what is so special about early fender strat screws? different metal? bigger? where could i get some without spending a ridiculous amount of cash?

Myth? Why that's no myth, that's infallible web dogma!!

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You dig?

Everybody knows that vintage pickguard and trem cover screws greatly improve sustain but you have to make sure that they're installed in the corresponding holes of your new guitar or else it will sound terribly out of phase.

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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.

I tried removing the neck plate and screws and it significantly changed the sound of the guitar.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com