Does the Lonestar have an ash or alder body (or did it vary)? Where were they made? Are any particular years more desireable?

tnx,
mk

The new Lonestars are made in Mexico.To my knowledge they have alder bodies.I have a older 03 Texas Special Fat Strat, which is the same thing.Personally i like the Mia better than the newer MIM.Its largely due to the way the neck feels and I also like the 2 point trem.FWIW , the MIM is no slouch either.It has really nice tone , but i feel the neck is a little better quality, however the MIM has the vintage saddles and tremolo which alot of people like.

Another drawcard for the original MIA series Hotrod strats were the colours that they came in, something they should stay true to in the mim range

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And you had a choice of necks. I believe the LS only comes in rosewood and the Roadhouse only comes in maple.

Was/is there a hardtail option on the Lonestars?

tnx,
mk

I have an original U.S. Lone Star (Fat Strat Texas Special after the changeover to the American Series) and it has an alder body with an ash vener. Mine has a sunburst finish, but I believe that the solid colored varieties were just alder. The U.S. Lone Star/Fat Strat Texas Spec. were also wired a little differently than the current MIM Lone Star. Regarding neck choices; both the Lone Star and Roadhouse Strats were available with a choice of rosewood or maple fingerboards.

Thanks! Do you know how the wiring was different?

mk

The original Lone Star used a 5-way Super Switch while the MIM uses a standard 5-way. With the Super Switch, the bridge humbucker is split when using the 2nd position which is supposed to preserve the "quack" that you would get in a normal S/S/S strat when using that positon. The MIM gives you the full on humbucker witht he middle pickup. The Super Switch was also used on the Big Apple/Double Fat Strats as well as the MIM Deluxe Fat and Deluxe Double Fat Strats.