Hey all, you guys were incredibly helpful last time I needed help, so I thought I'd turn to you all again. I just bought a MIM strat, and the previous owner did some strange things..

For one, he seems to have PAINTED the pickups black, instead of changing them out or putting on covers, will this affect sound/value?

Also, he seems to have flattened out the metal fret dividers (sorry I don't know their technical name) so instead of being rounded rods, they're flatter for the higher strings.

These make me apprehensive about my new, and first, strat, and I was wondering your alls input on these two "modifications"

Thanks,
Alister

The flatten frets (or fret wire) usually happens from loads of playing time, typically with lots of bending. Re-fret job might be a good idea, play other guitars with different fret sizes, to figure out what you like, that way your re-fret will be more adapted to your hands.


As far as the pickups go, there are experts here who can tell you and I am by no means one of them. Personally, if I had to take an educated guess, I would imagine there'd be no big difference in sound. It might just look cheesy up close.

_________________
-Kc
"Payin' dues."