Hey guys, does anybody here have a similar MIM strat as mine? It's serial number starts with an MZ8 so I'm guessing it's 2008 up to late 2009 and from what I know they've already changed the decals on the headstock so it says fender at the front and made in mexico at the back of the headstock. Well mine still has the old decal, is that normal or what?

Wouldn't be surprised. Fender is notorious for using up old product. It's been a thorn in the side of accurate dating, particular with guitars built years ago.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

My '04 Anniversary Strat has a '03 serial number.

Wow...that just sucks. So the specs I was told to have may not actually be correct? Jeez what a downer.

With that guitar, the neck in that period is probably stock 'modern C' and the placement of the decals is a minor detail.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Yeah, it is a "modern C" neck. Does that mean that it really is 2007-2008 model with a screwed up decal?

Do you like the guitar? Do you like how it plays and sounds? If you do, why does it matter what decal was used on you specific guitar?

_________________
Bill

Naahh just curious about the decal...sound-wise? No, I'm not satisfied because there seems to be a problem with the wiring or pickups. The guitar sounds like it has the tone knob rolled back down even though it's not the case. Doesn't stay in tune too, haha. I don't "hate" it, I actually love the feel and look, I just wish I could fix the tuning and sound issues.

I already had it set up by-the-way.

Sounds like you need to find someone who actually knows how to set up Strats. Or learn to do it yourself.

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... etup-guide

_________________
Bill

Yeah, as much as I'd like to learn how to do set-ups myself...dad won't allow (minor here) because A) It was his gift and B) The prospect of me tinkering with the guitar scares him. The guy who set up my guitar is actually pretty popular around here, my guess is I don't restring and stretch properly...The main problem is the sound, no matter how much I adjust the height it still sounds like a guitar with the tone knobs rolled back down.

Do as much reading as you can about how these things are done. Get out and earn yourself some coin. Buy yourself an el-cheepo scrapola guitar and tinker with it. Some of the best guitars can come out of aftermarket tinkering with those MIM products. Somewhere along the way your Dad will come to appreciate the learning curve you're developing in applied physics,(mechanics, electricity, magnetism, woods and wood working, metallurgy and the like.) plus the hand skills (fine motor coordination)which goes along with it. There's science galore in the knowing. A little enlightenment on his part will go along way. Wouldn't be a bad idea to have him read this, and if we can be of any further assistance in the matter, let us know.
Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Out of interest what happens when you do roll the tone knobs all the way down?

_________________
speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

You do know that if you email Fender customer relations with the serial number, they'll send you a full sheet of information about your guitar, right?

Not staying in tune? As has been said, learn to do at least the basics. Lube the nut (use a sharp pencil and write where the grooves are), and the string tree (take it off and put some vasoline or chapstick under it). Buy a cheap $10 string stretcher/winder and stretch the strings. As I've said before in other threads, if you don't stretch your strings, you'll be going out of tune every 5 minutes for several months.

You won't be touching the neck or saddles with the above.

On the tone.......was the guitar new when you got it or used? If it were used, assume that someone who had no clue got in there and messed stuff up. I've bought many guitars and some of the wiring is hilarious to me.

_________________
2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)

I emailed them once already , no response. To the guy who asked about the tone knobs...well they'd sound deader if you roll them all the way back, haha. I bought this guitar new, it doesn't compare to other MIM strats I've played. I know each strat sounds different, but there's really something weird with the pickups/wiring in mines

Truth is I really wanna how to mess with guitars and to able to build a guitar is one of my dreams but I obviously can't do that right now. Heck, can't even set my instruments up properly.