Hello everyone first I would like to say what a great site this is..Well I have a few question to ask.
First... I'm a beginner I haven't pick up a guitar since I was 17 even then all I could play was wipe out and played that badly! Now 52 and I am really looking forward to start learning to play the guitar!
Ok my first question is I was given a Starcaster Fender® Electric Guitar my sister-in-law won it in a office raffle in 2007 It was still in the original box that it was shipped in the address it came from says
Fender Musical Instruments
8860 E Chapparral RD
Scottsdale AZ 85250
One other thing that was on the box was...FSR STD FAT STRAT RW CAR not sure what that means!
Any idea how I find what model are year it was made in there are no markings on the guitar except for the headstock...
And all it says is Starcaster Strat Electric Guitar by Fender®
The Tuning Pegs, Bridge and screws look the color of gold
The Vibrato bar is not on the guitar not a big concern I guess.
There is one thing that I noticed on the lower neck were it screws into the body it dose not look to be screwed all the way in there seems to be a gap about a quarter inch or maybe less please see the photo!

Will it cost a lot to have the neck fixed and tuned ..are do you think I could just tighten the screws on the neck and make it flush with the body again.
Sorry one other question on the head stock there are two screw that are holding strings 123 and 4 down what are they for.
sorry for all this hope my question and rambling make seance!
Thanks for your time.

http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy13 ... /strat.jpg

Not sure where you're seeing "Stratocaster"...

Anyway, that's a Starcaster Strat. Here's more info on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcaster_by_Fender

Since it looks like they started producing in 2006, and you got it in 2007, that would narrow it down.

No serial anywhere??

If you look at the image here:
http://i785.photobucket.com/albums/yy13 ... 1279062898
on the headstock...
it says is Stratocaster Strat Electric Guitar by Fender®

Also were the lower bottom of the neck were it screws into the body is it suppose to have a gap like that?

Well...look again. It says "STARCASTER Strat Electric Guitar".

I can see how at quick glance it reads "Stratocaster"...but it says "Starcaster".

And regarding the gap...I would say that's not normal. But changing it will really mess with the action. Do you have a shot of the guitar from the side?

Sorry to much research and bad eyes OOPS!

It's great you're getting back into playing but......Holy moly, that neck pocket has some serious problems!!!!!!!! There should be no gap between the neck and the guitar in that area!!! That guitar is unplayable judging just from that pic. Maybe that's why your sis-in-law gave it to you. If you're on a budget you would be better off getting a Squier new or used since there is a dramatic jump in quality from the Starcaster to Squier line.

Keep in mind these "Starcaster by Fender" guitars are cheap and the lowest of the low in terms of quality. They are sold at Walmart for a reason. Getting it set up properly will probably take a lot of work and might not be worth it in the end. An honest guitar tech might not want to bother with it. Hey it was free so you could try it yourself: http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php
There is a "Starcaster by Fender" forum here down at the bottom of the Forum Index. Check it out and maybe some there have had similar experiences.

Oh, the screws holding down the high E through D strings are "string trees". They are needed to increase the break angle of the strings between the nut and tuners. String trees are found on just about every Fender headstock styled guitar no matter vintage, Custom Shop, or the lowly Starcaster. Leave them on.

FSR STD FAT STRAT RW CAR = Fender Special Run, Standard Fat Strat (humbucker in the bridge pickup position), rosewood fingerboard, Candy Apple Red. But yours is definately not red. A white one put in the wrong box or label more likely since these guitars are produced in the same far East factory probably making toasters and cell phones too. Not much attention to detail.

Good luck! Hope you can get the problems sorted out.

_________________
Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

O-man s-o-r-r-y had to wipe my eyes after hearing that type of news!
I was hoping for better news ..I guess it couldn't hurt then if I try and fix it myself. O-well easy come easy go!
Thank you every one ..I appreciate your time and the knowledge that you shared with me!!!

