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Post subject: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:33 am
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So I just bought a 2004 American Stratocaster 50th Anniversary, my first Strat, and I'm loving it. Got it on eBay for $895, had my tech adjust the neck and the tremolo/bridge, and it's playing great. There is a question about whether it's a Deluxe or not; the seller says it is, no question (uh-huh). But the serial number starts with "Z" not "DZ", and it doesn't have the S1 switch. All that is interesting but I don't really care. My concern is the pickups. And I'm new to Strats and electrics in general (been playing acoustic and jazz for 40 years, now I'm into electric blues). Please excuse my novice understanding here.

I'm playing through a Blackstar ID:15 modeling amp. I practice pretty quietly (don't gig) and I really hate buzz/hum and I'm wondering if I have "noiseless" pickups, or the "standard" or Fat50, whatever, namely, "noisy" pickups. The seller didn't know. Depending on the setting on my amp, sometimes it hums/buzzes a small (tolerable) amount, sometimes an unacceptable amount, and sometimes a huge amount, (like when I have the amp set on OD1 or OD2). I play mostly clean with reverb or with some grit, (I like Clapton/SRV sound), but never heavy metal OD. So, what I'd like to know is if anyone can recognize the pickups from this picture of the under-side of my pick-guard. If I have noiseless (SCN, S3, etc.), then I guess that's that; it won't get quieter. But if not, then maybe I'll install a noiseless set. If I do, can I expect no noise, none, zero, nada? Or is there always "some" noise. A couple of guys recommended Zexcoil pickups, so I've looked into them and they look, sound good. Thanks for any thoughts.....bill

Pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ow85o0zzcdnh1p/Pickups%20inside.jpg?dl=0


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 12:44 pm
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Not really enough photos - there were a bunch of different things going on in 2004 for the Strat's 50th Anniversary.

There were 3 special models:

1. Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster - the CS did 1,954 Masterbuilt guitars to '54 specs in a closet classic/light relic finish

2. American Deluxe 50th Anniversary Strat - would have been 2-color sunburst, alder body, gold hardware, SCN pickups with S-1 switch, and would have had the 50th Anniversary logo stamped into the pickguard and the neck plate, special tweed case.

3. American Series 50th Anniversary Strat - would have been 2-color sunburst, ash body, chrome hardware, '54-style pickups, 50th Anniversary logo on the neck plate, special tweed case.

But - Fender also put the 50th Anniversary logo on every American Standard and American Deluxe Strat they assembled in 2004, so a lot of times "regular" American Series and American Deluxe Strats from 2004 get identified as the special Anniversary models.

Post up a few more photos - I can't tell whether you have one of the special American Series models or just a "regular" 2004 American Series. The photo of the body kind of looks like it's 3-color burst (which would make it a regular American Series) but that could just be the photo. Either way it's not an American Deluxe, so it doesn't have noiseless pickups. If it is the special model, make sure you keep the old pickups in case you sell it; they are part of what makes the special model worth more than the "regular" model.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 3:05 pm
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John C wrote:
Not really enough photos - there were a bunch of different things going on in 2004 for the Strat's 50th Anniversary.

There were 3 special models:

1. Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster - the CS did 1,954 Masterbuilt guitars to '54 specs in a closet classic/light relic finish.


The OP's is not this guitar -- too many frets, modern pickup routing.

Two possibilities remain......

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 5:57 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
John C wrote:
Not really enough photos - there were a bunch of different things going on in 2004 for the Strat's 50th Anniversary.

There were 3 special models:

1. Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster - the CS did 1,954 Masterbuilt guitars to '54 specs in a closet classic/light relic finish.


The OP's is not this guitar -- too many frets, modern pickup routing.

Two possibilities remain......

Arjay


I know; I was just letting him know what was out there for the 50th Anniversary. I should have said "but you don't have one of these".

Actually it's either the 50th Anniversary American Series, or just a plain American Series - no S-1, no SCNs, and no gold hardware.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:01 pm
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John C wrote:
Not really enough photos - there were a bunch of different things going on in 2004 for the Strat's 50th Anniversary.

There were 3 special models:

1. Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster - the CS did 1,954 Masterbuilt guitars to '54 specs in a closet classic/light relic finish

2. American Deluxe 50th Anniversary Strat - would have been 2-color sunburst, alder body, gold hardware, SCN pickups with S-1 switch, and would have had the 50th Anniversary logo stamped into the pickguard and the neck plate, special tweed case.

3. American Series 50th Anniversary Strat - would have been 2-color sunburst, ash body, chrome hardware, '54-style pickups, 50th Anniversary logo on the neck plate, special tweed case.

But - Fender also put the 50th Anniversary logo on every American Standard and American Deluxe Strat they assembled in 2004, so a lot of times "regular" American Series and American Deluxe Strats from 2004 get identified as the special Anniversary models.

Post up a few more photos - I can't tell whether you have one of the special American Series models or just a "regular" 2004 American Series. The photo of the body kind of looks like it's 3-color burst (which would make it a regular American Series) but that could just be the photo. Either way it's not an American Deluxe, so it doesn't have noiseless pickups. If it is the special model, make sure you keep the old pickups in case you sell it; they are part of what makes the special model worth more than the "regular" model.


