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Post subject: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:01 pm
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Just curious to hear others views, I have mine as well.

I have two Strats a 08 American Deluxe.
It still has its neck and body just by fate as I have done so much to it.
I rewired it vintage wire American Standard and used Hot Alnico Singles and a Hot Rod hum.
Installed a Lonestar pickguard I milled for Floyd and installed a Floyd.
I still consider it an American Deluxe because it has the neck and body.

My favorite strat is a compilation of 2 strats.
It has an American standard bridge and body with a lone star pickgaurd.
The neck and electronics came from a 09 Highway 1
I don't even know whether to call it a Standard or Highway 1.
Its an amazing strat and stays in as good as the Floyd.
I use it at almost every rehearsal along with my Gibson Les Paul Signature.
What do you think?

I would say I have effectively turned it into a Partscaster.
I guess the neck dictates the name not the body so its a Highway 1.
I feel as long as they have the same neck and body its still the same strat.

What do you think?
Where is your line drawn?

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:16 pm
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That's a good question. If you think about it, most Strats and Teles are Partscasters to a certain extent. My '93 American Standard has a body that's dated for October of that year, but the neck was made in January or February of '93. But I think that for most people, it becomes a Partscaster once the original (as purchased new) neck and body part ways.


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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:16 pm
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Well, Donny, you've touched on an issue we've spilled a lot of words on in the past. Here's what I learned, based upon consultations I've had with a world class intellectual properties attorney, with whom I used to commute to Manhattan by train every morning for years:
-The moment you move away from spec on a product, it technically ceases to be that product in name. The opinion was derived from a court case concerning the refurbishing of cells phones using parts which were not in the original specs of the phone. Hence, the phone could not legally be represented to be the phone model whose brand and type it carried.

So, looking at the subject of a recent post: If you swapped the pups from a '57 VHR Stratocaster and replaced them with Fat 50's, it's technically no longer a '57VHR because lacks the 2 SCN's and a Hot Rails which are stock on that guitar.

Your guitars, at this point, could be referred to as 'Strat-type' guitars, but technically, NOT a Fender Stratocaster of any kind. Partscaster to you, presently. I have no doubt we're going to get into it again, as a result of this reply of mine, but that's my story as I've told it before, and I'll stand by it. I won't argue that, to the average Joe, the whole idea sounds dumb, but the law is a freaky thing dude......freaky.

If you ever choose to sell it honestly, you have to represent all its component parts as you have above.

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:37 pm
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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:05 pm
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93greenstrat wrote:
But I think that for most people, it becomes a Partscaster once the original (as purchased new) neck and body part ways.


I have to agree with that.

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:28 pm
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ZZDoc wrote:
Well, Donny, you've touched on an issue we've spilled a lot of words on in the past. Here's what I learned, based upon consultations I've had with a world class intellectual properties attorney, with whom I used to commute to Manhattan by train every morning for years:
-The moment you move away from spec on a product, it technically ceases to be that product in name. The opinion was derived from a court case concerning the refurbishing of cells phones using parts which were not in the original specs of the phone. Hence, the phone could not legally be represented to be the phone model whose brand and type it carried.

So, looking at the subject of a recent post: If you swapped the pups from a '57 VHR Stratocaster and replaced them with Fat 50's, it's technically no longer a '57VHR because lacks the 2 SCN's and a Hot Rails which are stock on that guitar.

Your guitars, at this point, could be referred to as 'Strat-type' guitars, but technically, NOT a Fender Stratocaster of any kind. Partscaster to you, presently. I have no doubt we're going to get into it again, as a result of this reply of mine, but that's my story as I've told it before, and I'll stand by it. I won't argue that, to the average Joe, the whole idea sounds dumb, but the law is a freaky thing dude......freaky.

If you ever choose to sell it honestly, you have to represent all its component parts as you have above.


