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Post subject: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 1:57 pm
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Am I the only person who struggles to like the look of mis-matched plastic on American Strats? Like the mint green pickguard paired with aged white controls & covers on my new American Deluxe Plus - in effect, green and yellow parts. To me, this looks like someone messed up at the parts bin rather than a 'style statement'.
Here's what I mean:
Image
On the left, a MiM Strat with matching parchment parts, on the right a USA Strat with mint green & aged white.

Now, here's something for conspiracy theory lovers - the day that USA strat arrived I got an e-mail from Fender, promoting replacement pickguards for Strats - yes, just Strats & just pickguards. Couldn't have been better timed if they'd been spying on my webcam! But when I went to check out the aged white pickguards, I discovered they don't make 'em. Nor do they seem to sell mint green accessory kits. Sure, there are 3rd party suppliers, but no guarantee the colours will be a good match for Fender parts. Of course, I understand some people will love this mis-matched look - we're all different - but I'm amazed Fender don't supply replacement parts to allow us to get Strats to look they was they used to look - with matched plastic parts. After all, aren't we all supposed to love the 'historic' look of Strats?

I would've been happy to use aged white for the pickguard - I think it would've looked good with the light blue, but as it's not possible, I've ended up ordering an accessory kit & pickguard in parchment. At least it'll match the look of the MiM... (Rant over!)


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 3:30 pm
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I've just been looking at the photos of genuine 1961 and 1965 instruments, and non of the plastics matched back then either.
I can't see what your problem is ... 8)

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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 3:59 pm
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I wasn't ever going to say anything for fear of being the oddball. I've never liked the aged pup covers, tips and knobs mated with the parchment pickguard on my MIA Standard. It's not really aged. I bought a new guitar. I've thought about buying parchment parts to get it right and still may do it. I'll keep the original stuff if I ever sell. My first Strat (1966) was nice, new and pristine (and matched!)


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 4:50 pm
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stratmangler wrote:
I've just been looking at the photos of genuine 1961 and 1965 instruments, and non of the plastics matched back then either.
I can't see what your problem is ... 8)

Really? Not what I see when looking at period ads:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fende ... 1mWR1bM%3A

This one comes from a later era, but it's really how I remember Strats looking, 'pristine & matching'
Image

Somewhat older:
Image


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 4:52 pm
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LawFlow wrote:
I wasn't ever going to say anything for fear of being the oddball. I've never liked the aged pup covers, tips and knobs mated with the parchment pickguard on my MIA Standard. It's not really aged. I bought a new guitar. I've thought about buying parchment parts to get it right and still may do it. I'll keep the original stuff if I ever sell. My first Strat (1966) was nice, new and pristine (and matched!)


+1

I abhor the faux "aged" look -- it looks as phony as a seven-dollar bill.

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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 12:09 am
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I'd shout "First world problems!", but that would be a bit pretentious, as I'm still trying to get over the late seventies black/white combinations (especially with Mocha Brown)...

Anyways, if this problem takes over your life, it's easier to just switch knobs & pup covers.
Keep the originals, so the resale value won't be affected.
(Disclaimer: check the pups first; and do not try pup cover changes with at least Noiselesses & SCNs.)
Strat Accessory Kit Aged White/Black/Parchment $29.99
Strat Accessory Kit Eggshell $19.99
Plus, for the more exquisite tastes, the non-Fender part color options are unlimited.

:twisted:


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 1:10 am
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My aged white plastic parts on my Strat came white after few years :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:05 am
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I have a mint green pickguard on my Classic Player Baja '60s Telecaster. Try as I might I just do not like it. I'll change it out one of these days.


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:46 am
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Well, I'm glad to find I'm not the only person who doesn't like this look. :)

My Parchment parts arrived today, along with some Texas Special pickups I've been wanting to try out. I'll be keeping the old bits - I've still got a pickup I took off a guitar 35 years ago. (But I doubt many current models will ever reach the kind of values where originality of plastic parts has an impact on price).


