Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

Hi.

Well.... MIA is Made in America.
Which the neck seems to be.... A MIA standard neck, from the looks of it.

The body and hardware is what puzzles me.

For the price that you paid.... Whatever it ends up as... I say you got a good deal.
Nice pups and all....
And you seem really happy with it....

There are some things that 'I think' need to be cleared up though.

Ken

metallicaman...ya, don't sweat it. Deluxe and Standard are separted by just a few things.
the wood on a deluxe is probably ash. if so, it could have a trans finish.

a few years ago I thought I had a deluxe. all the correct parts. the fish was white and I could see the grain (blue veins) thru the finish.
Dave's Guitar in LaCrosse looked at it and said it was not deluxe; the wood was alder with a great grain.
Fender american does have the great neck you are enjoying. the pups could be vintage noiseless, or something other.

you do not have a crappy guitar. it is top of the line.

Ok well lets clear them up then. Are you saying that some idiot just slapped a MIA neck on a MIM body or something??

We've already cleared up that its not a deluxe, fender.com says so.

So... Are vintage pups better or worse then the samorian ones (sp)?

Give me the full REPORT sir, I nee dto CLEAR this up asap.

Why thank you for your relaxing post dogbite

So what do I do guys? Should I pull off the neck and check inside the body or what? I need to see if this thing is real blood usa!!

The guy at the music store said that Fender has quite a few smaller and larger manufacturing places in america. There not all Corona Cali, he said he's seen a few strats with plain chrome neck plates in his day. "Just because it doesnt say fender on it doesnt mean its not a real usa fender."

So what do I do guys? Should I pull off the neck and check inside the body or what? I need to see if this thing is real blood usa!!

The guy at the music store said that Fender has quite a few smaller and larger manufacturing places in america. There not all Corona Cali, he said he's seen a few strats with plain chrome neck plates in his day. "Just because it doesnt say fender on it doesnt mean its not a real usa fender."
Get the number off the body and see if the body is american

damn. Id really like to NOT have to pull off my new strings and the whole neck. Any tips on removing a neck? or is it pretty simple, 4 bolts and its off? Ive just got a big screw driver and some general common sense.

Thanks

darn. Id really like to NOT have to pull off my new strings and the whole neck. Any tips on removing a neck? or is it pretty simple, 4 bolts and its off? Ive just got a big screw driver and some general common sense.

Thanks
Be patient. Why pull the neck off what seems to be a well playing, well setup guitar? See if there is any other way you can establish if it's American? How about calling Fender?

Id dont really see what fender could establish that we cant here. They could run the serial number ON the neck, but hell I can do that.

HMMMMM

Looking at the pictures, I was thinking the same thing - it looks like a MIA, but not a deluxe. Does the serial number start with "DZ" or just "Z"?

The neck looks MIA. The only way I know to check the body is to take the neck off, but I am no expert. I wonder if it is a FrankenStrat (built with all different Fender parts). BUT, if you love the guitar, I wouldn't mess with it.

ok. We HAVE established that it is NOT a deluxe. According to FENDER.COM it is a 2003-2004 AMERICAN STANDARD. It starts with Z. = American Standard after the new millenium. However we are having DIFFICULTY deciding whether or not it is a FULL USA American Standard or if its a MIM Strat with a USA neck.

$550 is still a good price for a full MIA Strat, especially since you like it. If it is a MIM body, I would take it back.

Did a sign at the store say it was a Deluxe? If so, I would do more than a little complaining & see if they will drop the price even more.

Hey....

Sorry - had to run.

Anyway.... YES!
Slow down....

Don't go pullin' the neck off.

We have also established that You like the guitar and it plays and sounds well!

We have also established that whatever it turns out to be - the price was fair.

Now,
I'm sure that we can get this figured out....

Personally, I don't buy the neck plate story....
And I would like to know WHERE else in the States that Fender has a plant.

Giving him the benifit of the doubt.... How does he explain the six screw bridge????

If it is the wrong neck - looking at 2004 models might not help determine what the body is.

As far as the pups go - the Clapton sig Strat uses vintage noiseless pups.... so the have to be pretty decent.

As a matter of fact - that is so far the only place I see similar bodies.... On several Sig Strats.

Ken

If the guy is so sure that it is what he told you....
Tell him to prove it.

Tell him you have your doubts as to the authenticity and you would like to
have it taken apart to make sure everything matches.

Have them pay for it to be disassembled, and re-setup/re-strung.

If he wont do it - tell him you'll have it done yourself, and if it's not right....
you'll send him the bill and demand a discount or a full refund.

Meantime - I'll stick my nose back in the catalog and see what else I can find.