There is nothing wrong with this guitar that you couldn't fix in about 10 minutes. It's a rather nice looking one too.
I have a Starcaster and the guitar is great. I picked up a used MIM Fender pickguard with all of the electronics attached and it dropped right in, unlike the many Squiers that I've done this too. Personally this is one of the best guitars I've ever had and I've had TONS. and the grand total was a mere $90.00 (including the new pickguard).

here's a link to my YouTube channel, you (and anyone else) are more than welcome to judge for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/surfguitar1000

*at the bottom of the forum's main page is the "Starcaster" category, we better stick to there before the Squier people even begin to rag on us,lol.

I really have to second the above post. I started out learning to play on a Starcaster I got at Costco. I now mainly play a Standard Strat but there are days when I will play the Starcaster, admittedly partly out of nostalgia, it was my first guitar and all.

While I would agree that it should be placed on the low rung in the great ladder of Fender products, I would also say, as many others had, Fender would not put their name on a useless piece of junk.

Your neck issue looks to me to as simple as tightening the neck bolts down all the way. There should be a shim in there but if it is missing you can create on easily out of thin cardboard, or my favorite aluminum foil. Do an search for proper shimming of a strat neck and you should find all kinds of info on it.

Once set up, play away. You never know where that Starcaster might lead you but in the worst case it will lead you to hours of happy playing time.

_________________
http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

Thanks guys I feel a little better now!!
Thank you all for your good information...I see some people like Fords and some like Chevy's lol

Wonder if the postman or maybe an office/musician got greedy and went to the local Walmart and did a swapola!

Hum that's a thought...my sister-in-law after she won the raffle she open the box and took a look and said wow!! Then she put it back in the box and there it sat for several years until I asked about it. She said she thought it was ready to play just out of the box. When I ask her about the neck it looks like it's not screwed all the way in. Her comment was maybe you have to put it together lol! She is kind of wondering whats going on her self she paid $10.00 for that raffle ticket.

Hi There.

Silly question but have you tried....

1) Detune the strings
2) then tighten the four mounting screws.
3) Retune.

That would be my first thought.

If the neck comes loose again, then the mounting holes in the neck are stripped, and i can help you fix that as well.

But try this first, it could be it just wasn't mounted right in the first place.

BTW, a word of caution, it only needs to be snug tight, not 30 foot pounds tight.
I.E. don't overdue it.

Hi I just did what you said..I de-tune the strings.
Then began slowly to tighten the four mounting screws.
Well the neck went together good, and looks straight but that just eye-balling it.

OK.. the right top screw went in and pulled some but has no bight to it it will not tighten yep stripped!!

OK..the left top screw has a little more bight but I fear that it's not far from being stripped also!

Now the bottom two screws left and right seem ok!

looks like someone must of messed up and thought raffle time lol!!

Okay, thne we need to go to step two now.

You will need to get a couple things to do the next step.

1) A new set of strings.
2) Hardwood tooth picks.
3) Wood glue (Hardwood glue would be best)
4) Beeswax.

Now this is no were near as hard as you might think, so just read it thsough and i am sure it will be just fine in the end.
You will need to remove the neck for this. Back out the four screws and remove the strings.
Now that you have the neck off lightly tap the end of the neck on the flat surfaces like and kitchen counter top with then mounting hole facing downward. this will help remove the sawdust from the holes. Next lay the neck on a towel on the counter with the hole facing upwards.
Now with the two holes to be fix take a hardwood toothpick and work in the glue so it is wet inside with it. Next take a new toothpick and place it in one of the good holes, to measure how deep and mark it. Now cut the pick and pulling the large end in first insert it into the hole to be fixed, about two per hole.
Be sure to wipe off any extra glue and that the picks are level with the neck.
Now take the four screws and coat the threads with the beeswax, this will lubricate abd prevent them from being glued in themselves,
Mount the neck back on and leave it for a day to set up before installing the new strings.

It should be just fine, the hardwood picks will take up enough space to hold the neck in place.

If you can't get then to snug up because there hole is still too large, you will need to take the neck and drill out the holes (Not all the way through of course) and use a hardwood dole to fill the holes and redrill the mounting holes.
You might think about using a Luthier for this if needed.