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Post subject: Plastics
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:43 am
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ImageHi all,
Have touched on this before but I've previously struggled to get a picture that shows the 'cream-ness' of the plastics on my CS Strat. This pic's pretty good though, even if the Fiesta Red doesn't appear as pinky-orangey as is really is. Regardless of that, the plastics are doing it no favours at all. The scratchplate is probably mint green but the remainder just looks cream. Yuk!

I have a couple of spare loaded scratchplates from 2006 Strats, which differ, but just placing them on the guitar, the whiter one looks better. Neither is bright white (which I think would look too white), and I see either parchment or aged white (any others?) are available. Anyone know which is whiter, please? Like I say, I'm not looking for 'new' bright white, if you know what I mean!

Reluctant though I am to change bits on an expensive Strat, I'd like to improve the looks, and plastics (including scratchplate) are cheap enough. Any views, please?

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 10:34 am
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I glad you brought this up Peter. It's an aesthetic issue, but OK to talk about.

My 1st real guitar was a 1966 Stratocaster. It was stunning. The plastic was the same shade of white. I bought a 2014 American Standard and my only disappointment was the different shades of white. There's parchment for the pickguard and aged white for the rest. It looks like a fake attempt to make it looked aged, but it's really a brand new guitar. It should all be parchment IMO, but I'm too lazy and cheap to mess with it.

You should go either all parchment or all aged white. Either will still look white. I wonder who thought mint green was a good color?


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 11:51 am
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LawFlow wrote:

...You should go either all parchment or all aged white..


If using original Fender parts you can't get an aged white scratch plate. The nearest is mint green which, subject to the light, can look very green.

The aged white plastics can also look whiter or creamer subject to lighting.

CW now (eventually) has aged white plastic with parchment and looks OK, not perfect, but OK.

I think you should kick off with a parchment pick guard and see how that goes. You could then go with parchment plastics if the contrast is still too annoying.

The parchment may calm the cream look of the aged white which can look more cream due to the mint.

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 12:30 pm
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Thanks chaps! So the cream is in fact aged white, from what you say. In which case, it looks like parchment is the way to go.

John, I may as well buy the whole lot as I can get it all from RichTone with no postage.

Be nice to try that mint green on my sunburst, but I think I'd prefer to keep all the CS bits together for refitting in case I ever sell it. Not that I see that happening, hopefully!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 4:52 pm
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Mint and aged white look great on sunburst and Daphne blue. They both seem to tame the mintyness so it seems more old white than green.

I must say mint and red is one of the worst combinations I have seen as it seems to enhance the green.

I'm loving mint on Odee but otherwise parchment is my new favourite.

I quite like the 70s vibe that black gives and the way it scratches up, and looks properly used, in no time at all. But it only looks right with black scratch plate and matching plastic. It also needs the big headstock to complete the 70s look.

Red may well look good with a gold anodised scratch plate with aged white or parchment plastic. Very Lotus 49 60s looking.

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 8:52 am
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Just taken delivery of a parchment set of plastics - scratchplate and the rest. Will post a photo when fitted!

Genuine Fender parts as fitted to US Strats, but where do you think they're made? South Korea! That's very disappointing (even though quality looks fine).

After buying the locking tuners fitted to Deluxe US Strats (some while ago) and finding 'Made in Taiwan' on the packet, and now this, I have to ask - just how much of a US Strat is made in America nowadays? The woodwork, yes, because I've seen the factory on YouTube, but the rest...?

Perhaps a MIA Strat should be AIA - Assembled in America. In GB, I reckon our Trading Standards people would take a dim view of the MIA claim.

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 3:01 pm
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I think I'd like a little bit of bling on that one.

Image

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 1:33 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
I think I'd like a little bit of bling on that one.

Image


I am going to hurl chunks. ;-) So obviously wrong.

Damn! Now there's two pictures of it.

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 2:49 am
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Peter S wrote:
.... Genuine Fender parts as fitted to US Strats, but where do you think they're made? South Korea! That's very disappointing (even though quality looks fine)...


I agree. When you are trying to use all Fender parts and have signed up to the whole "Made in the USA" heritage it is a bit of a kick in the teeth. Not that I am against them making Hondas in Swindon.

