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Post subject: Get a replacement for stolen American Deluxe
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:14 pm
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Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:29 pm
Posts: 1162
Location: Lee, MA
So I've been guitarless for two months now after my 2 month old American Deluxe was stolen. It was killing me. I've been out of work, so I didnt have another $1200 sitting around to buy another one, and as most of you know, Ebay is even worse for deals. I thought to myself "maybe a MIM Standard isnt all that bad".. So I went 2 weeks ago to GC, and tried close to a dozen, I couldnt do it. Maybe I was spoiled, and just expecting too much, and maybe they just werent set up right, but they all lacked considarably. So looking through Craigslist, I saw a guy selling a 2007 Mexican Reissue for $300. He had the standard pickups replaced with Rio Grande Tallboys, and said he had his luthier clean up the wiring when he first bought it. I didnt know what to make of it, I knew that if the luthier didnt do a good job (which happens more than I'd like)it wouldnt work. As I talked to him more, I found out that he uses the same guy I do at Whitsett Guitar Works, a guy I'd trust a $25000 guitar with. So it made the decision easier, if it looked okay, i'd buy it. I was pleasantly suprised to find the quality of the Mexican very high, higher than any others I'd seen. The neck felt great (although I hate it at the same tim, I just dont like the vintage necks, too narrow for me, and I dont like the really round fretboard), and the pickups sounded good. I must admit, I havent made my mind up about them yet. I'm used to the SCN's, which do what I want them to silently. These definitly have more punch and snap, but I dont know if I like the tone enough for the increase in hum I get.... I brought it to Bill Whitsett for a set up. I had him replace the 10 gauge strings for 11's, and the next thing, was I had him replace the vintage tuners. I know allot of people are of the mindset that Vintage Reissues should have everything stock, but not me. Although they look cool, I'm much more interested with performance and reliability. So he put on Sprezel locking tuners. After he did all that, he did the coolest thing and installed a toggle switch that allows me to turn on the bridge pickup. So along with the typical 5 way positions, I can now run all 3 at the same time, or better yet the neck/bridge postion. I dont know how I went this long without that feature. It gives me that Tele snap that I love, but with the versatility of a Strat. I recomend this to anyone who has a "go to" guitar. Its cheap (the only part cost is the switch which you can buy at a Radio Shack, a little wire and installation. Plus its easy to remove if you want to sell the guitar, jsut remove the pickguard. I'm thinking of putting in a push/push button for it later just to clean it up. I want to buy a neck for it, and probably repalace the tremolo. I never heard of this guitar, I thought it was an assembled guitar, but I guess It was a limited run. It has a reissue 50's body, and reissue 60's neck, its weired. but I like it.
I also wanted to get the word out for Bill Whitsett. As most of you know, if you have a really good luthier to work with, you've got something. Most guys are good at somethings, and not so much others. Like they're good at setups, but cant dress a fret for their life, or they're good at wiring, but not setups. Bill is Fender Gold certified (along with Gibson, Martin, Kaman Etc.) He does spot on work, His work is anal, borderline obsessive compulsive. The first time I met him (after reading an article about him in the city paper) I had just bought my Amer Dlx. I asked if he could put in a LSR for me. Instead of just saying yes, he said he could, but cautioned me the he thought if he did, it wouldnt be worth the money it would cost, and would permanently change a great guitar. In short he said he would, but suggested against it because he thought I'd regret it later down the line. Most guys would just do it to make money, but he was more concerned with my satisfaction. He did all the work i mentioned (a perfect set-up, widening the string posts, installing the locking tuners, and installing the toggle switch) in under an hour, and showed me what he was doing all down the line. My previous experience with a repairman was at a big chain store, i wont mention where. They guy acted like i was bothering him asking a couple questions, the made it seem that if he did the work, he'd be doing him a favor. Obviously I didnt go with him. I cant sing this guys praises enough. I feel really lucky to have such a professional in my area. I'd trust him with anyting from a $100 squire, to a $25000 vintage. I think if I moved, Id ship him my guitars to get the work done. To many times now, you go to get something done on your guitar, and the repair guy at the local shop has to ship it somewhere else to get done. SO when it comes back, if it isnt right, it has to go out again. I recommend anyone in the Greater Boston area that needs work done use him. You'll never use anyone else after that. I dont usually give kudos online like this, but he deserves it. Im going to put a link in this post so people can reach him, you wont be sorry. www.whitsettguitarworks.com


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Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:23 pm
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Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 1:35 pm
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Location: DC
Can u post some pictures of the guitar? :)


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:31 am
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Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:53 am
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Location: Brooklyn NY
I was against MIM Strats and buying guitars from Ebay...But...I bought an MIM Strat from Ebay for $170 with Texas Specials and couldn`t be happier.

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:16 am
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Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:47 am
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Location: Westchester County, NY
Whenever I find a MIM in good condish for under $200 I always pick it up. Most of the time I clean them up, do a good setup, play them for a while and sell them on CL, making a few bucks in the process.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:25 pm
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If I saw a MIM for unter 200 Id get it too .... :)


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:55 pm
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Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:47 am
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Location: Westchester County, NY
Last one I found was a 98 MIM on CL for $175. When I got there the whammy bar was missing and the girl let me have it for $150. Left handed, reversed the nut and saddles, cleaned it up (was terribly filthy) and did a good setup, new strings, put a strap button on other horn. I actually love playing that thing now.


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