Wow, quite an interesting story!

First few digits of the serial date the guitar to 1997, so narrows it down a bit.

Is the tremolo a two post or six screw (vintage style) type?

Registering an account with somewhere like http://www.photobucket.com makes posting piccies easy.

Best of luck with your recovery, and hopefully you'll be playing again soon!

Yes indeed!

Hello PrimalHunter: we'd like to help and can do so when we see photos. A bit difficult without. Soon as you've followed Vulpinity's advice and shown us what you've got we'll get started. The more and better pictures, the more useful our suggestions will be.

Good luck - C

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Also if you email the serial number to Fender Consumer Relations they will give you info on the production specs, that is if the guitar configuration has not been altered.

From all the pics it seems to be a well taken care of 97 American Standard in Olympic White. Get back on that thing Primal. It will be good physical, and psychological therapy for you. Best of luck and keep in touch.

"Vulpinity wrote:
....
Is the tremolo a two post or six screw (vintage style) type?


6 screw (photos to follow soon)"

Just to clarify: "two post or six screws" refers to how the bridge attaches to the body. Vintage-style Strat trems have six Phillips-head screws screwed into the body through the front edge of the bridge, unlike the two post trems where the bridgeplate pivots against two posts. Your guitar has a two post bridge.

You may have looked at the six intonation screws that attach the saddles to the bridge and guessed that was what he was asking about, but both types of bridges have those six screws.

That's a big part of why pics are so helpful when trying to identify guitars -- even with common terms, words can mean different things to different people.

PrimalHunter, I feel you dude. I have had health problems in the last two years. Without my strat I don't know if I would of made it mental or physical.. I just got a 2011 MIM standard strat thats my new love. Better then ANY therapy. Hold on to your strat,you will have a whole new relationship with it..My hopes and good thought to you bro....Even when I couldn't get out of bed I had my guitar next to the bed to keep me company...And my golden retrievers!! Good luck , Mark

sorry dubble post..M

Hi again PrimalHunter: the serial number says it was made in 1997 or 1998.

If you want to, the way to check for absolute certain is to remove the neck: on the end of the heel you will find a rubber stamped date showing when the neck was made. Almost certainly there will be another date inside the floor of the neck pocket showing when the body was made. Those two dates will not match exactly but probably be within a few weeks or a couple of months of each other. Necks and bodies are made on different lines at the factory and then put together.

Now, most importantly: enjoy your Strat!

Good luck - C

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