What dowels? I didn't see anything in that thread about dowels.

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2011 Fender American Strat, Charcoal Frost
2007 PRS Singlecut Trem, Dragon II's
1997 Ovation Standard Balladeer 1861

Orange Dark Terror & PPC112

The codes for the bridge and middle pickups are 27 21 73 and the necks code is 18 21 73. I don't see any dowels or anything like that.

EDIT: Found them. I guess everything besides the pots, switch, saddle screws and one of the bridge pickup mounting screws are original (it's gold).

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2011 Fender American Strat, Charcoal Frost
2007 PRS Singlecut Trem, Dragon II's
1997 Ovation Standard Balladeer 1861

Orange Dark Terror & PPC112

Here was a thread I started about dowels:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11703

The dowels are a good way of checking vintage bodies (they should have them), but of course the custom shop reissues also have them (for the sake of historical accuracy). You won't find much discussion about them, even the best vintage info websites don't mention them. So they seem to be a "close to the vest" thing that "experts" look for on real vintage Fenders.

Even if the the paint job is a solid color, one can often find indication of the dowels (provided you know where to look!).

Basically, if you 1973 doesn't have the dowels, it's not a real 1973 body.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Thanks. I did find the dowels on the body, that was a pretty interesting read. I decided to but the guitar up for auction to raise funds for a new American Standard with a hum bucket and an Orange cab. Maybe a used HSS Strat and a Tele instead of a new one. I love everything about a Strat, but I'm still mainly a metal player and a humbucker is more suited to my needs and I'd rather have a rosewood fretboard. I'd hate to modify this guitar any further, it should be appreciated for what it is. I appreciate your help with everything. Hopefully I'll be posting a New Guitar Day soon.

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2011 Fender American Strat, Charcoal Frost
2007 PRS Singlecut Trem, Dragon II's
1997 Ovation Standard Balladeer 1861

Orange Dark Terror & PPC112