Hi,

I have a ivory white standard Stratocaster, bought new in 1995, model '93 serial N2 72999

Over the years the body color changed from white to an ugly creamy/yellow white color , a color that looks like I would have kept it in my living room for years while smoking continuously. Which obviously is not the case, I always keep it laying in a closed guitar case and only play it at home which is smoke free.

Is this what I should expect from a quality product like this, is this a paint default ?

Cheers,
Bart

The Hague,
The Netherlands

Welcome b-a-r-t.

IMO, what you have (with your guitar paint) is not a default. It is a natural "maturation" of the finish; much like copper will 'weather' over time. Some like it some don't. I could be wrong… someone will come along and correct me if I’m wrong

Peace,
84

I have three guitars that started out almost snow white in color that have done this. That is natural aging. Nothing in this world will stop it.

NBG

It's icing on the cake...... The aging looks killer to me......... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Mike is right. A whole lot of people strive for that color. I like it myself!!

Hi Bart-

There is nothing wrong with the finish on your guitar- they guys are right in saying that it is a natural ageing that turns it to more of a creamy colour.

Im interested in your serial number however- I dont think its a '93 but a 92. possibly a mid 92.

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Thanks guys, for all your response.

I personally like the original white color far better, but I have to live with it as I have no plans to ever sell my guitar.

Blertles, it could well be from 92, I just checked the chart on the web site which says 92 or 93 and just thought it should be 93 as I bought it brand new in early 95 from a shop that has quite a turnover in guitars (RockPalace.nl, in The Hague , The Netherlands, owned by the Golden Earring band members, they are known from their '70 s hit "Radar love"). Are you pretty sure about mid 1992 ?

I like the sound a lot, compared with some other (younger) USA standard strats of some friends, it sounds smoother. (Which may have to do with strings, Ernie Ball Super Slinky, as well, I don't know)

Cheers,
Bart

My assumption is based on your serial number- n27... and I am guessing yours is mid '92 as mine has n37.... and is early to mid 93.

My strat plus has the serial n37.... and as per specs it indicates it could be no later than mid 93, as they changed out the nut for an LSR type, and also the logo too was changed out mid 93 for the present spaghetti logo.

I agree- I like the early models better myself, they do sound slightly different to the modern ones and thats why I prefer them. also, I think the range in those days was just awesome! Nice string choice too mate, I love ernieballs

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+1,000

IMO color like that is something worth to die for

I am praying my Olympic White 08 MIA does that.

Couple things here. In the serial number only the letter and the first digit are known to refer to the date of manufacture. I have a guitar that the 3rd digit is a 1, yet the newest stamp on it is November of the year. His could be from any time in the stated range. best way is to pop the neck and have a look see at the stamps.

as to B-a-r-t's point on its tone it could be the TBX control, or the older pickups, but in my opinion the likely candidate is the body wood as he almost certainly has one of the strats that was made of poplar. Fender had trouble getting Alder for a while in the early nineties they used Poplar instead. Now Ed Roman claims fender used poplar until 97, but George Blanda says they switched back around 93. (I have a 94, i think is alder, but it does sound different than newer Strats, and most of my friends seem to prefer it, so I could have one too.. poplar is a fine tonewood.It is fairly similar to alder and ash, tonally. however it doesn't have as pretty grain, and it has a greenish cast to it, so it is considered better for opaque finishes. It could account for the different tone.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.