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Post subject: Hello All - the "powers that be" have shoved me to Fender
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 4:03 pm
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 3:23 pm
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My son decided that he wanted to learn to play the guitar, so I bought him a nice Fender acoustic starter model. I started finking with it and decided to start playing again after many years. I have been borrowing his guitar and the calluses have formed once again on my fingertips. Last Sunday, I dropped into the local thrift shop on my way home from running around. My excuse was that they might have a scruffy hard case for his guitar, but I just had an unbelieved urge to go in. I walked to the “dead guitar pile of shattered rock star dreams” and there was a Squier Stratocaster in the pile. It was in such bad shape that they had it labeled as "wall decoration" rather than "musical instrument" (I am not kidding). It only had four heavily rusted strings. It looked like the chrome was pitted with rust and was so dirty that I really didn't want to pick it up. It had a long scratch in the paint on the back and a busted pickguard, but the neck had a rosewood fretboard, it was straight, and had no wood cracks anywhere on the guitar. I walk away from the nasty dog twice, but I kept walking back. It seemed to keep begging me to save it and since it was practically free ($37 bucks), I said “Why not”. I got it home and my son laughed and told me it looked worth 37 cents. I decided to roll the dice, jacked it into a guitar amp, said a prayer to the gods that I didn't blow out the house breaker, flipped the switch, and . . . . . . . . . . . it fired right up. I used the four rusty strings and the "dangling" pickup switch to check the three pickups and they were fine. I gave it a wipe and the rust and damaged paint areas wiped off. I wasn't rust or damage, it was something sticky like a coke sprayed on it with dirt and other gunk stuck to it with a layer of dust over it all. The finish was beautiful with the exception of the big scratch and a couple of rubbed area. I was going the refinish it, but no way, it is gorgeous. I will do spot fixes on the scratch and rubs and call it good. It took forever to carefully clean and oil the fretboard. Frets are in great shape and all the tuners are fine. There is not even one tick/chip on the head, so it was well taken care of . . . then forgotten about. The big scratch and busted pick guard was probably the result of storing it in a garage without a cover. I pulled the electronics and they are good. I repaired the scratch plate. New strings, new tremolo springs, and other accessories just arrived. I need a couple of things from guitar shop this weekend (spacer spring for a pickup and a grub screw for the bridge) and it will be good to go. When my son saw it after I cleaned it, all he said was "That is unbelievable." It is black on black and the serial number has it as a 1997 Squier Standard. I love it. It is my “Rescue Dog from the pound”.

I have made an incentive goal for myself that if I am still playing in two years, I will buy myself a new American Professional Strat. Wish me luck!


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Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Hello All - the "powers that be" have shoved me to Fende
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:38 pm
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Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2018 12:31 pm
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Location: Burlington, WI
Hey,
Great find and goal too... Never give up and it's never too late... I think I love working on guitars almost as much as playing them and my favourite (right now) is my Fender mex deluxe.


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Post subject: Re: Hello All - the "powers that be" have shoved me to Fende
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 2:24 pm
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Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:36 am
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Location: Chorley, Lancs, UK
Hi 63EtypeJag, welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story with us. I hope you and your new guitar have many happy hours together.

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Steve


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Post subject: Re: Hello All - the "powers that be" have shoved me to Fende
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2018 11:30 am
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Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12975
Location: Canada
Another orphan guitar finds a good home. Just goes to show a little love and attention goes a long way. Thanks, for joining us and sharing that story, 63EtypeJag.

FSB

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


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Post subject: Re: Hello All - the "powers that be" have shoved me to Fende
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 8:53 pm
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 3:23 pm
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Well, I side tracked off my plan of playing the "Rescue Dog" Squier until I put in two years of learning and becoming "not horrible" on the guitar, then rewarding myself with an American Professional. That is still the goal and the reward, but a 1989 Fender '57 Reissue MIJ Stratocaster popped up on Craigslist while I was reviewing the local offerings and did a refresh. It was being offered at a very low price and had terrible pictures (black guitar on a dark background under weak fluorecent lighting, uff!). I immediately sent a text and heard nothing for hours and hours. Then, up popped a text that apologized for not responding sooner, but he was at work. He said that he had a ton of texts in response to the ad, but mine was the first, so I had the first opportunity to look at it. I immediately drove to his place of work and wasn't expecting much for the low, low price, but it was lovely. Perfectly straight neck, only a few ticks in the finish, and some honest but not severe fret wear (it is almost 30 years old). I fired it up on an amp and it was amazing. The seller was selling me hard that it was a good guitar, but he didn't really play much (he is a drummer), and seemed a bit embarrassed at his price since it was Japanese made. I just said "I'll take it" and he said "Really?". I handed him the money, put it in its case, shook his hand, and we both walked away very happy. I hope this doesn't become a habit . . . . :D


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