Great Guitar! Nothing better than breaking in a new one!

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I love the smell of hot vacuum tubes in the morning...

Thanks,and thank you on the advice on the neck. I'll keep it in mind, love the red. I went with the black cause I'm thinkig of setting it up like David Gilmour's Black Strat depending on how I like these PUPs, but at the very least a solid black pickguard. Any other advice would be great.(I've read many of your posts, you seem to know Fenders very well and have an abundence of info. that will help many others) Thanks again.

Well I cant bring myself to mod mine. Its as near perfect for my needs as I'm going to find out of any productionline guitar. I wouldnt mind having the humbucker split with the middle pickup in the 2nd position, just not enough to warrant doing it myself.
If I were looking to get that neck/bridge gilmour sound I'd be looking at this wiring. Its totaly non invasive, costs the price of 3" of wire and is easy to implement and reverse should you not like it.

You get all the standard 5 switch options plus neck/bridge and all three pickups, by using the blend pot.

It wont get you all the way there. For that your going to need the EMG DG20 set. That will involve battery placement mods too. I'd live with the hotrod stock for awhile and consider my options carefully if I were you. Its a good strat for rock, as it is.

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No no and no

Congrats on the new Guitar. Looks nice, have fun.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I'll be leaving it the way it is for right now. I just can't justify putting another $300-$400 into it right now. But I can spend $25 on a thicker(.120 inch) all black Vintage 8 hole pickguard, I just love the look(and sound) of Gilmours Black Strat.

what great looking guitars!
those hot rods are really something else.

Congrats on the new ax and a great choice to boot. I am still laughing how you said I have to go play with it that made sure we knew you meant the guitar.lol

I have a 57VHR too. 2 tone Burst.

I've modded mine, and it now has a set of Don Mare SS pups.

BTW newwt: When you put on the 8 hole pickguard, the screw just below the pup switch will be right on the edge of the wood. DON'T try to screw this screw in. I cut the head off one of the screws, and just glued the screw head into the hole with a little Elmer's. You won't be able to tell that the screw isn't screwed into the wood.

Nice guitar: