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Post subject: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 9:20 pm
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Hey guys, I recently bought a 2nd hand Fender Strat MIA (Serial Nr starts with Z5 + 6 digits... Meaning 2005/2006). My first Fender Strat! When I unbolted the neck I realized that there's no marks or stamps in the neck pocket. There are stamps on the neck though. From the info I gathered from other posts on this forum, I believe everything else checks out: bridge seems to match others from the same year, middle screws on back plate do not align, 22 frets, serial number matches date stamped on neck.

Here's a few images. Any info will be appreciated! Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 1:15 am
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Neck pocket look to be sanded to me for a better wood contact. Is this remove stamp or print ?


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:16 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Neck pocket look to be sanded to me for a better wood contact. Is this remove stamp or print ?


Well as far as I could see, there's a layer of paint in the neck pocket (presumably from when it went to get its paint job...then again, I'm not sure of this is true or even common).
So any stamps or markings that may or may not have been placed on the pocket is lost under the black paint. It does appear to have been sanded though, and again I don't know why.


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:31 am
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As Stratele52 says, the neck pocket certainly looks like it's had some work - can the previous owner clarify?

Otherwise, I notice they're not 2006 AmStd p/ups. Look more like Texas Specials or Custom '69's? Nothing wrong with the non-stagger originals, in my opinion, but a nice little upgrade for your money if so!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 am
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Peter S wrote:
As Stratele52 says, the neck pocket certainly looks like it's had some work - can the previous owner clarify?

Otherwise, I notice they're not 2006 AmStd p/ups. Look more like Texas Specials or Custom '69's? Nothing wrong with the non-stagger originals, in my opinion, but a nice little upgrade for your money if so!

Cheers - Peter.


Highway One pickups loot same

Electronic under the pickgard will say more ?


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:46 am
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Peter S wrote:
As Stratele52 says, the neck pocket certainly looks like it's had some work - can the previous owner clarify?

Otherwise, I notice they're not 2006 AmStd p/ups. Look more like Texas Specials or Custom '69's? Nothing wrong with the non-stagger originals, in my opinion, but a nice little upgrade for your money if so!

Cheers - Peter.


Thanks for the info! The guy I bought it from said he bought it new some time ago but barely used it. He never said anything about making any sort of mods on the guitar, but you know how it goes when you want to sell something haha...But I will definitely ask him. I bargained a bit and got the guitar for $400 (taking the exchange rate into consideration).

Here's a closer image of the pickups

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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:48 am
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The neck is an American Series (they weren't called "Standards" in 2005...) Strat neck; not a Highway One neck (which would have two string trees).
I read the (blurred) neck stamp to say 2005, and anyway, if the guitar was from 2006 it should have a 60th anniversary sticker.

The original pickups on an AmSeries 2005 had non-beveled poles, which were staggered - IIRC, "for plain G-string" or something like that. The stagger fits, so my guess is those pickups are the original; part numbers 0056205000 (N), 0056206000 (M) and 0056207000 ("Hot bridge"...). Not far from Texas Specials stagger, so I'm not 100%sure. Edit: Just remembered & checked; TexSpec's have beveled polepieces; the pups on this guitar don't.

I see nothing obviously wrong with the body. Even the 3ply parchment pickguard is as it should, so I'd say the guitar is a legit American Series Stratocaster® from 2005.
To check the wiring further, here's the American Stratocaster 0117400/7402 diagram. BTW, if you feel a tiny indent on Tone2 full on, (= no-load tone pot 2 for mid/bridge pups, plus the hot bridge pup, Fender calls that the Delta Tone) that would suggest the wiring and pickups are original.

My guess for the missing stamps is that someone fiddled with the neck/body joint fitting, made too many tool marks or such and repainted the area to hide his/her/its mistake - again, I imagine seeing faint paint difference on the area where the paint stick would have been.

If I'm wrong, this is the first fake Micro-Tilt™ I've seen. I'll be ashamed if the trem cover middle screws are level with each other... :wink:

To be absolutely sure, send the serial# to consumerrelations@fender.com - they should have the original specs belonging to that number. And, tell us the end result.


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:47 am
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I'd look under the pickguard, there's an outside chance there is a body barcode sticker in the neck pickup rout. Otherwise the neck pocket seems right for that period with the CNC hole and mickey mouse ears.


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 12:52 pm
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jmattis wrote:
The neck is an American Series (they weren't called "Standards" in 2005...) Strat neck; not a Highway One neck (which would have two string trees).
I read the (blurred) neck stamp to say 2005, and anyway, if the guitar was from 2006 it should have a 60th anniversary sticker.

The original pickups on an AmSeries 2005 had non-beveled poles, which were staggered - IIRC, "for plain G-string" or something like that. The stagger fits, so my guess is those pickups are the original; part numbers 0056205000 (N), 0056206000 (M) and 0056207000 ("Hot bridge"...). Not far from Texas Specials stagger, so I'm not 100%sure. Edit: Just remembered & checked; TexSpec's have beveled polepieces; the pups on this guitar don't.

I see nothing obviously wrong with the body. Even the 3ply parchment pickguard is as it should, so I'd say the guitar is a legit American Series Stratocaster® from 2005.
To check the wiring further, here's the American Stratocaster 0117400/7402 diagram. BTW, if you feel a tiny indent on Tone2 full on, (= no-load tone pot 2 for mid/bridge pups, plus the hot bridge pup, Fender calls that the Delta Tone) that would suggest the wiring and pickups are original.

My guess for the missing stamps is that someone fiddled with the neck/body joint fitting, made too many tool marks or such and repainted the area to hide his/her/its mistake - again, I imagine seeing faint paint difference on the area where the paint stick would have been.

