I started with a 2009 Candy Apple Red MIM Standard w/ maple fretboard.

Here are the things I added:

Fender SCN pickups (aged white) with S-1 switching system
Changed all plastic parts to aged white
Mint green pickguard/trem cover
Fender logo neck plate
Fender 'F' logo locking tuners
Fender strap locks/buttons

After I put everything together, I decided it would look better with a rosewood fingerboard. I put my neck on ebay and was able to replace it with a 2009 MIM rosewood from there as well.

I'm considering graph-tech saddles, but I'm torn because I don't want to De-Fenderize it.

It looks good and you did a nice job but I prefer the look with the maple fretboard over the rosewood by far, but if you like the look of the rosewood fretboard then that's all that matters. It's your guitar after all. JMHO
Also how do you retain your original serial number since you switched necks which probably voids the warranty anyway.

I typically like maple and I even think it looks better in the pictures, but in person I really like the rosewood on this one.

Yes, my warranty is long gone, I know.

Very nice. Great job.

I like maple boards on some guitars. For the things I want to play, I like the feel, tone and look of rosewood much better though. I like that 60's look with rosewood necks. To me, it makes it a "tougher" looking guitar. Maple is too delicate looking to me for some reason, and looks funny when you're playing hard rock or something other than country or mellow blues. That's just me though.

$@!&, you're doing all the upgrades i'm in the process of doing!

what type of model neck did you end up getting? i'm trying to find a rosewood neck to go on my MIM Classic 50's. this info would be a huge help.

looks great too! love mint green pick guards.

I like the Rosewood neck better.......but then.......I've always liked Rosewood.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

I just got a 2009 MIM standard one.

Don't put graph tech saddles on it unless you want your tone to sound like MUD!!!! Steel saddles are the best. Same goes for nuts, use bone, not graphite.

Not used graphite myself, but I can heartily recommend Tusque (which I understand shares many properties of graphite. Infact all of my Strats have replacement tusque nuts (and some have tusque saddles if I have the trem set up). They are nice and slippery, have great clarity, definition and they ring like a bell. I use a great local tech who makes them up for me. (Take a bow Joe, Guitar Spares and Repairs, Birmingham UK).

I've heard about tusque too - it's supposed to be a good alternative to bone - similar properties but more slippery. I still prefer real bone though.

Very sharp... excelent job... where did you get the tuners/machines? Did you have to drill to install them?

It looks great!

I'm in the process of changing/working on my new MIM project guitar. I'll be changing her clothes from white to black tomorrow.

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2009 Fender Strat MIM
2002 Squire 20th Aniv. Strat
30 year old Les Paul copy which is currently in the process of being rebuilt.

Thanks!

I got the tuners on ebay. You don't have to drill anything to install them as they are a direct replacement.

I was torn between the chrome 'F' tuners and the brushed metal without the 'F'. I ended up getting both. I'm deciding whether I want to use the brushed on my VG or my Fender Friday Special ($299) standard . I'll probably end up putting it on the standard because I like the staggered tuners on the VG.

One of the nicest mim's I've seen.

Nice I am also thinking of changing the white pic guard and dials on my red 08 mim standard to give it a retro look . Thanks for the uploaded pic's it comfirms my desire [/img]