What's the diff. between Strat bodies? I know there are 4 bolt and 3 bolt heels, alder and ash, nitro and poly, but what's the diff between thickness, weight, etc.? Example, 50's reissue, 60's reissue, SRV body?

I'm looking at snagging one from ebay but there are big price differences.

well i mean someone by all means please correct me if im wrong but the majority of strats are alder body, unless your going with one of the newer editions such as the noiseless ash or the fender fsr's. most strats weigh reletivly the same i mean, they may differentiate a little but i dont think its enough for someone to notice it? If your going to get one on ebay make sure its legit and its not some cheap guitar that someone bought and slapped a fender decal on it.

nitro and poly are in reffrence to the paint and lacqure used on the guitar, i believe nitro is thinner? im not possitive though so someone please correct me if im wrong, the main thing that differentiats strats is the pickups that are in them, the quality of the build Made in american, made in mexico, made in china, made in japan, ect... but by all means the made in mexico have greatly stepped there game up so your really getting an amazing guitar for a decent price. but if your looking at something like the 50's or 60's or srv all that means is that its been made "in likeness" of the guitars of the era or the specifications of steevie. and like i said someone add to this or correct me on anything. hope that helps

Yeah, I'm looking to just buy the body, but again what are the diffs? I know alder vs ash, nitro vs poly, routing, tremelo routing. Are they all the same thickness, dimensions and stuff?
I want 3 single coil, thin nitro, and the thickess heaviest alder.
What would be a good choice?

Well alder is not that heavy. For a SSS routing look to the American Vintage Reissues. The 57 has a deeper tummy cut than the 62 or 70's RI's.

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hm well the only thin nitro alder body i know of is on the 60 something hot rod i beleive, for the most part i think they all weigh the same though not 100% though ill do some research and get back to you but yeah MOST of them are alder bodies, all the mexican except the specified FSR ash and noiseless ash fenders. and a mojority of the americans, weight wise like i said i beleive there all very similar americans might weigh a little more but yeah ill do some more research and get back to you single coil wise you cant go wrong with some vintage noiseless

That's what I'm talking about! Deeper tummy cut. what about thinknesses? I want a real meaty body.

Their all around 45mm thick as far as I know. Some squires are around 42mm. Theres nothing in it.

If you want a traditional deep sounding wood, user Tbahr has a mahogany deluxe thats utterly stunning.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Special-Mahogany-HSS-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=511165

Simply stunning. If I were in the market for a new guitar thats where I'd be looking.

If all your after is a body why not contact warmoth or someone and have exactly whatever you want.

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Warmoth is cool, but I want Fender and something prepainted predrilled, and used.

There are different Ash used Northern Ash or Swamp Ash (lighter of the two) Strats have also been made of Basswood (MIJ's) and mostly Alder. Type of wood does make a difference in the weight. Ther have been FSR Strats of Walnut, korina ,Poplar.
Contour cuts have also changed over the years deep tummy cut and such.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Jay I dont believe the 3 bolt was a cost cutting measure.

AND YOUR JUST THE MAN TO PROVE ME RIGHT.

There that should have got his attention.


Could you please approximate the cost of the machinery or changes to machinery used to make or commision the 3 bolt plate and microtilt system installation on 1.5million guitars and offset it against the cost of say 1.5million neck screws. Thats a rough estimate of how many 3 bolters fender turned out during that stint. I'll bet the difference is as negligible as not to matter.

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Regardless of what Fenders intentions were, 40 years later, the verdict is they are not as sought after. Many players do not like them, and I personally think they are more likely to fail. Moral of the story: 3 bolt necks suck, BUT there are some nice ones.

All I think about it is that the cost of 1 neck screw a guitar could not have covered the cost of the new neckplate, including its design cost. And later on the microtilt system. Even the shape of the neckplate is wasteful. Imagine you had a sheet of metal to make neck plates with. you'd get far less waste material cutting squares than the 3 bolt affairs. I really think it was a purely aesthetic change.

Lets face a staring fact the traditional strat neck/body join could only be described as ugly. Its bulky and unsightly. The three bolt plate in some way drew attention away from that at the rear of the guitar and looks half decent. The same is true of the deluxe, its shaped plate makes for a more visualy pleasing area. Theres little in the amount taken off the heel.

I have no views on its performance, i've little experience of them. However I have seen a number of 4bolt neck joins that work loose. I used to own one.

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