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Post subject: How do you tell the Mex Bodies from the American Bodies
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:07 pm
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I just located a very nice Stratocaster with a custom shop neck, neck plate and certificate… but the body has an “extra pot” cavity above the switch… (not in use) someone has told me only Mexican made Stratocaster bodies have that “extra cavity”… Is there any definitive way to say yes absolutely this is American made or not? If it is not, does it mean someone at sometime has swapped out a body on this guitar or did the Custom Shop use Mex bodies?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Jay


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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:01 pm
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An actual custom shop only uses american parts (i believe), and is only made in the US.

It's easy to tell by the serial number though. If it starts with a big "M", it's mexican.


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Post subject: Re: How do you tell the Mex Bodies from the American Bodies
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:14 pm
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motostrat wrote:
I just located a very nice Stratocaster with a custom shop neck, neck plate and certificate… but the body has an “extra pot” cavity above the switch… (not in use) someone has told me only Mexican made Stratocaster bodies have that “extra cavity”…


It's really hard to say ... those "extra cavities" are not for pots ... they are used to line up the automated wood working machines ... American bodies can have a hole, while Mexican bodies can have three holes. But there are American and Mexican bodies with no holes (check out the bodies at pickersparts.com to see holes and holes).

Is there a parts number in the body that you can check against a parts list?
Or other markings on the body?

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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:26 pm
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Thanks! Let me open it back up in the morning and look for any identifying markings... I guess the guy who thought all bodies with an extra hole were automatically mexican was just incorrect...

Ill get back with the markings

Thanks again.


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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:40 pm
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Make note of the routing too ... is it SSS or HSH or ??? ... write everything down ... and take pictures ... so you don't have to take it apart again ... make note of the codes on the pots and stickers on the pickguard ... you'll be happy in the future that you did ...

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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:22 am
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I think it may be even more complicated. The other day Nikininja posted pictures of a Mexican body he'd stripped; comments were made upon the routing - and it turned out his alder MIM has exactly the same route as my ash American Series body, right down to two circular indents, one beneath the pickguard and one in the neck pocket.

As has been observed elsewhere, the Mexican and American factories both use the self same CNC (computer numeric control) routing machines - and for all I know, other factories around the world as well...?

The routing pattern tells you which exact program was running on that computer-router, not where the body was made.

I'd have thought the finish would be more suggestive - though still not conclusive. Polyester will very probably be MIM, polyurethane and nitrocellulose are more likely to come from the US plant - but that's not definitive, by any means. The second I post this someone else will write to tell us exceptions to that.

A multi-part body (more than three pieces) would suggest non-US origin, too. But bear in mind, timber, finishes, parts - in fact everything "Fender" has a tendency to travel back and forth across that border in ways that are very hard to trace from outside. Ultimately, how important is it? I quite understand your interest, but in the end, the quality of your individual piece is what counts.

Sorry, not very helpful, eh?

Cheers - C


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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:07 am
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orvilleowner wrote:
is it SSS or HSH or ???


good point. sometimes those models can have completely different body routing.

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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:58 am
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TheClash101 wrote:
orvilleowner wrote:
is it SSS or HSH or ???


good point. sometimes those models can have completely different body routing.


We've kicked this around quite a bit, in the past, but Fender traditionally uses a generic body routing across the line to accommodate a multitude of needs due to the wide variety of powerplant combinations it offers and it changes as the line does.

We know where to resource the routing patterns for the vintage guitars, so if anyone wants the 'real wood' in a special order, there's enough info out there to be able to tell the custom shop what year's body routing and body contours are desired.

Seems to me that that's about as close as anyone is going to get to classic specs in that department.

Doc :wink:

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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:05 am
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zzdoc wrote:
TheClash101 wrote:
orvilleowner wrote:
is it SSS or HSH or ???


good point. sometimes those models can have completely different body routing.


We've kicked this around quite a bit, in the past, but Fender traditionally uses a generic body routing across the line to accommodate a multitude of needs due to the wide variety of powerplant combinations it offers and it changes as the line does.

We know where to resource the routing patterns for the vintage guitars, so if anyone wants the 'real wood' in a special order, there's enough info out there to be able to tell the custom shop what year's body routing and body contours are desired.

Seems to me that that's about as close as anyone is going to get to classic specs in that department.

On a personal note, I haven't even bothered raising the pickguard on my Custom Shop guitar built several years back. I would prefer NOT to know
how they routed the body. Ideally, it should have been routed as for a Clapton, making room for the preamp board. The guitar is a heavy weight, so I have no reason to believe otherwise, and prefer to leave it as such.

I really have no other recourse at this time, however, based upon these and other discussions, I would know precisely how to word my next order should the occasion arise. The body would be specified for '57 rout with a deep offset waist relief on the back, and soft body contours. THAT, for me, is the way the body should be done.



Doc :wink:


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