John: thanks for the thoughtful answer. I've attached a link to more pictures. The sunburst is for sure 3 color, it's why I really fell for this guitar. The seller, who actually has a pretty impressive website and has sold/bought a lot of guitars, made a strong case that the serial numbers are not always exact; that is, some Deluxes don't have the "D" in the serial number. Sometimes the year is carried over from previous year because they still have a lot of the materials so they kept making them into 2005, when it was really a 2004 "celebration", etc. Don't want to beat a dead horse on this though. I'm just trying to get myself a Strat that is quiet!
Thanks again for your comments.....bill
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lk9x4rui8zclhmb/AAAN9vNYVVC6pSFfpOQzmQBTa?dl=0


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:04 pm
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John C wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
John C wrote:
Not really enough photos - there were a bunch of different things going on in 2004 for the Strat's 50th Anniversary.

There were 3 special models:

1. Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster - the CS did 1,954 Masterbuilt guitars to '54 specs in a closet classic/light relic finish.


The OP's is not this guitar -- too many frets, modern pickup routing.

Two possibilities remain......

Arjay


I know; I was just letting him know what was out there for the 50th Anniversary. I should have said "but you don't have one of these".

Actually it's either the 50th Anniversary American Series, or just a plain American Series - no S-1, no SCNs, and no gold hardware.


Agreed. No gold hardware so it's not the "official 50th Strat anniversary".... but the plate does say "Stratocaster: Fender 50th Anniversary; 1954 - 2004". So it's Fender's birthday, not the Strats..... thanks.....bill


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 8:21 pm
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Actually, '54 was the Strat's birthday, not Fender's.

Those don't look like CS pups either. :?:

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:26 pm
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I don't have an answer on what you have for pups, but I have a couple suggestions that may help. The OD1 / OD2 settings that you have trouble with may be modeling some pretty aggressive amps. You can always go into the preset and turn the gain down or pick another amp model.
You want pickups that will give you some spank when you need it, you don't want them dead, so try to work with what you have, and you may teach yourself how to tame a beast. I'm always impressed with guys that have super hot setups, but once the band kicks in you only notice their hot playing, not the noise.
If you feel you need noiseless pups, I'd recommend vintage noiseless.

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:07 pm
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2004 American Series (standard) neither of the American anniversary models.
Someones added locking tuners. :D


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:10 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
2004 American Series (standard) neither of the American anniversary models.
Someones added locking tuners. :D


OK, I was thinking that may be the case. But what about the neck plate?,
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n0g1bn6e4g8vta6/Strat%20plate.JPG?dl=0


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:13 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
I don't have an answer on what you have for pups, but I have a couple suggestions that may help. The OD1 / OD2 settings that you have trouble with may be modeling some pretty aggressive amps. You can always go into the preset and turn the gain down or pick another amp model.
You want pickups that will give you some spank when you need it, you don't want them dead, so try to work with what you have, and you may teach yourself how to tame a beast. I'm always impressed with guys that have super hot setups, but once the band kicks in you only notice their hot playing, not the noise.
If you feel you need noiseless pups, I'd recommend vintage noiseless.


Yeah, that's sensible advice...thanks....


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:23 pm
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Every USA strat around 2004 has that neckplate with some from either side of that year.
It celebrates the 50th anni of the strat.
You will see a similar thing for 2006 where the strats came with a metal circle on the back of the headstock celebrating 60 years of Fender.
This has lead to a lot of confusion.
The deluxe for that year came with SCNs the S1 and a contoured heel. :D


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:25 am
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I agree with the above, it's a "regular" 2004 AmSeries. The pickups are "American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups", marked SC - 205/neck, 206/mid and 207/bridge - although (as seen also on other guitars) they only marked two of the pups :wink:
And quoting from specs: "American Series Stratocasters built in 2004 will have a special 50th Anniversary commemorative neck plate."


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:50 am
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Finally got a chance to get back online and check out your other photos. I agree with everyone else - it's a regular 2004 American Series with locking tuners added. All American Series got that 50th Anniversary neck plate that year.

I would go ahead and email that serial number to Fender at consumerrelations@fender.com. They can send you a detailed spec sheet. I'm a little confused as to this one having a Z5xxxxxx serial number - I would have thought that Fender would not have gotten to those serial number decals until January 2005 at the earliest. But being that 2004 was the anniversary year for Strats they could have sold enough to change over in December (either that or they still had a few of the 50th Anniversary neck plates left over and figured January 2005 was still close enough to the anniversary to use them - after all I don't believe the first Strats shipped until a few months into 1954).


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Pickups: need Sherlock Holmes
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:30 am
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Thanks for all this information! I took JohnC's advice and submitted a request for info to Fender Customer Relations. When I hear back, I'll post here. Thing is, I'm interested in this guitar's history, and I did want to know about the pickups, and thank you jmattis; I think you nailed it down that these are "American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups", marked SC - 205/neck, 206/mid and 207/bridge". OK, so that answers my main question of the pickups. I'll think about whether I replace them, or as Drew365 suggests, learn to live with them and figure out how to get my sound. Thanks again for all the sleuthing; I'll post back with Fender's info.......bill


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