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Post subject: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 5:58 am
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Can anyone identify this Stratocaster deluxe body. The neck was replaced with one from an Fender American Standard (1998).

It's a one-piece alder body, thin lacquer two-color sunburst, contoured heel, all holes drilled to US specs.

This body deviates from the regular Deluxes because of the vintage bridge setup and the lack of micro tilt. (Anyway, you won't need micro tilt with a vintage bridge.) The neat HSS routing is also something I haven't seen in other deluxe bodies.

I peeled of the shielding in the neck pickup cavity.
The handwritten markings reads 8-18-93 or 8-18-95

Neck pocket is evidently sanded down for better fit between neck and body, an common mod for some tone-purists, but, a killer to all serial numbers and date markings.

To my knowledge there are three body models that could have these specs.
The Sambora signature (1998-2002), the 2004 50th anniversary, and CS Strat Pros.

Do you guys have other suggestions?


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 8:59 am
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Continuing from previous (Lounge) topic:
The dubiosity (if that's a word) I'm feeling is because as far as I know, all contoured heel US made Strats have the Micro-Tilt™.
So I'm thinking maybe it could be from a Japanese guitar. But then something (the date, the color, the wood type, the missing stamps or the finish) just seems to be off for any model I can think of - the closest might be some ST-72.

What's the story behind this body, where did you buy it etc?

On that 'one piece': can't tell from that pic. Just reminding that one piece bodies are rare, and in many two/three piece bodies the match is almost invisible.


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:43 am
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I would assume that the 5th hole in the neck pocket suggests that there originally was a micro-tilt. But, it's not in the usual position.


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 11:00 am
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Thought of that, too - but I don't think so. The position is wrong, and there should still be some visible marks from the (removed) micro tilt disc.


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:50 pm
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My guess would be a "non" Fender body.

The only contoured heel body that doesn't have micro-tilt are the "select series" afaik, but they are all 2 point trem.

No deluxe model body w/ HSS route has a non micro tilt neck plate and vintage bridge.

The paint job is suspect, the sanding you mention in the pocket is missing the usual Fender way of sanding for neck fit(the sides and end of the pocket are normally sanded for fit) not the base.

The Sambora model has a micro tilt
The 50th Annv has a 2 point trem and micro tilt
The CS could make anything, but so can many good DIY woodworkers
If it is in fact a one piece body, then that lends more credit/believe that its non Fender.

Quote:
What's the story behind this body, where did you buy it etc?


Fender doesn't sell deluxe bodies. But lots of people want that contoured heel and if they did they would have modern bridge and micro tilt also.......just my .02, ymmv


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 1:40 pm
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I bought the guitar, or parts of it secondhand, well aware of the body's unverified origin. I know that the two previous owners have both have changed necks after taste on this guitar due to preference. One preferred some exotic dark wood and the other a maple one. So the original neck is far gone.

I'm not trying to defend this body as the upper tier, rare and valuable item.
I'm just generally interested in the inconsistencies of it's features.

That said, I would gladly render this an Asian rip-off, Squire, MIM or MIJ. If I can find any solid evidence that supports such a case. It might be a copy. But then it would be a ridiculously good one, fairly expensive to make. And there would be more of them, would't it?


@jmattis
When it comes to the one-piece question,
I agree. It could be two pieces. But then the joinery may be among some of the best I've seen on a factory produced guitar.

@ micro tilt
When it comes to the Micro tilt, there has never been mounted any kind of micro-tilt on this guitar. Nor would it have to, due to the vintage bridge configuration.

The hole in the centre of the neck pocket might be due to production or the paint job. There are no CNC marks present.

@sfceric64
I agree with your perspective on sanding the neck pocket. The sides are sanded too on this one. I'm fairly certain this is not done by someone who knew their business. There have been articles in certain guitar magazine and websites that even dictates the sanding treatment. Some even goes as far as the removal of all traces of lacquer that is not visible on the assembled guitar.

As far as I know, with the exception of a few floyd rose equipped MIJs fro the 80s and 90s, the only guitars to feature the contoured neck are the US deluxes, the 2004 50th, and some artist models.

Does anybody know other brands that features the exact replica of the Fender contoured heel?


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 2:43 pm
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I thought my opinion would come off that way, but it isn't meant that way. I can only base my opinion on what I can verify using known records.
Here is a good link from John C, circa 2011 and the contour heel:
http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=53076

The Fender select model is the only model I could find with a contoured heel but w/o a micro tilt listed in the Fender services section.

Maybe guitarmill CS would do an exact replica, just guessing though.


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Post subject: Re: Identify: Mystery Strat Deluxe Body
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 6:41 pm
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Quote:
My guess would be a "non" Fender body

I should have said, a "non-US deluxe Fender body"
It probably could be any number of models routed HSS w/ a vintage trem and then modified at the heel.
There is really no way to confirm exactly what it is/was, imho.
Until it has a complete neck, strings, pups, pots and wire it is a SL paper weight.


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