Wow it got here quick...I got notification it shipped yesterday. I won this bad boy for 150 bucks...a similar body I have been watching sold for closer to $250.

This WILL go nice with the 1985 62 reissue MIJ neck that has been laying around my house for a while.

The finish is in really nice shape..and a color I like. This with a mint green and rosewood is going to be perfect.

I do not yet know how to tell a nitro finish from a poly..but it appears to be thin. However it has a shine that I don't think a nitro finish would have from 25 years ago..unless it was recently highly polished.

I guess my dilemma is....to re finish, or not re finish?.

I am posting a pic with the body naked, and one with a 2002 USA standard loaded pick guard just for visual pleasure. Damn decisions. I think I really like this finish. I am going to assemble this and if i like the sound the hell with refinishing.

BTW..the neck pocket stampings indicate an MIJ 62 reissue for export. Don't know or care if this adds or decreases resale value....this is a sweet body. It feel heavy but has a nice ring when I knock on it..I guess I will know for sure once she is assembled and played.

I will post pics later with the neck. I have no doubts however, I am GOING to refin the neck in nitro with a bit of yellow tint..it just calls out for this. I am happy right now...what is wrong with me that this makes me happy? Or is there something right with me? Guess it is subjective but I know I am happy so be it is just a Strat body arrival.
[img][img]http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo133/rongold5/Mobile%20Uploads/Photo1032.jpg[/img]

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Nice. I would keep it like it is if it's in decent condition.

Most normal people would. I am not so sure if I qualify as normal. But I can tell you...this body is in more then decent condition for what it is...not mint..but I can go into a GC and most of the guitars on the floor would not be in as nice of a condition as this is.

But..I have a thing for nitro. Of all my projects..this one with all intent is to be a keeper..so it has to be right for me.

I guess it comes down to the sound and feel once assembled and played extensively. I can't see how i would not like the look, and I have no reason to believe I will not like the feel..so it is only the sound that concerns me.

And trust me....I will report the final results here..and probably the build from this point on. Next is neck refin, tuners, nut, bridge, pups, electronics and pick guard. I have a jack plate, springs and screws in abundance and the correct neck plate..almost there..ha ha

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

I already have a buttload of black Strats, but yeah..no reason this one would not look killer in black either.

I hate decisions. And black would be so easy on this one the surface is really straight.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

(proper focusing and a skosh more depth-of-field would've been nice......)

Alder or basswood?

Nice color!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Alder. Although I prefer ash. I have no complaints, this one is a keeper..at least 99.32% sure at this point. If feels damn heavy though...i need to dig up some of my USA's and compare by feel...since I do not have a scale..I mean this is not a piece of fish it is a Strat for the love of pete.

Oh and forget ever getting any great pics from me..you have to use part imagination. All pics are taken from a cheap samsung slider phone..and always will be, I have no desire to buy a camera when the money could be used for guitar parts.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Nice color, based on the pic I am gonna say it is definitely a poly finish not nitro but if you can post a pic that is a little more in focus we can tell for sure.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

That is a very nice looking body. The blue has possibilities....

An 80's MIJ '62RI body would be Basswood, except natural or fotoflame finishes which had an alder body with a basswood cap.

Not sure about other years.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Other way round surely?

You would think so, but I have seen it this way on several websites.

I think I will look into it a little bit deeper.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Fair enough!

+1

Nice find!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

I think I have read that some MIJ 62 reissues with the foto finish are alder with a basswood cap. But the info is sketchy at best. However I would see no reason on earth to use a basswood cap on a transparent finish as basswood from what I understand, has very little grain..at least compared to alder, maple or ash.

I guess this may be basswood then, I do not know how to tell really, the only wood left showing is in the neck pocket. I have an alder USA downstairs buried away, I will dig it up and compare the grain.

Is basswood Strat bodies in general heavy? I am going to have it weighted soon since I am curious but the damn thing feels like a friggen Les Paul to me.

I am also thinking this body may actually be a 90's. It does not bother me in the least as I am not trying to make an original guitar to resell, I am trying to find deals so I can build a guitar I can love..and afford. The neck pocket stamping is mostly clear..it looks like brand new but the first 2 letters are a bit faded. From what I can make out...the neck stamping is ST-62D/EX2.

Does this give any hint of the wood type and year? All I can come up with by researching is MIJ 62 reissue for export.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Basswood and Alder are normally light woods, with Basswood being the lighter of the two. Average weight for a Strat in either is about 4 lbs.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Do you know what year the body is? I have a 87 MIj strat that's heavier than my other strats and it's made of poplar. I never weighed just the body though, so I don't know how much it weighs.