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Post subject: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:24 pm
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Does anyone know what strat serial no. starts with MO? The body was sold as a MIM but all I can find out is MIM S/N's are supposed to start with MN or MZ. Here are pics. Also the chipped pickguard screw hole reveals a metalic blue paint under that thick artic white.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 3:05 pm
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Send a message to Fender and ask them what year it is. I think the serial number dater is just for the serial numbers on the headstock or back of neck.
It's definitely a made in mexico body though.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:27 pm
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Do you think Fender has records on part numbers (that's not a serial number)? It can't hurt to ask.

It looks like it has had a Squier pickguard on it.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:32 pm
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rolloman wrote:
Does anyone know what strat serial no. starts with MO?...


That is not the guitar serial number, only for the body. The serial number info on the Fender site, or any site, does not apply.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:20 pm
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PicknGoodTime wrote:
Send a message to Fender and ask them what year it is. I think the serial number dater is just for the serial numbers on the headstock or back of neck.
It's definitely a made in mexico body though.


Yeah found out by researching that is just a body no. not a S/N. What let's ya know it is a MIM? It's not a squier is it? I probably will end up stripping that thick finish off of it.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:39 pm
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rolloman wrote:
PicknGoodTime wrote:
Send a message to Fender and ask them what year it is. I think the serial number dater is just for the serial numbers on the headstock or back of neck.
It's definitely a made in mexico body though.


Yeah found out by researching that is just a body no. not a S/N. What let's ya know it is a MIM? It's not a squier is it? I probably will end up stripping that thick finish off of it.


There are a plethora of signs that this is a Mexi and not a Squire. To start with those holes that are to the right if the pickup routes are a Mexican "signature" so to speak. As well even though we can not identify the year from that body UPC sticker the "MO" prefix signifies "M" for Mexico. Other clues are the pickup routes and the size and location of the hole in the neck pocket....all dead givaways of a Mexican Strat. As well other then certain older Squires almost all of them have the thinner neck "block" and the Mexicans have the Thicker one similar to USA models. So all signs point to it being a Mexi and no signs point to it being a Squier.

As far as striping it down yes you will find that finish is thick and made of freaking krypton or something. I use a heat gun, metal scrapers and air sanders for those. Some prefer paint strippers but to each his/her own. The toughest part is inside the horns but if you are painting it a solid color you really do not need to strip all the original finish off....just enough so the next paint job is level and adheres.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:41 pm
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Looks like a MIM ... Made In Missouri, that is ...


(get it? :) )

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:44 pm
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ebaysux wrote:
The toughest part is inside the horns but if you are painting it a solid color you really do not need to strip all the original finish off....just enough so the next paint job is level and adheres.


+1

As well, you may find that once stripped, the body's lumber may not favor a transparent finish such as sunburst. In that instance it may be wise to let the existing color be your base coat for whatever solid (opaque) finish you might choose.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:59 am
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Also wanted to add...that metallic blue paint under the artic white. Of course there is no way for me to confirm if it was a refin or a blem they repainted at the factory it seems to me that is a factory paint job. So in all likelihood they used that metallic paint as a basecoat for whatever reasons unknown. Or perhaps someone else here does know specifically why.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 11:39 am
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I've never seen anything like that "chipped" screw hole before.

It seems we can see hints of blue in the neck pocket and routes, so it seems to be a factory do-over paint job. It is weird to me that they would shoot a white over such a dark color. Black would have made more sense, but there you go.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:07 pm
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how and why do they paint them so thick. It must be almost 1/8". lol


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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:09 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
I've never seen anything like that "chipped" screw hole before.

It seems we can see hints of blue in the neck pocket and routes, so it seems to be a factory do-over paint job. It is weird to me that they would shoot a white over such a dark color. Black would have made more sense, but there you go.


Just add it to the seemingly endless list of Fender unanswered mysteries. I have nothing against it though....just makes the whole Fender mystic even more intriguing.....granted I think we all know in our hearts that most of these "mysteries" were done to save money for the company one way or the other.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:13 pm
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rolloman wrote:
how and why do they paint them so thick. It must be almost 1/8". lol


That is another good question. They seem to really lay those poly finishes on thick, especially with the Mexis. Since part of their goal is to save money and increase profits I guess it must somehow make it easier/quicker to get a smooth finish and that time saving compensates for the cost of the additional poly.....of course that is speculation on my part but makes sense to me.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:29 pm
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I'd say there probably is no sanding on them. Look at trem spring cavity and all that wood left in the middle. It's either wood dust or the milling machine didn't quite get everything out in it's last pass. And the pickup/control cavities have some very rough stuff that was painted over. They do take the time to clean a spot for the barcode label though. lol


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Post subject: Re: MIM Strat mystery S/N.
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 1:39 pm
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rolloman wrote:
I'd say there probably is no sanding on them. Look at trem spring cavity and all that wood left in the middle. It's either wood dust or the milling machine didn't quite get everything out in it's last pass. And the pickup/control cavities have some very rough stuff that was painted over. They do take the time to clean a spot for the barcode label though. lol


That seems to be they way they do them...at least with the solid colors. And it seems they put that body sticker on before paint.....put tape over it...then remove the tape after painting. You can see this on other Mexi bodies as well... http://www.ebay.com/itm/1999-MIM-Fender ... 540a2235f4

The oddity of this one however is the metellic blue base coat. I don't feel like scowering eBay on google images to see if other are like that as well but I don't recall with any mexi bodies I have owned to see a base coat like that which is also seen around where the barcode sticker is. Seems like a factory repaint...most likely.

To note if you look at the routes of a 50s or 60s original body you see the same "mess" they just painted right over including the trem route. So considering it cost many thousands for those old bodies and they are so desirable I would say at least in that area the mexis are in pretty good company lol. Or in other words if I have any criticisms of the mexis that is last on the list.

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