Hello all,

While preparing to set up my MIM strat with new strings, add more tremlo springs, clean it, etc. I decided to take off the neck to take a peek.

I found that the number stamped into the neck cavity of the guitar didn't match the serial number on the headstock. This guitar was bought new from my local GC. Should I be concerned (partsocaster), or does the number in the body cavity relate to something else? There is also a bar coded sticker on the neck and no date stamp on the bottom (where I expected one to be).

Comments? Pearls of wisdom? Also, let me appologize in advance if this is another of those "what does this tell me" posts many of you have answered hundreds of times.

No need for concern.

The serial number is quite different from all of the other numbers you'll find stamped on the various parts.

When they stamp the body, they have no clue which neck is gonna go on it.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I love the grain in your guitar. The different directions it has in the contour is really cool. Even if it turned out to be a concern, I wouldn't take it back. But I don't think you should be concerned anyway. I think Orvilleowner has it right. The other numbers might possibly be an inventory numbers or something to that effect.

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com

I should have mentioned that it is a very good looking guitar!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

The number begining MO19 on the neck may have a identicaly numbered sticker in the pickup cavity. My deluxe and CS guitars both have matching no's. My 57 hotrod doesnt have matching no's though.

I think its guaranteed on necks made for specific bodies or bodies made for specific necks. Other than that they grab whatevers nearest in the factory.

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No no and no

Thanks for the replies and comments all. I enjoy this strat very much and the more I play it the more it grows on me. Now it looks like I have to go into the pickup cavity...you have me curious nikininja

APB dont put too much score by what i said. That guitar of yours has a beautifully grained body. The neck however (not meaning to denegrate your guitar) seems quite ordinary. I believe the match comes when a body has to go to a specific neck. Other than that their just storage no's.

Still any excuse to get under the hood eh?

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No no and no

And write down all of the numbers you find on the parts! Save the paper with your manual/case candy. You'll be glad you did (it will save future work).

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I do that anyway, i didnt realize it would prove to be some use in the future. I just thought i was a bit strange. Still atleast with my CS its on the hangtag too.

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No no and no

Thanks nikininja and orvilleowner for the sound advice...I tend to overlook the basic, common sense things at times I'll be sure to jot it all down.

As far as getting under the hood. I'm finding it helps me when I begin to GAS! (Besides, I want to wait for the VinnyPop Custom...I hear it's gonna rock!! )

I love that finish--whenever I'm out looking at Strats and dreaming I have to play them if they have that finish--it doesn't make them play better, nor does it make me play better--but they look too cool to just leave alone.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

Very nice-looking guitar you got there.. Looks like one I've been considering at the local GC. That's a FSR I believe, with the Sienna Sunburst as the unique feature on, I'd guess, an ash body. (The current Musician's Friend FSR Strat is the same except it has a natural finish on an ash body.) I wasn't thrilled with the neck on the one I looked at but the body is almost enough to get me to buy it..

Thanks for the compliment oldguy101, and you are right-the strat is a FSR. However, the body is alder and not ash. I've seen the ash FSR's in natural as well, but it was hard not to go home with this beauty.

As far as the neck goes, this is my 1st strat (yep...took me long enough ). I've played Gretsch guitars mostly and the neck on the strat felt soooo much different. The neck finish on the strat allows me to move rather effortlessly up and down the neck, and the profile feels much smaller versus the Gretsch's thicker neck. It took me a while to wear in the neck on my Gretsch to feel the same way the strat did right off the shelf (different finishes they use on their necks I guess).

So when it comes to neck comparisons, I just need to play more strats..

Hi APB: are you sure? Looks mighty like ash to me. And I was under the impression that Sienna Sunburst only comes on an ash body at any point in the catalog. I thought that was what this particular FSR was all about.

Can always be wrong, though.

Very pretty, whatever. Congrats!

Cheers - C

Thanks Ceri. I know what you mean about the body. When I first bought it I didn't know it was a FSR until I tried to look up specs on it using the model number. When the Fender website didn't show that model number in their Standard series I called Fender. Sean Szafran at Fender (nice guy) checked the serial number and e-mailed me the specs for the model. I thought FSR's were ash as well, but the specs he sent me said the body is alder.

It's an HSS, and the ash FSR's I checked out were SSS. Could that be it? I also read (somewhere) in the fourms about MIM strats using a veneer cap on non-solid color bodies to show wood grain.

With me, there are always more questions than answers

Model Name: FSR Standard Stratocaster® HSS

Model Number: 013-0019-(547)

Series: Standard Series

Body: Alder

Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape,

(Satin Polyurethane Finish)

Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)

No. of Frets: 21 Vintage Style Frets

Scale Length: 25.5” (648mm)

Width @ Nut: 1-11/16” (43mm)

Hardware: Chrome

Machine Heads: Fender®/Ping® Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines

Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo

Pickguard: 4-Ply Brown Shell

Pickups: 1 Humbucking Pickup (Bridge),

2 Single-Coil Strat® Pickups (Neck and Middle)

Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade, Special Switching:

Position 1. Full Bridge Humbucker (No Tone Control)

Position 2. Front Coil of Bridge Pickup and Middle Pickup (Lead Tone Control)

Position 3. Middle Pickup (Lead Tone Control)

Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickups (Lead and Rhythm Tone Controls)

Position 5. Neck Pickup (Rhythm Tone Control)

Controls: Master Volume,

Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),

Tone 2. (Middle Pickup and Middle/Bridge Combination)

Colors: (547) Sienna Sunburst,

(Polyester Finish)

Strings: Fender Super BulletsTM 3250L, (.009 to .042), Nickel Plated Steel, p/n 073-3250-003

Unique Features: White Dot Position Inlays,

White Plastic Parts,

Gold Special Edition Sticker

Source: Mexico

Accessories: None

U.S. MSRP: $699.99

Specs: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice

INTRODUCED: 8/2008

DISCONTINUED:

DISCONTINUED COLORS:

COMMENTS: Special run for GC in 2008

WRENCH SIZES: Truss Rod Wrench #038467 (3/16” Hex)

Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench #050919 (.050” Hex 1.5mm)