Hi guys,

I just received my Squier Black & Chrome FAT Strat and as most of you know it's a real beauty! I have a couple reactions and a couple questions... When I first puled the guitar out of the white bag covering the guitar I thought "Oh no, the chrome pick guard is all scratched up" and it took me a moment to realize there's a plastic film over it, I took it off and its perfect.

I also noted there was plastic on the Humbucker and took it off. Do you know if there's plastic on the two Single-Coils? I really can't tell and don't want to try too hard and mess up the coils trying to get something off that is not there.

With the guitar I got a plastic bag with the wow-arm alan-wrenches and a spring. Can you tell me what the spring is for?

My biggest surprise is there is absolutely nothing telling me anything about anything! Nothing about the plastic covering on the pick guard, what to look for, what to do and/or not do, no brochure, nothing on "getting started", no cleaning recommendations, no information on the Fender Forum, free Fender beginners lessons offered on the forum, nothing!

I feel like Fender is saying "OK buddy I've got your money and now you're on your own"! Oh, I did possible mislead you... There was a round sticker on the pick-guard telling me the kind of strings on the guitar and a couple other lines about the guitar! But if it wasn't all the reading on did on Google searches and here on the forum I'd really be lost and would be a very bad feeling for my first reaction.

I don't mean to complain as much as I'm just surprised, I mean this is a FENDER not an off brand of Shackenburg and Sons or something of the sort! Nothing against the Shackenbers of course! As I said I was surprised and must admit a little disappointed. But I'm sure its just me!

If you could help me with my questions I'll be fine and can sleep off the rest and my wife is helping with the tears!

Harry

OH NO! You didn't take that film off, did you? Just kidding. You are, of course, supposed to remove it. In fact, it's all part of the ritual. There may or may not be film on the pups. You won't likely hurt anything trying to see. If it's there it will come off easily. You are correct. They don't include much information with the guitars. Don't feel slighted. Even the most expensive models don't come with much. If you look at the gray menu at the very top of this page, or any page in the forum, you should find links to pages that will answer most if not all of your questions...especially in the "Support" and "Community" menus. There's "how to" guides as well as online lessons. You can also search this forum. There's tons of first hand experience here.

Good luck and have fun!

Hi Old Tom and thanks for your reply,

As Is said its probably just me, but not even an owners registration card, wow!.
Do you know what the spring is for?

Drop it in the hole before you screw in the bar. Just be careful because it's easy to lose as nothing holds it in place when the arm isn't screwed in.

S197 beat me to the answer. He is correct. The spring is for the tremelo arm. If you lose it, no biggie, you can buy them by the dozen. And it doesn't have to be in the hole to use the tremelo arm. The allan wrenches are for adjusting the truss rod and saddles. Your guitar shouldn't need any adjustment just yet and you should read up on how to setup a guitar before attemping any adjustments. Or take it to a professional if you feel you have a problem.

I'm waiting for my amp to show up and I have the wrong cable to hook up to my Mac laptop so I can use GarageBand. So let me ask you a stupid question. I know that the 5 position switch switches between the SSB's. Am I correct that the three knobs are for volume control for each SSB?

Where would you recommend I go on the forum for more information about settings of the switches and knobs for different sounds, combinations etc?

As always I thank you for your help,

Harry

Try here,
http://www.fender.com/support/articles. ... =downloads

The top knob is the volume and the other two are for tone. Look at the chart at the bottom of the document for your guitar and you will see a chart showing the configuration for each switch position. I think this is the one you need:
http://support.fender.com/service_diagr ... t_SISD.pdf

Hi guys and thanks to you both,

Old Tom that is the one I found and its helpful. I wish I could find something that talks about the sound you can make from the 5 position switch and dialing back this tone as you dial up the other etc. You know, playability kind of thing, but I guess that comes with playing.

Part of it is just me, I love to read, the first thing I do when I buy a new car is read the entire owners manual so I don't miss anything. I know, square right!

Harry

Ok Harry, I was wondering which guitar you got. The Strat I see. Congrats!

_________________
08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher