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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 4:51 am
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@jmattis Wow! That's impressive knowledge to someone as ignorant as me lol.

Thank you for that information, very interesting, I'm glad the pics were of use. I didn't realise the tone pot was a TBX, it does indent at middle setting as you say. I kind of knew it wasn't 'normal' but I never really moved it from the middle as it didn't sound good to my ears whichever way I turned it, too muddy or too bright.

Do you think maybe this was a mod that someone did before I purchased it? I wonder if the SD '59 HB is a replacement for the original too? I've only ever seen a few pics of these online and none of them had the SD fitted. Funny, but I was sure this was sold to me 'as new' at the time around '95 or '96 as I recall.

You probably spotted that the splitter switch is not the original, I had that replaced a while back as it had broken.

Now you've told me it's quite a rare guitar I almost feel obliged to leave it alone lol.

My dilemma really is that I don't think I'd ever sell it and even with it being quite rare and possibly collectable sometime in the future I can't imagine it'd be worth an awful lot of £'s. I really want to make it useable and enjoyable to play again, it needs a refret and some improvements to the electrics to get to that point. Maybe your suggestion re dropping in a loaded pg might be the easier way to go, I'll give it some thought.

Paul


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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 6:52 am
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IMHO, based on the fret shadows in the pics, those frets still have plenty of metal in them for probably more than one fret leveling job, so a full refret would be overkill - unless you're a fan of real high, real massive frets. :wink:

I fully agree with the "make it playable" idea, no point in having a guitar one doen's like to play.
The contact cleaner tip st52 posted may help with the current pots (sometimes the help is only temporary), but since you say you haven't been satisfied with the guitar, it gets played more if you change the electronics.
And you can of course keep the original components with either a prewired pg or wiring one yourself; the Vol/T1/T2 you want won't fit in that stock pg anyways.

I think the TBX system is original.
I can't say for sure about the humbucker, I'm leaning to 'upgraded', because an SD TB-59 (trembucker) has never been a common choice in factory stock Fenders. And since that switch is new, solder joints won't help either.
Anyone know if the TB-59 was even available in 1995..?

On the preserving-the-original-parts point, I don't really consider the monetary values, but just preserving a piece of history. Even you, in the decades to come, may start missing the guitar 'as it was when you were young and life was beautiful and you bought it' and want to reverse the mods... :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 8:42 am
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"as it was when you were young and life was beautiful and you bought it'"

Haha I know what you mean there, not so young now though sadly. :D

The neck is properly lousy to be honest, you can't really see in the pics but from fret 9 to the nut there's heavy wear and quite deep grooves, the frets from 10 upwards have very little wear but are horribly tall like doorsteps! I've had a couple of guitar techs look at it and they both advised me to either buy a new neck or go for a refret. I do love the colour of the maple though, unlike me it's aged beautifully! I pretty much stopped playing it when I got my first usa strat, the difference in the necks is night and day.

Anyway, will have to give this some thought. I might first try swapping out the neck and middle for the fender fat 50's I have here. If I like what I hear then maybe just clean up the pots, new trem block and input socket and get the neck sorted. Will let you know.

Thanks again

Paul


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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:07 am
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If it's just the fret height up at the dusty end that bothers you, there's probably enough meat in those frets to take quite a heavy beam levelling.
A decent levelling/recrown/polishing might just change your opinion of the guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 12:20 pm
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@stratmangler - You could be right fella, I've no first hand experience with fret jobs so I'm just going on what I've been advised previously by local guitar techs.

After reading the comments from you guys re the frets, I'm going to take it to Mansons in Exeter and get their advice. If they're good enough for Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Joe Bonamassa, Dave Grohl and dozens more famous names.... they're good enough for me lol.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 4:05 am
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Real wise decision.

If money's not too tight to mention, maybe let them fix it in original composition, play a couple of months and then get the new prewired pickguard, if you still don't bond with the Special.

And keep us updated with the process - it'll be a happy end either way.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:20 pm
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Mansons have a good reputation (and client list) - they'll do you proud.

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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:46 am
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Just a quick update for those that may be interested:

I took the Strat to Mansons today for a thorough inspection and some advice. Although they could carry out a fret dress they advised me that it would be almost like playing a fretless neck lol. Frets 3 up to 7 were almost flat to the board. So I opted for a full refret, medium jumbo. Unfortunately it needed a new nut as well but I'm confident once they've done the work and set it up for me it will be like playing a new guitar. Only downside is that it's going to be a month before it's ready, but I'm patient. :wink:

Couple of things the tech guy identified: The body is 2 piece Ash, it's very heavy compared to my 2014 USA Strat, not swamp then. Also, the two single coil pups are Seymour Duncan SSL 6's. It would appear the whole Fender stock set was swapped out before I purchased it way back when.

Will let you know how it is when I get it back :wink:

Thanks for the helpful comments and advice.

Cheers

Paul


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Post subject: Re: Advice Needed - MIM Strat Refurb
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:09 am
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And thanks right back at ya for the update - I think we all love happy endings.


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