I've got a '62 reissue Strat. When I turn it over there are two distinct lines in the finish that would make you assume that it's a 3 piece body. Is that normal? I guess I just assumed that it was a one piece alder body. Any thoughts?

Likely, it is a three-piece body and those are the seams between the slabs. That's a somewhat common occurence, especially under a nitro-lacquer finish. It's nothing to worry about.

"Solid body" does not mean or necessarily imply a one-piece body.

HTH

Arjay

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I don't think I've ever seen a one-piece alder body.

Ash, yes, but alder, no.

I guess it's possible as Warmoth charges $80 extra for it:
look here

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Completely normal and period correct.

The newer paints are much thicker so the joint lines don't come up as readily.

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Thanks for the help! I love the guitar, it plays like a dream, so I guess it doesn't matter if it's a 1 piece, 3 piece, or 10 piece!

Well I don't know about that last bit. You will never find a current MIA or even MIM strat with as many as 10 pieces, and personally I think that is way too many pieces for a strat body to made out of.

Most strats are 2-3 pieces, and rarely does Fender produce anything with a one piece Alder Body unless it is a really expensive custom shop, and even most of those have 2-3 piece bodies too.

definitely normal, the 1983 AVRI '62 I sold for a friend of mine had the same lines in it.

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a friend of mine has the same two lines in his squier strat.

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riley

That's right - I can just make out the join lines even through the very thick polyester finish on a '90s Squier body in my possession.

No worries - in fact, I never even noticed this issue till Nikininja started talking about it on this Forum in relation to his Hotrod Reissue with its nitrocellulose finish. Those sink lines along the seams can exist at all levels of the catalog and with all finishes.

Cheers - C

I think of it as a "vintage" feature.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I was actually kidding about the 10 piece body.

It is actually stronger if it is 3 pieces of wood if they put the grain right

Well, I've seen 7 piece bodies ... some of the solid color MIM Standards have quite a few pieces ...

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.