i've owned many guitars. i've tried most of them out there and i know how to keep them sounding great.

every fender i have ever owned however has had the same problem, one i've never experienced with gibson so quickly. and as a loyal strat fan, i may be swtiching to something new.

whatever low grade metal they use to make the frets wears down fast. i don't know why they choose such a soft metal or why they don't offer any alternatives. I don't care what a guitar sounds like or feels like, if it frets out quickly i have to play with the action up high and whatever strings will play well without buzzing rather than my preference for tone.

there's no reason to pay for a re-crown because it wont last. you might as well get it refretted with better materials.

my 2003 american is fretted so bad there's so many spots on the fretboard i just can't play on unless i put the action up high. this makes it a pain in the $@! to play anything well when i have to avoid entire sections of the fretboard.

my 2009 olympic white strat actually came from factory with laquer on the frets and some of the metal had obvios flaws from factory (because it's under the finish that shouldnt be on the fret to begin with) theres allready pretty heavy flat spots.

i don't play with a heavy hand or bend excessivly mind you.

also it seems every year the strats get lighter. which is great. it's why i dont play gibsons, i have back problems. my 2003 wieghs more than my 2009. i don't know why. buti think the lighter woods are adding to the terrible sustain im getting on the 2009. It's so bad that im probably not going to go through the trouble of adding a block-lock out to my rig because it allmost can't be helped.

the worst of all, my 2009 is fitted so horribly the neck doesnt even fit flush against the body. theres severeal mm's of space on each side. probably taking way some small amount of the tone.

can fender measure and cut wood?

it seems every year the strats are of poorer quality and cost more. the worst part is i sold a gibson les studio to purchace this. it was 12 years old, sounded better, and the frets were in better condition than my 2009 currently is.

it's not just me, i notice alot of felllow musicians playing wildly buzzing strats and they just shrug because refrets or so expensive.

seriusly fender, you're going to loose alot of the market if you keep putting out poor qaulity instruments. i just don't feel like im getting my money's worth anymore with you guys.

I haven't had those problems with any of my three Strats. And I play them often.

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Don't worry, Be happy.

I'm looking forward to the stainless steel frets on my Carvin when it gets here. I can't say I've noticed premature wear on Fender frets, though. I've owned a few. 'Have a 2008 right now.

With regard to the few mm's on either side of the neck. You gotta be kidding. A few mm's implies at least three mm's, which would equal about an 1/8 inch on each side. Even two mm's on each side is hard to believe. If that's true, it would've been obvious at time of purchase. Never mind why anyone would make a guitar like that....why would you buy a guitar like that?

Still, bear in mind, the point of contact between a Strat neck and the body is at the bottom of the neck. That's where the screws are doing all the clamping action. It looks nice to have the sides of the neck fit closely in the neck pocket, but I'll wager that most Strat owners can slip a piece of paper between their neck and the edge of the side pocket. And also bear in mind that with the cutaway, there's little possibilty of contact on the high E side, anyway.

Nope, have a 2008 Am Dlx Strat and I couldnt fit a hair between the neck and the edge of the side pocket. couldnt be more perfect!

Nope, have a 2008 Am Dlx Strat and I couldnt fit a hair between the neck and the edge of the side pocket. couldnt be more perfect![/quote]

Same with my 07 Ash Deluxe!!

Nope Z4 AM Strat.

Have not noticed any premature fret wear on my 2008 as of yet, but the frets on my previous MIMs did wear rather quickly. If its that much of an issue for you, you must have a pretty heavy hand. If any instrument sees heavy play time, the frets will wear. Even if its a $5000 PRS or Les Paul Custom Shop that sees a lot of action, it will most likely require a refret at some point in its life.
Another guitar player that I work with is a heavy player and looking at a possible refret on a 2001 MIA Telecaster. The guy probably plays for 4 hours a day, so I cant say that I am suprised.
Its possible that you just bought a crappy strat. I very much doubt that you have issues with wear after less than one year. I had to send back the first 2008 MIA that I bought because of a factory defect. If you got a bad one, you should have sent it back. If you are not happy with the guitar, you should contact Fender customer service. Your not dealing with the Soup Nazi here, you can call them if your not happy, and they will do whatever they can to make it right.

I've had and played older '68 to '73 Strats for many years before I ever needed any fret work done on them.

My newer ones also seem to be fine, maybe I'm just lucky?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Had worried for a minute, so I checked.. Nope.. can't fit the paper next to the neck. fits like A Glove or a neck should.
2008 Am Deluxe V-Neck

I haven't had any problems with frets wearing out quickly, but a 2000 american standard I had did have a lot of laquer on the frets.

I can't say I've shared any of these negative situations/experiences.

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You dig?

negative problebs with my strats. nope.

problems with neck pocket. nope, at all.

problems with my less paul, neither.

frets and all are fine.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Havent had any of the problems with any of my strats.I actually think the quality is getting better.

Just checked mine......nope 2008 Am. Deluxe good, 2008 Am. Std. again good....2004 MIM Std. also good.

I've had no fret wear problems on any of my Fenders(7) and they range from 65 to 06,as for neck pocket fit the same thing goes,no problems,snug all around.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.