I have found a sweet E4 Strat. The seller is the second owner and doesn't know much about it. It is Oly White with a rosewood neck. What is perplexing me is that all of the plastic parts (pickguard/trem spring cover/knobs/pup covers) are black. Everything I can find indicates that the plastics should be white. Can anyone shed any light regarding options on the first Am Strat models?

To the best of my recollection, black plastics were not an option on them. As I'm sure you are aware of, all these plastics are sold in kits so maybe the original owner changed them. FWIW, I would, "look under the hood" to see what condition the electronics and in.

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I am thinking/hoping that is what has been done. I actually have no problem with the black and would probably have changed the pickguard to something else anyway. I only care if the electronics are untouched. The bad thing is that the seller is 125 mi away and didn't sound like he was too interested in taking it apart and admittedly did not know what to look for if he did.

Well, here it all comes down to, "the luck of the draw" and your 'gut' feeling, based on your communications with the owner. If you want my opinion (FWIW), I honestly don't think the original pickups would have been switched out because #1, They aren't in any kind of huge demand and #2, His resistance to taking it apart is logical for the reason he provided. Again, it's your call though.

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You dig?

What Martian said makes sense to me. If you really want it that bad tell the guy that all you want to do is make sure the electronics are original and that you are driving a far distance and if he does not mind you just want too look under the hood and if everything is correct you will slap the cash in his hand.