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:49 pm
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I have despised the mint green guards since the first time I saw one.
Nothing goes well with them to my mind.
Particularly since, as noted, there are no mint knobs and switch tips.
It's not a deal breaker for me as I have several guitars that came with the mint guards.
Those guards are tucked away for safe keeping should the day come I ever choose to sell said guitars.
The first thing I do with a green guard is replace it.
There's lots of companies out there that offer more options.

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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:46 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
I have despised the mint green guards since the first time I saw one.
Nothing goes well with them to my mind.


Well......(thoughtfully scratching head as I grope for the right words)

The fact of the matter is, the first of the 3-ply "white" pickguards did have a decidedly greenish cast to them and did so until circa mid '64 when the composition of the plastic was reformulated. However, that tint was much more restrained than the purpose-built mint pickguards of today (especially those sold by Fender as stand-alone accessories). Thus, for Strats made between 1958 and 1964 (or instruments built to resemble them) the mint guard is "correct". Personally I think these green pickguards make most factory finishes (especially the custom colors) look dingy and they look downright terrible with any shade of red.

JMO, YMMV

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 12:40 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
...the first of the 3-ply "white" pickguards did have a decidedly greenish cast to them and did so until circa mid '64 when the composition of the plastic was reformulated. However, that tint was much more restrained than the purpose-built mint pickguards of today (especially those sold by Fender as stand-alone accessories). Thus, for Strats made between 1958 and 1964 (or instruments built to resemble them) the mint guard is "correct"....

Arjay


Colour perception is very subjective. Many shades of white will look white until you put them along side something very white.

We have exhibition venues in the UK lit with tungstan lighting. You aren't aware of the spectacular orange cast this produces unless you take pictures at the venue and don't white balance beforehand.

So white/not white will look more or less white subject to environment and reference. Putting mint and aged plastic next to super white will make it look a lot more tinted than if viewed in isolation.

All that said I do think Fender have gone a bit OTT. I can understand their dilemma though. If you buy aged white and, looking in the packet, they look white you might feel conned. They should only look not white when along side white white, but this perhaps isn't enough. The same with mint.

Because both aged white and mint are just a hint more aged or mint I think the contrast has tipped over the edge now and they look contrived.

I think we also have an issue because we know it is mint and therefore see it as such. In isolation another person may not be as aware of the difference.

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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 12:55 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
The fact of the matter is, the first of the 3-ply "white" pickguards did have a decidedly greenish cast to them and did so until circa mid '64 when the composition of the plastic was reformulated. However, that tint was much more restrained than the purpose-built mint pickguards of today (especially those sold by Fender as stand-alone accessories).


I would guess - and it's only a guess - that the colour Fender call Parchment might be a closer match. It's off-white, and it's not cream, bluish nor reddish. To me it has a greenish tint next to arctic white, and only looks white next to mint green. :)


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 1:05 am
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John Sims wrote:
Colour perception is very subjective. Many shades of white will look white until you put them along side something very white.


Very true. We have a great 'auto white balance' built into our brains. I remember as a kid staring at a lava lamp for a while and then turning round and seeing the whole world had turned green. The trouble with mismatched parts is that you always see them against another off-white colour. Thus the 'off-whiteness' of green & yellow is amplified, and we don't see either as white.

The problem I found with these plastic parts is not so much the colour in question (though I'm not a fan of mint green), as the inability to get matching parts if you want them: No aged white pickguard (do pickguards not age?), and no mint green accessories. Yes, All-parts sell mint green accessories, though I wouldn't be too sure about colour matching, but they only seem to offer 'cream' pickguards. I suspect they'd be called aged white if they matched.


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Post subject: Re: Mis-matched plastic on American Strats
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 1:08 am
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No, parchment is different from mint green. That's more of a bleached bone shade. The mint pickguards were precisely as I've described -- a *slight* greenish tinge.

Arjay

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