Hi all,
I know i've seen other topics on this covered on here, but I can't find anything in the searches. I just bought a 92 MIM Strat. Did Fender still manufacture the necks and bodies in the US at that time? Was the body wood typically used on these at that time Poplar or Adler? Any input would be appreciated. I emailed Fender customer care to see if they had a spec sheet, but they don't have records that far back. Fixed the fret sprout, rewired with all new electronics and Vintage Noisless pups and it's turned into a great playing guitar.

Also, it has weird "lines" in the finish running horizontally (parallel with the neck). Read somewhere that they may have been buff marks from the factory. They almost look like what you may have seen on a glue joint, but they are random and there are many!
Anyone heard of anything like this??

Thanks for any input.

I will try to post pics.
Thanks'
Dave

After a few years of seasons my MIM strat shows there are 7 pecies of wood that compose the body. Not easy to see face on or at a distance but at an angle in the sunlight up close you can see where the wood was joined. No affect on playabilty.

TTSC,
Thanks for the response. These are different than the glue lines ,although I can definatley see those to. In some spots these are as close as 1/4" to each other, and some are at angles with the grain of the wood. Thanks again

I have a '94 MIM Black Logo Strat Squire Series that has the same lines you refer to. The bodies and necks from '93-'98 for my model claim to be MIA, possibly seconds? The lines on mine are very uniform and run all the length of the body. I have always thought that they were lamination lines. You do have to catch them just right in the light. From the weight of mine I'm thinking it's a poplar body. With the upgrades this guitar plays and sounds as good as most of the Strats that I've ever played. You would probably find it hard to tell the difference between a 1,2 or 7 piece body in a blind test with all the variables accounted for.

Your MIM Strat has a poplar body.....and the entire guitar was made and assembled in Mexico. There were a few limited edition series guitars, like the California Series, that was assembled in the USA from MIM parts, but still said made in USA on the headstock.

I thought the California Series guitars were just painted in Mexico.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Great info. Thanks.

I have a '91 MIM Strat that I bought many years ago to modify. It is very light (poplar) and has a 7.25" radius neck with a chunky neck profile. I've tricked it out pretty heavily and consider it my 'beater' or 'go to' guitar around the house.

I've tried approx 10 different pickup combinations and currently using a Duncan JB in bridge and Texas Specials in neck and middle. The trem has 3 springs and holds true with heavy trem use...surprisingly! The JB SH4 and trem combined can go from surf and blues to rock squealies in a heartbeat. It looks somewhat relic'd, but was done naturally over the years. After using this for a few days, it's a nice change to a flatter radius and C profile.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!