I'd keep the pre-amp and move the battery. Theres ample room in there between the pickups. Like you said $600 is a bargain for a used usa with some history to it.

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I've got an EMG PA-2 and the nine-volt battery held by a metal clip in a standard-route Strat body... the battery lies right alongside the controls, no problem.

The Floyd Rose was stock, I'm pretty sure. I didn't realize that it had the swimming pool rout. Do you think it would be complicated and/or expensive to return this to it's original condition?

The seller says that the pre-amp was changed to an EMG but I don't think the factory original set-up included any pre-amp. Would it simply be a new pickguard and rewire?

If you read through the website linked in my first post theres no mention of a preamp. Theres plenty of pictures of swimmingpool routed bodies though. It should be easy to restore. It may require a specialy cut pickguard for the lace duality.

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for the deluxe, it would be front blue, middle silver, and bac k red. you can see faint red lettering on the back pickup.

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http://www.twitter.com/CAE_Music

So, I actually bought this guitar last night. I'm going to tear it apart and I'll post pics so you can have a look see of what's inside.

TFL.

Congratulations mate.

Cant wait for them pic's.

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