A local guy has what sounds like a fantastic deal (heh heh) on a 2009 MIM strat that he has modded himself......hence the reason for my question. He replaced the pickups with Lace sensor noiseless ( a good thing so I hear). I'm looking to buy my first electric and definately think a mim strat will fit the bill.

But on another forum someone mentioned trying to do the same thing himself and he ended up botching the soldering. So I guess it was pretty much a disaster.

This seller also put on a new pearlescent pickguard. Does that raise any alarm bells ......like he's hiding some bad modding work? Seller is not a kid, in fact he's 53 (a good thing I think) and says the guitar sounds great.

Asking $350 (firm). Minty condition and a very sweet metalic blue color.
Whatch'all think? Good deal, avoid like the plague???

Thanks! noobstrat

Sounds like a good deal to me. Play it and see what you think but the price is right.Good luck and welcome to the forum.Serial # should be MZ8 or MZ9. Good luck and enjoy your find.............. Mike

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

Simple answer.

Ask to see "under the hood".

Then play the guitar through any decent amp.

You'll know crappy work when you see it.

And you'll know great tone when you hear it.

HTH

Arjay

The 4 ply pearloid pick guard is a bonus... IMHO. Ask him for the original as well if he still has it. Should be a nice snag for you.

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You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

Buying a guitar modified with aftermarket parts can be an excellent idea: expensive parts don't necessarily increase an instrument's market value, and in some cases can actually decrease it regardless of post-mod quality.

Make sure you take the pickguard off and have a look if you sense anything fishy. As someone else mentioned above, play the guitar through a decent amp on all pickup settings and verify that the controls work as they're meant to. If no problems crop up, buy it!

+1 .Bad solder joints are easy to spot.Also look to see if there are burn marks everywhere from the solder iron.And if the wires are neatly ran or it looks like spaghetti.

WOW. Awesome forum. Thank you all so much for your encouraging replies. I forgot to mention that he is sweetening the deal by throwing in a basically new gig bag (the $30 one that comes with it I assume) AND after asking if he had any amps....I really am an electric noobie ...said he had a basically new Roland cube 15W that goes for $99 at MF and GC, that he'd let me have for $50. Oh, and he has an extra guitar stand he'll give me!

Seems like a nice guy. Was forced to take early retirement due to a back injury on the job, so he took up guitar a year or two ago since he had nothing but time on his hands and now he has 5. Says he's selling the strat to get a schekter (?) since he prefers to play heavy metal LOL.

So he doesn't sound like your average Craigslist shyter type, but who really knows. These are crazy times. Man, I hate to trouble the dude with taking off 9 screws on the pickguard plus the three pickups just to look at his soldering But I guess that's the best thing eh? Or should I just buy it and if it stops working go in there and resolder/connect the pups myself (I'm good with my hands)?
Thanks again gents.

Meant to add, I'll be taking a strat playing friend with me when I go to see it since I don't play (yet ) and he'll know if the tone is good. So assuming it sounds fine....then it seems like a good deal yes?

Yes

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

You dont even need to look for bad solder joints, you'll hear em.

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No no and no

Just because some guy wrote on a forum he botched a job he probably never should of done in the first place why should that make you suspicious as that happens everyday. I think you are getting a sweet deal and you have the bonus of bringing a friend that knows his stuff. I feel as though your next post will be pictures of this ax in your house.lol