FINALLY!!
After years of mystery, I've figured out what I own. I didn't know I had a HM Strat made in Japan.
Fooled me!
Serial E848669 (at least it appears to be an 8 after the E, couldn't be a 6 or 9 or 0 or 3). It's been a while since I took off the neck. I didn't know then to look for a number. I know now.

As you can see, I haven't taken the greatest care of her. She has rust and a few dings, as well as some scratches on the back. The fretboard looks like an old familiar faded pair of jeans.
::)
I bought this guitar "new" in '89 from a Guitar Center in SF, CA. The guy saw me coming and I suspect made a modification to it once I decided to buy. He could see I was green, and anxious. It's my first and only electric guitar and it's time to restore it.

I've found a place finally to acquire necessary replacement parts that have corroded or become stripped.

http://www.kahlerparts.com/X_pages/X_2720_Spyder.htm


My biggest worry as of late is the Fulcrum Claw. One screw hole has become so worn, it will not hold the screw unless tightened nearly flush. It pops out once 3 springs tense on it if not screwed in nearly full. Advice about this would be greatly appreciated as would any other suggestions.

I play it often despite its condition. I suspect I could use new PUs in addition to other needed parts. The 5-way switch has only 2 settings left. 2 saddles have rust as well do most screws throughout. The clutch for the whammy bar may need replacing as it doesn't make the bar stick in place. A couple screws have stripped heads.

All in all, I love it. I've had a couple offers for it but I'll never sell her. Only, I will put in a couple bills to refresh her sounds. I must confess; after browsing photos here of members' guitars, I'm almost embarrassed to show mine.
What the hell, right?

Welcome!

Glue in a dowel in that stripped screw hole and redrill it. As a matter of fact, if that one screw hole is that badly stripped, the other one may not be far behind it. You might want to consider doweling and redrilling both.

I wouldn't be embarrassed at all to show off that guitar. Many players buy new guitars pre-abused from the factory or do the abusing themselves to new guitars so they will look like your's, believe it or not.

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You dig?

thats not strat.....

Many thanx Martian. I've been here nearly 2 years and have only just begun figuring some things out.
I HAD heard that some folks buy pre-abused boxes for fashion's sake. I should start telling people that I bought mine this way and the customizing cost extra. teeheehee

Oh? and what part of this Strat is NOT Strat? The Strat label or the Strat stamps? Maybe it's the Strat serial number, stratman.
Pardon my venom but my patience for nonbelievers runs thin.
Are you suggesting that the whole thing is a ruse on me, or on you?
"thats not strat....", Really! Hey, stratman, that's not English.
Maybe you could expound on your statement so I don't have to stop thinking nice things about you, huh?[/quote]

True. Beat up guitar makes you look like a seasoned player. Check out John Mayer's guitar in this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvrtuAmHHnI

If a beat up guitar makes you look like a seasoned player, what do you look like when you set it on fire?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOzhbj1BVOU

It's like the old lady said when she urinated into the ocean, "Every little bit helps."

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You dig?

St_jo, I can understand your frustration, but I think your reaction is a bit over the top. The HM Strat is an unusual instrument, and many people have never seen or heard of it. You are in the unique position of educating people about it. Strictly speaking, stratman10114 is correct. Your guitar is not a Fender Stratocaster. It is a Fender HM Strat--another instrument altogether. That doesn't mean that your guitar is anything less than genuine.

As for stratman's command of the English language, I would ask that you be a bit more forgiving. There are many users of this forum for whom English is not their native tongue. Insensitive remarks could cause some of them to stop posting, and we might lose out on some valuable insights. I agree that this particular post does not necessarily qualify as a valuable insight; however, the point is that it takes a certain level of courage to write publicly in a foreign language. Try to address the point made without insulting the person who made it.

The bottom line is that I would like to know more about your guitar. As you restore it, please continue to post pictures. We all love a little guitar porn around here. Thank you, and welcome to the forum!

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

Your point is well taken. In my defense, I DID seek his pardon.
I'm over it.
Imagine my confusion all these years. NOBODY I know owns a guitar like mine and nobody I know recognizes it. Maybe this means I need to get out more. I will stop telling people I have a Fender Strat but rather a Fender HM Strat.
Nonetheless, I will keep posting updates.
Guitar porn......hmmmm, a ?new? hobby? Is it PayPerView?

I would do exactly that! Everyone has a Strat, but who has what you've got? And when people say, "HM Strat--what's that?" you can kick back and say, "Well, lemme tell ya..."

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