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Post subject: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:44 pm
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I'm thinking about adding a 2002 or 2003 MIM strat to my family of guitars. The guy is advertising it as a "fat" strat, can someone please explain to me what is meant by "fat" strat. Is it just the humbucker in the bridge? Also, is there a way to find out exactly which year it is? I did a serial number lookup and it said it coud be a 2002-2003, the serial number started with MZ2....

Thanks,
Sean


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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:10 pm
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It's the double-coil in the bridge position that put's the "fat" in Fat Strat.

The guitar is likely from 2002.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:32 am
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Any big differences between a 2002 MIM and a current production model?


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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:59 am
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Seanboy wrote:
Any big differences between a 2002 MIM and a current production model?


Yes.


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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:07 am
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Thanks, but can you tell me about the differences? The one I'm looking at, looks to be in excellent condition, the guy is asking $279, is that a good price?


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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:50 pm
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Seanboy wrote:
Thanks, but can you tell me about the differences? The one I'm looking at, looks to be in excellent condition, the guy is asking $279, is that a good price?



That is an average price. As far as models go, the standard MIM line has not changed much in twenty years...

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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:13 pm
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Seanboy wrote:
Any big differences between a 2002 MIM and a current production model?



Other than the headstock logo on the newer models being different (cosmetic), the main difference between the early '00's and the newer models is that somewhere along the line Fender went to a larger, high mass trem block...the earlier models used the smaller half blocks. The larger blocks are certainly better than the older ones, but in my personal opinion it's still worth upgrading to steel in either case.

Also it looks as though at some point Fender went back to using Alder on the Standards...while it doesn't seem to be listed in the specs here on Fender.com, both Sweetwater and Musicians Friend list the new Standards as being Alder. Not sure about the early 00's, but I know the the mid 90's Standards used Poplar instead (not that there's really much of a difference at all).

Also while this is more speculative than factual, I think they also changed something with the pickups somewhere along the way was well. I never really cared for the sound of the stock pickups on the MIM's from the 90's and early 00's (admittedly I'm a Duncan and EMG fan) but the newer models do sound considerably better to me.

Peace,
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:49 pm
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I went a head and got the 2002 Strat yesterday. For being 11 years old, the guitar is in excellent condition. I'm very excited to add it to my guitar family. Here's a picture of my 2001 MIA and the new 2002 MIM.
Image


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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:57 pm
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Nice! :)

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Post subject: Re: Possible new addition to my guitar family
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:59 pm
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Looks like you got a nice deal there !!

cheers!

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