I would like to start out with a perfect one. I may be leaning that direction. Funny thing is that if I had paid the full 2,000.00 price I know I would retun it, but it bothers me less at the price I purchased it. Its the type of thing that if I was looking at one in a shop and found this blemish I would expect them to knock 100.00 off the price and I'd still be happy.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

I'm jealous, especially the price. Where'd you get it so cheap?

It was a Fender Friday special at Musicians Friend>

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...