I've been looking to get a nice strat. Thinking EC maybe '57 Hot Rod. If you buy it second hand you don't get the warranty. I'm thinking that should not be a big deal. Buying a used or 08 strat for $1k+ below retail pays for a lot of repairs.

Nowadays, if there is a superior warranty on a new item which one purchases, chances are that warranty will never be needed as the product itself is superior. So, when it comes to Fender Guitars, I'd buy a second hand one and not even think about the no warranty aspect provided that I knew the history of the guitar. Because let's face it, too many players attempt to 'upgrade'' (read, 'destroy') their premium guitars or the guitars' parts and then realizing their folly, they try to cosmetically patch them back together and unload them.

Caveat emptor!

YMMV.

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You dig?

Hello Jmr986,

For me factory warranty means nothing.
Any problems the surface I take care of myself
In three decades of using fender guitars I
never came across a problem so drastic that
it couldn't easily be set right.

Best of luck on your quest.

Cheers.

Like all these people buying 50's-90's items worry about warranty. Its a fender it was made to put right. I love fender gear, but if you want it to absolute personal preference some tinkering is involved. Outside of a little bit of adjustment i've never had a problem. However that may be down to how i evaluate guitars.

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No no and no