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Post subject: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 6:59 pm
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Hi Folks,

My most beloved guitar is an 1983 Strat Elite (maple neck). Sadly, the truss rod has broken. Can anyone tell me what current production Strat neck comes closest? My Elite is far and away the most comfortable guitar I've ever played: fast, lots of room, and low action.


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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 5:39 am
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Either the neck on the Gilmour, or the '57Vintage Hotrod would be my closest guess given the year. That's a rare bird, you've got there. Any hope of replacing the truss rod?

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 6:41 am
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Thanks, ZZDoc. I love the hell out of the guitar. I live in upstate NY and can't find a luthier I trust.

My understanding is that (like so many features on those guitars) the truss rod is an early version of the biflex? I did reach out to Fender at one point and ask if there was a luthier they could suggest. I was pretty much laughed away.

If you have any tips or leads I'd be most grateful. If they are good and reliable I'd be willing to ship. :D


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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:18 am
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at4033 wrote:
Thanks, ZZDoc. I love the hell out of the guitar. I live in upstate NY and can't find a luthier I trust.

My understanding is that (like so many features on those guitars) the truss rod is an early version of the biflex? I did reach out to Fender at one point and ask if there was a luthier they could suggest. I was pretty much laughed away.

If you have any tips or leads I'd be most grateful. If they are good and reliable I'd be willing to ship. :D

I'll ask from the point of view of possibilities first.

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:52 am
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That's bad news. But not necessarily fatal ...

http://brawerguitarrepair.blogspot.co.u ... ppens.html

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 10:16 am
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From Wiki :

"This guitar model featured an alder body, a maple neck featuring a rosewood or maple fingerboard with 21 jumbo frets, 12" radius, Schaller die-cast tuners with pearloid buttons, BiFlex truss-rod system with MicroTilt neck adjuster, Schaller Straplock Ready locking strap buttons, two hardened steel EasyGlider string trees, side-mount jack socket and a Freeflyte vibrato system, as well as three serrated "rubber insert"-style control knobs."

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:23 am
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GilgaFrank wrote:
That's bad news. But not necessarily fatal ...

http://brawerguitarrepair.blogspot.co.u ... ppens.html



Not for the faint of heart........nor the novice. I wonder how many other necks were ruined before they were able to make that one look so easy?


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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:26 pm
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at4033 wrote:
Hi Folks,

My most beloved guitar is an 1983 Strat Elite (maple neck). Sadly, the truss rod has broken. Can anyone tell me what current production Strat neck comes closest? My Elite is far and away the most comfortable guitar I've ever played: fast, lots of room, and low action.

When you say the truss rod is broken do you actually mean the nut has been striped off the rod ?

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:52 pm
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I should have thought of this straightaway...contact Stewart-MacDonald Guitarshop. Go to stewmac.com. See if you can get to speak to Dan Erlewine. If these guys can't fix it, I expect that no one can.

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:56 pm
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Miami Mike wrote:
From Wiki :

"This guitar model featured an alder body, a maple neck featuring a rosewood or maple fingerboard with 21 jumbo frets, 12" radius, Schaller die-cast tuners with pearloid buttons, BiFlex truss-rod system with MicroTilt neck adjuster, Schaller Straplock Ready locking strap buttons, two hardened steel EasyGlider string trees, side-mount jack socket and a Freeflyte vibrato system, as well as three serrated "rubber insert"-style control knobs."


Chromeface :?: :!: :?: :!: :?: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:26 pm
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Yea , if it's the nut it could be fixed by backing off and taking the flute out remove nut and put new nut on. Won't be the first time someone stripped the nut :shock: if the threads on the rod need to be chased it is more difficult repair but you don't know how far down the rod the thread is bad so nut may do trick if it goes on straight.

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat Elite?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 4:44 pm
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Thanks for all the great tips, folks. There are some great ideas and leads!

The specific problem is that the screw at the top (by the headstock) is cracked. I'd taken it in for a setup, and did not notice it for a while. Even so, not much I could do at that point.

I'll keep you posted, and sincere thanks for the help. You know how it is: I have 30 years of playing on the old girl. It's part of me now. :)


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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 5:12 pm
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Fender are selling replacement necks now, if the Elite neck can't be saved then you could maybe fit a new neck. At least that way you'd keep the guitar all Fender and you wouldn't lose those delicious 1980s pickups.

http://www.fender.com/necks-bodies/?page=1

Coincidentally I was thinking of doing this myself to my 1983 two-knob Strat. The guitar has the finest pickups I have ever heard but the neck is all wrong for me, too much of a deep V shape on the back, too flat and I never liked the squared-off fingerboard edges, I need something more rounded over.

It's also sad that your guitar has suffered serious damage just in the year when it officially became a vintage instrument!

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat Elite?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 5:58 pm
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at4033 wrote:
Thanks for all the great tips, folks. There are some great ideas and leads!

The specific problem is that the screw at the top (by the headstock) is cracked. I'd taken it in for a setup, and did not notice it for a while. Even so, not much I could do at that point.

I'll keep you posted, and sincere thanks for the help. You know how it is: I have 30 years of playing on the old girl. It's part of me now. :)

Never seen a cracked truss rod, threads on the end messed up yes and repaired them for some.

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Post subject: Re: Current Model Neck Closest to '83 Strat?
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 6:11 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
Fender are selling replacement necks now, if the Elite neck can't be saved then you could maybe fit a new neck. At least that way you'd keep the guitar all Fender and you wouldn't lose those delicious 1980s pickups.


These guitars really do have a sound all their own. Not really a traditional Fender tone, but versatile and distinctive, but it's the neck that I adore. No other Strat I've played (and I own 3 other Strats) is quite like it. Wider and flatter; and because of the way the strings are loaded, the action can be very low, fast and slinky. I use the others when I want to wrestle a bit.

GilgaFrank wrote:
Coincidentally I was thinking of doing this myself to my 1983 two-knob Strat. The guitar has the finest pickups I have ever heard but the neck is all wrong for me, too much of a deep V shape on the back, too flat and I never liked the squared-off fingerboard edges, I need something more rounded over.


I've never warmed to v-shaped necks, either. If the body is a traditional cut (the Elite is not a traditional cut, which inherently limits my options with the guitar) you might be able to have the best of both worlds!

GilgaFrank wrote:
It's also sad that your guitar has suffered serious damage just in the year when it officially became a vintage instrument!


I know, right? I remember a time when silverfaces were reviled and considered inferior (even though my long lost '68 Twin Reverb is still the finest amp I've owned) and now they are being reissued (albeit with some cool mods).

No one I've met that has played the guitar had ever played a Elite before. They all loved it. I traded in an '82 Tobacco finish Les Paul Standard I'd bought new for the Elite the following year. The LP was too heavy (Haha! The elite is a heavy guitar, too!) The Elites were actually selling for more than the Les Pauls (I paid $725 new with hard shell case. I wish I had kept the Gibson, too. It was FAR superior than any current Les Paul I've played, and by quite a margin). The dealer said that if I wanted a Fender I should buy one ASAP, as it was possible Fender would cease production in the US.


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