I just picked up my 2003 Classic Series 50's Stratocaster in Daphne Blue that I had on layaway since before Christmas. I got it at my local pawn shop for a great price. It is in very good condition (8.5/10) and came with a rect. hardshell case for the total sum of $212!
I was checking out the new "Road Worn" guitars, and wonder why in the world would anyone pay $950 for a reliced MIM 50's Strat??? The Road Worn guitars are basically the same as my guitar, but with TexMex pups and bigger frets. Oh yeah, and worn in like old sneakers.
Once you pay tax, that guitar is $1000!!! For the $788 cost difference, I can put in a set of WAY better pickups than the TexMex ones, along with new pots and switch, locking tuners, straplocks, tremelo upgrades from Callaham and still have money left over. And I got a hardshell case instead of a cheap gig bag!!!!
I just don't get the whole relic thing, but that is just me!!
PS I am doing a total tear down and set up, and will have photos as soon as it is reassembled. I know it doesn't exist until photos are on the forum!!!

Hey paisley strat, that sounds cool. Why don't you post pics during the tear down so's we can all look over your shoulder while you work?

Some of us round here love that stuff. Or maybe we're just little kiddies who prefer to look at pictures than writing...

- C

Sounds like a good deal to me now if only I can find one for that

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Just got finished setting up my new baby! Thought you might like to see her. The only changes I am going to make is replace the white knobs, trem tip, and switch knob with OEM aged white plastic parts from Fender. It plays nicely, and has that vintage tone, which I love.

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A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

That's one great looking Strat and you got an amazing deal on it. I have always had a soft spot for Daphne Blue Strats but I have never seen one in any of the guitar stores I frequent.

I did stumble across a Surf Green Classic 50s Strat at a local independent dealer and I couldn't whip out my debit card fast enough. Sold! I upgraded the pickups to SCNs and it sounds as good as it looks, minus the noise.

John

Wow for $212 in that condition is amazing....seems like you got a good bargain and a nice "Road Worn" there paisley strat....

Nice guitar and a sweet deal. Congrats.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I really hate to rag on Fender, but sometimes they do things that don't make sense. Why is the new Road Worn MIM Strat/Tele series of guitars more expensive than the Highway One series of USA guitars? I don't really understand that one. I thought that guitars were made in Ensenada to cut down costs??
I guess the relic thing is so popular that they had to come up with a less expensive option to the Custom Shop models. Beleive me, I would own a new Custom Shop RI if I could afford one. I am trying to equip my home studio, and all the recording stuff(mics, outboard gear, DAW) is REALLY EXPENSIVE. I do love collecting guitars tho, and when I see a good deal, like this 50's Strat, I get a bad case of GAS!!!! I also look at it as a type of savings plan. I know this guitar will never be worth much, but I can always sell it for more than I paid, for sure. In this economy, that's not too bad.

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A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

First off, you got quite the deal on that nice looking guitar.

As for pricing, wait to see the NEW prices that come out on Feb. 1st. It's supposed to be a substantial increase. I'm guessing the Road Worns already have their NEW prices. The Road Worn MIMs might end up being less expensive than the Highway Ones!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Hey Paisley Strat: you and I have the same avatar - but unlike me you have the Strat to go with it!

Hmm. We'll have to do something about that...

Very pretty.

Cheers - C

Are we witnessing a GAS attack?

Did you ever get that MIJ? Are you going to wait to get it before you order another one?


As for me, it's almost 2 years since my last acquisition (built that doubleneck).

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Man, that is one beautiful axe. Congratulations on getting such a great deal. Surf's up!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Oh dear, I've been waiting with a sinking heart for you to ask me about that again.

My order (and deposit) is with a very nice shop, Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience. As we hit December I started ringing them every two weeks to see if anything had come in yet - no show.

Then a couple of days before Christmas I got a call from Mr Chandler himself who seemed pretty embarrassed and said his supplier had let him down and was in fact getting out of the Japanese Fender import line. Currency shifts have made it unprofitable, apparently.

Charlie Chandler asked if I knew about the website of a certain importer based in Edinburgh. But it was poor communications with that one that had brought me to a real-world shop in the first place. Mr Chandler then asked if I'd like him to deal with that importer for me - it seems he feels he has accepted my order and owes me a debt of care. I assured him I don't see it that way at all, but said if he was prepared to go ahead with it for me I'd be most glad.

He did warn me he had no idea what the time frame might be: do you remember months ago when I confidently predicted that my Strat must be on a container ship passing Egypt right about then? Poor deluded fool!

As a side note, I've been deeply impressed with both Charlie Chandler and his very nice shop over all this. So I wanted to give him an out if he was finding this tiresome: I asked him if he thought Japanese Fenders were really worth all this hassle, or if I ought to get real and pick up a nice Fiesta Red Classic '50s instead. To my great surprise he said that he absolutely thought the quality deserved the effort. He spoke very highly about CIJ instruments and pretty much talked me into going on, probably against his own interests. So...

Can't decide if all this bother is fate's way of telling me that Fiesta '57 is not meant for me. Or whether fate is saying, "if you want it you gotta be prepared to go the mile!"

Anyway. Still in the game for now: we'll see where the story ends.

Now we know how the Icelanders wrote their sagas!

Cheers - C

PS Far as my avatar is concerned: I think we can do something interesting about that one a bit quicker...

Hello Ceri, At least it sound as though you are dealing with a good shop owner and the fact that he said what he did about the quality being worth wait when he could have sold you another says a lot.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Exactly, very much so. Especially as, due to currency rate changes I believe the shop is taking a hit on the whole deal.

Few months ago we had a gentleman in my part of the world complaining about the quality of guitar shops locally. The answer to anyone within striking distance is get on down to Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience. Very nice, and a very different kind of guitar shop. Small, but stuffed with fab boutique gear: Blackstar, Divided By 13 - did I see a Budda amp? A very old Plexi, but not an MG15 or a Roland Cube in sight!

And just round the corner from the houses of Dave Gilmour, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards and others: apparently these folks are sometimes spotted in there.

And yet I feel I've been getting excellent care despite not being a famous face. Now that's service...

Cheers - C