Now you're talking, Fred! I would never buy a guitar on Ebay, unless I knew the seller personally. This is partly principle with me because I won't buy a guitar I can't play first, not knowing if it feels good in my hands or not. You're gambling when you buy on Ebay and taking someone else's word for it. That's just not something I'm willing to do, especially with a guitar. I've gotta know if it's right for me before I open my wallet.

I'm not going to say that you did get burned, but if it turns out that way, then learn a lesson from this experience.

_________________
"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."

I've got a picture here now if that helps at all...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65513588@N04/5962548139/sizes/m/in/photostream/

_________________
Instant $#%hole, just add liquor.

They are definitely not Tex-Mex pups, that much is sure, you have an upgrade from the stock setup. Looks like Custom Shop work, or at least a very nice loaded pick guard that could very well be CS. As Retroverbial pointed out, not all CS pups had markings designating them as such.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Well that's good news. Thanks to everyone who offered their advice and assistance. After some careful thinking about the guitar I've decided to keep it. It sounds nice and feels good. But I'll never buy a guitar off of ebay again. Not being able to see or play it before purchase is just too risky. I also would also advise anyone new to Fender products to read the "How to spot a fake thread" I found it extremely helpful.


Thanks!

Fred

_________________
Instant $#%hole, just add liquor.

You've probably payed a premium price rather than a lucky score price, but that would actually be reasonable if the pickups are CS as advertised.

Sometimes even the plainest ladies can wear the raciest lingerie..

_________________
Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

And - shimmilou, thanks for the picture of the Tex-Mex pickups installed. I am going to install a set in a new pick guard this weekend (my first time doing this) and the pic helped verify the order (w,r,y) and showed a nice layout. Thanks.

Fred - sorry for your issue but still sounds like you have a nice guitar. Enjoy and welcome to the forum.

A yellow wire on the mid pickup may indicate reverse wound reverse polarity.
The mid on my 56 has a white wire just like the others and is not reverse polarity.
There are always exceptions to the rule including special orders though so I have probably only added to the confusion
Here is a pic of mine. Tis a lovely guitar and one of my favourites.

Apologies for the quality of the photo but it is under artificial light.

That's a nice looking piece of ash, Jimmy!

Is the guitar a Mary Kaye?

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

jimmy_james, don't trust that yellow wire rule. The yellow wire is on my bridge pickup (red in the middle). I verified this through the schematic that Fender is kind enough to post as well as in the pic shimmilou posted. I also believe that the mid pup is reverse wound. Sure how so.
Thanks for the comment though.

Hi Arjay yes it is a Mary Kaye.
Yes Cambo nothing is cast in stone and with a set of pickups that has different colors for each lead then sure they can be anything and I appreciate your comment it is valid.
I'm talking custom shop pickups here with cloth instead of plastic for the insulation.
I had a set stock on a 66 that all had a yellow wire and A.Y. initials.
One way to tell for reverse is to hold a compass to it. If it points to the same direction for all pickups they are the same. If it goes the opposite for the mid then it is reverse.
I suppose at the end of the day if you are happy with the result that is what really matters.
Here are some more pics of custom shop pickups. Note the 65 which are unusual since they don't have the grey bottoms.
66, 66, 65 and 60 respectively
Apologies for hijacking this thread!

I've got another picture here of a signature that doesn't make any sense on the back of my pickguard does anyone happen to know if it means something or is it someones name I thought at first maybe it was a screwed up AY but after comparing it to some of pictures of signed pickups I'm not really sure. http://www.flickr.com/photos/65513588@N04/5972831678/sizes/z/in/photostream/ sorry about having to use flickr, for some reason my images won't post normally.

_________________
Instant $#%hole, just add liquor.

I want a Gil Elvgren neck plate....and pickguard......hell, i'd put one of his better pinups on the back of my Amer.Dlx. Strat !!
Every year I look forward to getting my next G/E Pinup calendar !!!

_________________
You won't hurt its feelings boy, play it like you stole it!
ASPCA We Are Their Voice !
Speaking up for those that can't speak for theirself.....
Proud member of the ASPCA "Guardian Angel" program.

Haha!. Yeah it's pretty cool. I believe the pin up is called "The Right Number" at first I thought it was put on upside down, then I realised shes laying down. HA!.

_________________
Instant $#%hole, just add liquor.

I have one of the "56" Desert Sand Limited Strats.
I'll take a look under the PG for ya'.
Get back later.

Great Strat and one of my number ones'.
My EJs are my number one Srats.