I have just had a look through some of my parts stock of "Fender Genuine Parts" which include:-

Scratch plate - Made in Mexico
TBX Tone Control - Made in Taiwan
CAP Silver Mica - Made in USA (hurrah!)
Aged Switch Tip - Made in USA
Vintage Trem Springs - Made in USA
Pat Pend Saddles - Made in USA

It all looks to be somewhat the luck of the drawer.

I'm looking forward to seeing the all parchment. I am rather taken with the parchment guard and white plastic on my HWy1. It looks much better than parchment and aged white which seems to be the current standard for a lot of new Strats and is currently lurking on CW.

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 7:00 am
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John Sims wrote:
BMW-KTM wrote:
I think I'd like a little bit of bling on that one.

Image


I am going to hurl chunks. ;-) So obviously wrong.

Damn! Now there's two pictures of it.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion.
My opinion is that it goes very well with the pickups and the fretboard.
Now there's 3.
You're welcome.
:lol:

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:03 am
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Much better, in my opinion (although the lighting isn't quite the same)! What isn't quite as good is the slight imperfection...

Image
It looked fine in the packet, but not so great out. It's also a bit warped, although OK when screwed down. I suppose it won't make any difference, but a WD parchment scratchplate would've been perfect, I'm sure (I've had plenty of them over the years).

BMW, I didn't fancy the white pearl on this guitar, although I do have one on a 3TSB and like it on that!

John (I too have a Honda!) - as you say re US Fender - it must be luck of the draw!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:10 am
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Peter S wrote:
Just taken delivery of a parchment set of plastics - scratchplate and the rest. Will post a photo when fitted!

Genuine Fender parts as fitted to US Strats, but where do you think they're made? South Korea! That's very disappointing (even though quality looks fine).

After buying the locking tuners fitted to Deluxe US Strats (some while ago) and finding 'Made in Taiwan' on the packet, and now this, I have to ask - just how much of a US Strat is made in America nowadays? The woodwork, yes, because I've seen the factory on YouTube, but the rest...?

Perhaps a MIA Strat should be AIA - Assembled in America. In GB, I reckon our Trading Standards people would take a dim view of the MIA claim.

Cheers - Peter.
Back in the day when my 1966 Strat and Super Reverb were made, it was all 100% USA, even the tubes. That's when Made in America truly represented top quality. Today if something is 100% MIA and truly has top quality (rare), you have to break the bank. I think FMIC advertises that the 65 Reissues are "Assembled in America" or something like that. What does that mean?


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 11:17 am
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Peter S wrote:
... but not so great out. It's also a bit warped, although OK when screwed down.


It is always the bit you see when you look down. It is sods law. :evil:

I have been very surprised over the significant difference in quality of "Fender" scratch plates. Some are very nice and others have significant cutter judder marks around the edge and needed a lot of refinishing to make them smooth.

Just a little sanding should easily take away your tiny blemish. Microscopic (only noticeable if you know it is there) blemish aside, I think it looks superb. Much classier than the green and cream.

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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:52 pm
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Peter S wrote:
Image
Much better, in my opinion (although the lighting isn't quite the same)! What isn't quite as good is the slight imperfection...

Image
It looked fine in the packet, but not so great out. It's also a bit warped, although OK when screwed down. I suppose it won't make any difference, but a WD parchment scratchplate would've been perfect, I'm sure (I've had plenty of them over the years).

BMW, I didn't fancy the white pearl on this guitar, although I do have one on a 3TSB and like it on that!

John (I too have a Honda!) - as you say re US Fender - it must be luck of the draw!

Cheers - Peter.
I like that. Now I have to consider changing my aged white knobs, PUP covers, etc to parchment. That's a much classier look. I prefer a new guitar to look new.


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Post subject: Re: Plastics
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 12:50 pm
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Quote:
Now I have to consider changing my aged white knobs, PUP covers, etc to parchment. That's a much classier look. I prefer a new guitar to look new.
Yes, it's nice isn't it - I'm well pleased with it. Or rather I will be when the replacement 'guard comes - that one is badly warped, apart from the mark, so the shop's replacing it for me.

What colour's your 2014, Larry? I've just picked up a '14 ('New Strat' post a few weeks ago) and it has what sounds like the same plastics you describe. It's Ocean Blue Metallic and, in that colour, I think the aged/mint/whatever plastics look fine. But for £48 - and presumably cheaper in US - parchment's certainly a good mod!

Cheers - Peter.


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