I have a problem with my brand new Strat. There are small gaps between the sides of the neck and the neck pocket on the body. They are small but is that supposed to be like that, should I return the guitar? Will it affect the tone. Here are the pics of the gaps.


http://img4.imageshack.us/f/imag0060s.jpg/
http://img444.imageshack.us/f/imag0058ng.jpg/
http://img25.imageshack.us/f/imag0059kd.jpg/

What model line is it ?
American, Standard, Mexican, or Squier Affinity perhaps?.
If you could paste the pics on this thread and include pics of the back with plate and serial# visible and front of the entire strat.

If it is a budget strat, you are not going to get Custom Shop tolerances.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

It's a brand new American Standard Strat. one expects quality from an american made strat that is in accordance with Fender's reputation. My old Squier doesn't have any gaps and AmStd should be 10 times the guitar squier is because it's 10 times more expensive.

OK thank's for the clarification.

Did you buy it from a shop or is it almost brand new second hand ?
I'm asking because if, it is second hand, that does not seem correct.
You are quite correct in noticing that the gaps are unusual.
I also have tight tolerances in my CS 56, my MIM as well as the Bullet Squier I just bought to cannibalize the body and neck for my stratpartsters.

Can you post photo's onto this site, because some of the replies authors may not be able to upload the pics.

I will say that it looks odd but perhaps other's can clarify ??
If possible post on Mike Eldred's column with pic's and serial number.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

I dump it if it were mine. I've never seen one that bad!

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Robert Moog - "Hey... where do all these patch cables go?"

Here are more pics if that can help clarify things. It's not second hand it's new left the shop yesterday.

http://www.image-upload.net/images/ctp7 ... hn6jh6.jpg
http://www.image-upload.net/images/pjgw ... l8n8v4.jpg
http://www.image-upload.net/images/t1s0 ... nkpvb5.jpg
http://www.image-upload.net/images/xveg ... nntwfw.jpg

You didn't see it when you bought it?

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— did that sound like something?

viastablackmore...

You must post the pics on this thread, upload your photo's to photobucket then cut or copy and paste to this forum's thread.
There are too many redirects and my 4G I-Mac cannot open the page...

Anyhow, I would try to exchange that guitar from the couple of pics I could get to.
Something just doesn't gel and if the shop is reputable, you should have no problem exchanging.

Also as mentioned before, post on Mike Eldred's your problem, he will be able to advise you as to how to proceed..

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Welcome to the club. My American Strat got returned last sunday. I'm unsure what to do next, or if to even stick to the American made guitars. What sucks is that Fender is my favorite guitar, but they sure make it hard at times!

I've seen a lot worse, on customshop instruments too. Nothing to worry about, if you look the area around the floor of the neck pocket is tight and thats what matters as far as stability goes.

Other than that, take it back and demand a exchange or refund if the cosmetics of it worry you.

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No no and no

That wouldn't bother me either.

Just keep the neck bolts tight.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I agree with Niki and Orville. As long as the guitar sets properly, this is purely cosmetic. Close inspection of many American Fenders of all eras will show this type of thing. It's much more important having a guitar that plays well .

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'78 Fender Stratocaster
Epi USA Texan '64 RI signed by Paul McCartney
'73 Fender Mustang
Gibson LP Deluxe RI '69
Fender Active Jazz Bass
Guild GADm20e Acoustic Guitar
Epi Casino RI
Gretsch Pro Jet w/Bigsby
And My Frankenstein-O-Caster

It's a non issue. What keeps the neck in place are the 4 screws and as long as those are not loose you wont have any problem.
Although some will tell you it has influence on the tone I would say it has absolutely no influence on the sound so relax and enoy your guitar

Let me add this: check that your Low E or High E strings don't fall off the fretboard. The extra space might mean that neck isn't centered properly for optimal playing of all strings on all frets.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

It's weird, I've seen this on really expensive custom shop guitars. I have a YJM with bad gaps too! Yet my much cheaper Am Std does not have this problem!

On the plus side it should reduce the chances of a knock to the neck cracking the paint-job on the body arround the neck-pocket area, which is where it often seems to go!