Hey guys. I just recently got a Fender Strat HSS circa 2003 off of Ebay and it came in sounding great! The only problem is the pickup wiring cuts off occasionally when it's set on the humbucker setting, and the g and b strings buzz a little on the 9th fret. Minor things but I want to get this fixed up... and I want to take it to someone who knows what they're doing. I live in the bay area and was hoping you guys would know any Fender specialist around that I could take my guitar to. San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose area (preferably San Jose). Thanks a bunch guys.

BTW, I paid 900 dollars for the guitar including shipping. Did I get a good price?

Bad solders and/ or defective switch or Humbucker. I M O , $900 is little expensive if it not working properly.

Hmmm....which model strat is it? I was trying out a used 2009 strat Deluxe in my local Guitar Center for $900 that literally could have passed for brand new. If it's an EJ or Gilmour, I can see it being a good deal. Otherwise.....I don't know.

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

It's an American Standard, sunburst with the TexMex single coil and Diamondback humbucking pickup. For the 2003 I can see how I may have payed a bit much for it; but the current edition retails on this site for at least 1,400 USD. Though I am an amateur at this whole "Strat legitimacy" thing, the guitar sounds great when I play it through my Marshall halfstack... I just want to fix it up. With that said, if anyone knows anybody in the BAY AREA who can fix up my Strat, please let me know.

American Standard Strat with tex mex single coil and Diamondback humb ! Is tsoe pickups are originals ?

If not ; bad instalation, wiring and solders

Does your Strat have the S-1 switch on it (a push-push switch inside the Volume knob)? I ask because 2003 was the transition year between the American Series Texas Special Fat Strat (made up until about July or August) and the American Series HSS Strat (made starting in August or so). The earlier version (Texas Special Fat Strat) should have Texas Special single coils and a Duncan humbucker; the later version (American Series HSS) would have the Tex-Mex pickups and the Diamondback humbucker - but it should also have the S-1 switch (the were made that way until the current model American Standard HSS came out in January 2008 - they kept the pickups the same but removed the S-1 switching). Checking into this will help sort out if there was some odd rewiring going on with your guitar or if you're just seeing the switch starting to go bad, etc.

Regarding the price - the prices listed here on the Fender.com site are the list price of the guitar not the selling or "street" price. The current Fender American Standard HSS might list for $1,400 but it has a "minimum advertised price" (which will also be the "street" price at Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, etc.) for $999.

For $900 you could have bought a brand new American HSS, that's why you ALWAYS do your homework...

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1965 Fender Precision Bass, 1994 Fender '54 Reissue Precision Bass, 2007 Applause Celebrity, 2011 Fender American Special Jazz Bass, 2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster, 2013 Fender American Special Stratocaster, 2013 Gibson LPJ

Pickup problem sounds like a bad connection at the switch, or the switch itself has worn contacts at the #1 (down or humbucker-only) position. Both simple fixes, involving either cleaning/resoldering the loose wire, or replacing the switch.

I agree with the others that $900 bucks for a USED Strat is a bit steep. That's what most Strats like yours typically sell for new.

Sorry, but since I live in TN, I can't help with finding a tech in your area, other than to advise you to check with some local music stores. Some of them employ good techs. Good luck!

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"It's about sound and sound alone. Looks are irrelevant. You can have the best-looking guitar on earth, but if the sound isn't there it is nothing more than a beautiful piece of trash. The sound it makes is the soul of any guitar."

It does have an S-1 switch, came with the fender shaped case and the case candy minus the owners manual. So, with all that said, how much is my guitar really worth? I'm considering selling it on craigslist and putting the cash towards a SSS Strat, or another HSS but better. Do these guitars appreciate in value? Is it worth keeping for collecting? I know, amateur questions but hey, where else can I get this kind of advice!? Thanks for the opinions, guys.

Get it fixed and enjoy it, what is done is done and in the past along with the split milk.

Once you get the switch/soldering and set-up issues (9th fret buzzing) settled you are home free. Don't sell it, fix it and play 'til your fingers cramp. Have a snack and play some more.

Cheers,
John.E

I've always found HSS Strats more usable and palatable than the regular SSS versions.

Keep it, stick with it, enjoy it. Soldering is an easy fix.

Oh, and pics.

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

Okay, assuming you get the switching issues fixed it's worth between $650 and $800 depending on condition and color. Let me put it to you this way - I took in a 2008 American Standard HSS on a trade; when I sold it I considered myself lucky to get $700 for it. These won't really appreciate in value unless you hold on to them for a long time - say 10-15 years or so - because they made so many of them.

I'm in Vacaville if you wanna travel that far.

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Chet Feathers

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