So I bought a Strat from craigslist for $160 a couple weeks ago and the ad said

This is a rare black label mid 90's Mexican made Fender "Squier Series" Stratocasters. It is an actual Fender label and not a Squier. The condition is overall good but with its fair share of marks and scratches. Before any upgrades this guitar is better than your made in China and Korea Squier branded guitars but less than your Fender Standard guitars, so somewhere in between. To improve on it, this guitar has been heavily modified and aside from the neck and body, all of the cheap hardware has been replaced and upgraded with Fender Standard hardware or better. I originally got this guitar as a project to make as a backup but never really played it. Since I no longer play out, I have no need for it. Most of the wear is from the previous owner and is more cosmetic as opposed to from playing wear so there's plenty of life left in it. It's a perfect candidate as a backup or for the beginner or casual player.

Standard options include:

-Black body
-21 medium frets
-9.5" radius
-Rosewood fretboard

The upgrades include:

-Fender Standard bridge and tremolo with Fender stamped saddles
-Fender logo tuners
-Additional string tree for D and G strings
-All new electronics (gutted completely with new pickguard assembly, higher quality pots and 5 way switch)
-Black pickguard, pickup covers, knobs, tips and tremolo back cover
-HSS configuration with a humbucker installed in the bridge
-Fender gig bag.

The guitar has also been setup recently and has brand new strings and plays and sounds amazing. This is a completely different guitar than what it was born as (in a much better way of course!). This will be better than any Squier Strat hands down.

Also, the owner told me that the single coils were Fender Standard, and that the humbucker was either Fralin or Fender Standard, but he isn't 100% sure because he recently got that humbucker from another guitar he recently bought

Looks good, so it's not a USA but who cares for that price..... If it plays good and is all set-up then I’d say it’s a good deal. Heck I’ve paid $60 for a 5way switch up-grade, string’s and a neck set on my CS Relic so if it’s all set-up for you then woowho….if it had been my guitar I would have kept it for $160…IMO

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If you can't afford it, don't need it and have no room left, buy it anyway!!!!!!!

Thats not a bad deal. Should be a nice player

+1

Ditch that humbucker, install a set of Fat '50s, and rawk out!

Arjay

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"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