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Post subject: Where does STRATosphere get their Fender Bodies and Necks?
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:05 am
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I'm not insinuating that STRATosphere get their necks, bodies, pickups, and other hardware from fake or less than legal means. Many times I have purchased products from STRATosphere, however I am about to make a major purchase and would like to be assured that the items I am purchasing are genuine Fender parts. Do the bodies, necks, and other Fender hardware come from disassembled guitars or from sources not available to the general public. Or do the products come from Fender due to some aggrement they have with STRATosphere. I'm just concerned the bodies and necks are lower quality than the bodies and necks that are assembled into the guitars that are sold in Fender Licensed dealers.
Again, I'm not trying to bad mouth STRATosphere, I've actually been very happy with my previous purchases from them. I just would like confirmation that products on STRATosphere are just as high quality as all Fender products.

Russ

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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:57 am
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Nevin1985 wrote:
I am pretty sure they buy the complete guitars and sell them as parts. I hate seeing guitars sold that way though....

Nice stuff to make a project from though.


Thats always been the impression I was under too, buy complete guitars then break them down. He sometimes posts here, perhaps he may grace us with a reply. Ed Roman breaks new guitars down for parts too. He says so on his site.

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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:33 am
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[img]
Yeah, they part out new guitars. Seems sad but you have to remember that fender does not sell bodies or necks seperately so they must come from a complete guitar. So if you want a REAL Fender neck or body it MUST come from one parted out. [/img]


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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:33 am
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Lo-o-ong way from my part of the world, but do I remember right that Stratosphere is a realworld guitar shop as well? If so, as a dealer they buy the guitars at wholesale price, break 'em down and sell the parts for significantly more than the retail price of the whole guitar would be. That's how the numbers work.

Can't find it at this second, but I feel sure I've read Stratosphere themselves saying that is what they do.

Which is all perfectly legal - and the only way you can reliably get hold of genuine parts Fender won't sell as aftermarket spares; such as bodies, necks and Eric Johnson pickups.

Happens in other businesses too.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:52 am
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They used to have their location listed as Boston (I think it's New Hampshire now? 30 minutes to the north). I once wanted to look at a neck and asked if I could come visit.

I was told that they have multiple stocking locations and I was not allowed
the chance to visit and really see what kind of operation they have going.

Some local rumors hint that they are affiliated with Boston Guitar Works which is now in Brockton, MA.?

http://www.bostonguitar.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:04 am
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My neice works at a local music store (in NY Hudson Valley), and she had mentioned last year that they get a lot of business from "a guy in New Hamphire" who buys guitars and parts them out on ebay. Is that STRATosphere? Don't know, but it happens. They are very likely legit.


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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:33 am
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I'm pretty sure that Stratosphere buys guitars in cheap lots and takes them apart. You don't have to be a genius to do the math: A new-ish Strat sold on eBay is worth a bit more in pieces than put together. So, you buy 'em, break 'em down, and are guaranteed a profit.

It sounds like a troublesome way to make a few quid, but whatev'.

A friend of mine has built a couple of guitars with Stratosphere parts, and he's a big fan.


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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:40 am
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totally legit in my experience (just a bit on the pricey side sometimes). It's all "partsed out" guitars. Sorta sad when they are worth more in bits than as complete guitars.

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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:00 pm
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Geez, I wonder how many Fender Friday special Strats get bought up by Stratosphere?


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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:43 am
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mthorn00 wrote:
totally legit in my experience (just a bit on the pricey side sometimes). It's all "partsed out" guitars. Sorta sad when they are worth more in bits than as complete guitars.


I've toyed with the idea of putting a full guitar together from Stratosphere parts after I bought a HW1 replacement body.

We pay a premium price for fenders in Australia and it would be cheaper to put together a Hot Rod strat ( for example ) from the stratosphere than purchasing one new here. If I were to buy the parts for the Hot Rod it would cost $1780 AUD, where as a new Hot Rod bought in Australia retails for $4500!

Import taxes would be little to none if sent over in a couple of deliveries too, I'd be happy to pay the extra $40 postage for BIG savings!

It is a tempting idea!


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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:52 am
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For Fenderistas outside of the USA it appears that buying the parts and assembling it yourself is a cheaper way to go. Rock on

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Post subject: Re: Where does STRATosphere get their Fender Bodies and Neck
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:48 am
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I do not recommend The Stratosphere at all. I have tried to buy a couple of times and they always return my money because they say they do not ship to my country. What happens is that on their website they say otherwise. They have wasted my time and having my money frozen for a week. So, they are poorly organized. USA is a great country, but not by people like them. Regrettable.


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Post subject: Re: Where does STRATosphere get their Fender Bodies and Neck
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:48 pm
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I've bought thousands of dollars worth of parts from The Stratosphere and never had an issue with anything they sold me -- all of it genuine Fender and first-rate stuff.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Where does STRATosphere get their Fender Bodies and Neck
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:48 am
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Proton wrote:
I do not recommend The Stratosphere at all. I have tried to buy a couple of times and they always return my money because they say they do not ship to my country. What happens is that on their website they say otherwise. They have wasted my time and having my money frozen for a week. So, they are poorly organized. USA is a great country, but not by people like them. Regrettable.


What country are you in?

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Post subject: Re: Where does STRATosphere get their Fender Bodies and Neck
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:10 pm
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Miami Mike wrote:
Proton wrote:
I do not recommend The Stratosphere at all. I have tried to buy a couple of times and they always return my money because they say they do not ship to my country. What happens is that on their website they say otherwise. They have wasted my time and having my money frozen for a week. So, they are poorly organized. USA is a great country, but not by people like them. Regrettable.


What country are you in?

This is a carbon-copy of a post I've seen on a couple of other forums... different username, but the same story, user does not respond to questions as to where they live.
This, and the other posts, have been to very old threads... looks like someone just doing a Lycos search for Stratosphere.

And ya... I've bought a ton of stuff from them, including a Gibson Flying-V husk, and have had no problems at all.

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