If I'm wrong, this is the first fake Micro-Tilt™ I've seen. I'll be ashamed if the trem cover middle screws are level with each other... :wink:

To be absolutely sure, send the serial# to consumerrelations@fender.com - they should have the original specs belonging to that number. And, tell us the end result.


Thank you so much for the info, very informative.
I believe I misread the date stamp. I too think it was made in 2005 (not 2006 as I previously stated).

Furthermore, now that I inspect the images one more time, I think I can see a faint marking - I believe in purple - right under the cnc hole. Can't make out what it says though.

Finally, tone 2 does have that indent when cranked to 10. I referred to it as a sort of "click" not knowing what it was before I read the specs for a 2005 strat on this forum.

So I guess all of this does make it sound kosher. The neck pocket I guess will remain a mystery...

PS: the trem cover middle screws are definitely not leveled :wink:

Image


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:03 pm
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jmattis wrote:
To be absolutely sure, send the serial# to consumerrelations@fender.com - they should have the original specs belonging to that number. And, tell us the end result.


Here are the specs Fender provided:

Z5034023 - November of 2005

Model Name: American Stratocaster®
Model Number: 011-7402-(Color #)
Series: American Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape, (Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Maple (p/n 011-7402), 9.5” Radius (241mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Nut: 1.6875” (43 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Bridge: American 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Stainless Steel Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment On: (700)* 3-Color Sunburst, add $50.00
Pickups: 3 American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. New Delta ToneTM
(“Delta Tone” system includes high output bridge pickup and special No-Load tone control for Middle and Bridge Pickups)
Colors: (700)* 3-Color Sunburst, *add $50.00, (Polyurethane Finish)
Strings: Fender® Super Bullets® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-3250-003
Case: Standard Molded Case
Other Features: “Parchment” Knobs and Pickup Covers, Original Headstock Shape, Original Body Shape with “Original Contour Body” Decal on Headstock, Rolled Fingerboard Edges, H/S/H Pickup Routing
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Standard Molded Case
U.S. MSRP: $1,327.99

INTRODUCED: 6/2000
DISCONTINUED: 1/2008
WRENCH SIZES: Truss Rod/Tilt Adjust Wrench #0023811000 (1/8” Hex), Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench #0018531000 (.050” Hex)
NOTICE: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:21 pm
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Pretty grubby for a guitar that was barely used! Rust on the bridge plate and pickup magnets, dirt on the pick guard and the back plate! That right there should be a bit of a warning sign someone wasn't being truthful.

As for the neck pocket, it had some work done, looks like some home done routing (circles on the bass side of neck pocket), haven't seen any Fender pockets like that!

T2

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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:29 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
Pretty grubby for a guitar that was barely used! Rust on the bridge plate and pickup magnets, dirt on the pick guard and the back plate! That right there should be a bit of a warning sign someone wasn't being truthful.

As for the neck pocket, it had some work done, looks like some home done routing (circles on the bass side of neck pocket), haven't seen any Fender pockets like that!

T2


Interesting point. When I got it, it indeed wasn't "barely used". Hell, there were several scratches on the lower part of the body! This is why I bargained to get a better deal as he was asking for more. He did also say that he doesn't use it anymore and that it has been kept as is for quite some time. Which is true because those strings needed to be changed a long time ago.

Well I took it to a repair guy who took a look at the guitar. He said that, despite it showing signs of wear (scratches and rusty parts) it was in pretty decent shape: almost no fret wear, neck is good, no crack in the wood or neck pocket, and electronics work fine. He cleaned it up, set it up and it looks much better now. I was worried as when I unbolted the neck to take the pictures, I noticed a thin crack had formed on the bass side of neck pocket... Lucky me!!! This happened when I unbolted the neck, as I noticed it before putting the neck back on. But luckily, the repair guy said it was not the wood but the lacquer that had cracked a little. I read that this is very common, but it still pissed me off, as I was being very careful when I did this.

Overall, this being my first ever Fender strat, I'm extremely happy!! I used to play a Squier Venus Vista, but the Strat sounds so much better!


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 12:00 am
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I wouldn't worry about the rust & grub & such, it's all cleanable. And those things can appear surprisingly quick, depending on the climate, sweat chemicals etc.
All in all, at 400$ you scored a US Strat all original for a price of a MIM - I'd call that a real good deal.


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 1:23 am
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jmattis wrote:
The original pickups on an AmSeries 2005 had non-beveled poles, which were staggered - IIRC, "for plain G-string" or something like that.

Really, JM? I don't have a 2005 but I do have 2 x 2006 AmStds (or Am Series if you like), which I'm pretty sure are the same other than the '60th' badge. One I bought new; the other nearly new, both completely standard. None of those 6 p/ups has staggered poles. I could do you a photo if you like!

Whatever they are, I still think OP's p/ups are replacements, but if they sound good, that's all that matters!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: No stamps in neck pocket?
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:09 am
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I do not know everything about Fenders. All my ramblings on the forum should be read with proper caution, and I may be wrong.

But, I re-checked by the pickup numbers of the wiring diagram, they come up with staggered, non-beveled poles like this (here's the "Hot bridge):
Image

I've always been under the perception that up till 2000, the AmStandards had non-staggered poles, then the AmSeries went staggered.

On the Frontline 2006, the AmSeriesStrat (lousy quality) pic shows faint shadows on pickups; I'd say the poles on that pic are staggered. Googled "2006 american stratocaster pickups", pic search brings up a lot of Strat 2006's with staggered pups.

2006 was an anniversary year, so anything is possible. I fully trust your word on your Strats, and let's not turn this into an argument. Still, pics are always nice...


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