I interpret the "partscaster" label a bit more liberally than most folks. IMO if the instrument's neck and body remain original to one another (ie: they left a Fender factory mated together) then the guitar remains a "Stratocaster". Folks change cosmetics constantly while others upgrade their pickups and hardware. I say "no harm -- no foul" in that. Once neck-swapping or body-swapping occurs then the "genetic integrity" of the guitar is compromised and it enters the realm of "parts" and its status by extension is changed to "partscaster". Musicians aren't generally lawyers so legal definitions can be ignored. However, when selling a partscaster or even a modded Strat, full disclosure of the instrument's pedigree should be made to any potential buyer.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:32 pm
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No self-respecting guitarist would be seen dead with a partscaster!

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:49 pm
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I take Arjay's approach but I go one step further. IMO, reversible cosmetic changes that leave the guitar intact and easily returnable to otherwise stock condition I do not consider as modifications. Perfect example would be a pick guard swap or changing control knobs, etc. Like Arjay I see the mated pairings of body and neck as essential to being stock but I also personally feel that if any of the factory solder joints are disturbed then it's no longer stock and becomes a Partsocaster. The exception to that would of course be in the event of a repair to a bad solder connection and also without changing any components to non-stock items. If faulty components were replaced with exact Fender replacements then I would still call it a Stratocaster/Telecaster/whatever. Also any drilling or routing or cutting/carving would IMO render it non-stock.

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:16 pm
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Good point GilgaFrank

Clapton's Blackie is a partscaster and now you can buy a custom shop Blackie from Fender. So is the original Blackie now a Original Fender? Oh what a tangled web.

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:20 pm
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In the 1970s when aftermarket pickups were becoming the rage, I ended up with vintage pickups and other parts for next to nothing. Most of them came off guitars that were from the 1960s and 1970s. I could never understand why people would swap out a perfectly good set of factory pickups, but they often did.

And although I won't spend 1k or 2k on a new strat, I will spend $350 on a used MIM Classic Series strat, then load it up with a vintage set of coils and other parts I salvaged over the years. So, I guess you could say I'm a partscaster guy with some really neat MIM strats :D

A MIM standard strat in Agave blue > http://sdrv.ms/1ijTnl8


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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:57 pm
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I feel like most of you then as in a Strat if the neck and body are in together.
And yeah I remember the first time Doc said to me "Partscaster"
I felt insulted lol.
I had never even heard the term until here.
But I mean all the greats do it Eddie Van Halen David Gilmour SRV Clapton.
Its really the only way to really get your own guitar is to take what you like from all of them and make one.

Some of the greatest sought after models where originally parts guitars.

I like the Parts Guitar I have probably the best.

I think all of us who have the ability would rather fund our own Custom Shop than FENDER's.
Myself personally I would love to have a Custom Shop Stratocaster built but don't think I could ever justify the funds.

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:28 pm
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donnycraven wrote:
I think all of us who have the ability would rather fund our own Custom Shop than FENDER's.


+1

But I may yet splurge on something "official" before I start my dirt nap.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:38 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
donnycraven wrote:
I think all of us who have the ability would rather fund our own Custom Shop than FENDER's.


+1

But I may yet splurge on something "official" before I start my dirt nap.

:mrgreen:

Arjay


I would like to as well man.
I have looked at Warmoth stuff but I really want Fenders.
A custom Floyd Fender Stratocaster would be the bomb huh?

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:43 pm
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I was just thinking yesterday, you know what would solve a lot of the world's problems?

FMIC buyout of Warmoth. Just think about that.

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Post subject: Re: When does a Strat become a Partscaster?
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:57 pm
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I've always considered Strats and Tele that were not actual Fender necks and bodies as "Parts-o-casters." So I guess when a person has the neck and body, it's just a modified Fender guitar.

By the way, Donnie, Hwy1s are some of the best Strats out there. I loved mine and really miss the pups and electronics that I swapped out. It's long and painful story that I would rather not retell :( Let's just say that the best part of the Hwy1 is the electronics. My Hwy1 is now closer to a late '60s or '70s Strat now.


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