My MIM '98 Standard Strat

[pchilson]

Picked this up from an aquaintance that I have done some trading through Craigslist. I sold him some pedals and he had this '98 Standard he wanted to unload for $200 to help fund his purchase on a MIA Strat. I couldn't pass this one up, it is in pristine condition. He has put in a Seymour Duncan HotRails in the bridge with coil tap mini toggle, Schaller locking tuners and full shielding in the rout cavities and pickguard. There is not a scratch on this thing, there is no fret ware, it even still had the protective plastic on the back plate. Only thing is he had these glitter strips on the pickguard, kinda hokey, I pulled those off toot sweet I'll tell ya. This thing looks great now and sounds even better. Truss rod needed a little turning.

You can see some before and after pics here. The color is Midnight Wine (maroon) or whatever Fender called it in '98. The color is difficult to photograph, it wants to come out looking Black.

Click on photos for a larger image.

[pchilson]

A few more pics.
The fret markers for boris_bubbanov

[Legba]

Wow, great deal on a great strat!

[gtrwrks]

Killer deal - looks to be in great shape - I love a loud/fat pickup in the bridge position of a Strat.

[pchilson]

Yeah, this guy is like I am, meaning he treasures his gear and takes great care of it. I was shocked he let this go for only 2 bills. I picked this up from him around noon and about 5 pm he called me asking how it sounded and such. He said he missed it already...wanted me to give him first shot at it if I ever decided to sell it off. He has a deal for a MIA in the works but hasn't nailed it down yet and I think he may have some sellers remorse going on...I tipped him to a location that has 3 Highway One strats for $599 each. A Midnight Wine a Flat Black and a Daphne Blue. I thought that would get him interested and thinking ahead instead of looking behind.

This ones mine I tell ya!

[franchelB]

on stealing that guitar from the guy.
I still can't believe that he got rid of it!

[strummin67]

How's the crunch on that Hot Rail over a single coil?

[pchilson]

Originally Posted by strummin67

How's the crunch on that Hot Rail over a single coil?

Well to be honest, I'm not ready to give my full opinion on it yet. It adds a much fatter tone and sounds good, splits to single and is pretty classic sounding. It is high output and drives the tubes sooner than single.
I will reserve judgement on it till I've had some time with it.

[pchilson]

Anyone know a good reason for some of the strats having only one string tree and some having two?
Is there advantage/disadvantage to this?
Why my Hwy 1 has two and this standard has one?

Also, can someone look at the saddles on this one and tell me if they are the originals or replacements? They are not the bent steel type is that how the standards came?

Thanks

[strummin67]

Originally Posted by pchilson

Anyone know a good reason for some of the strats having only one string tree and some having two?
Is there advantage/disadvantage to this?
Why my Hwy 1 has two and this standard has one?

Also, can someone look at the saddles on this one and tell me if they are the originals or replacements? They are not the bent steel type is that how the standards came?

Thanks

The string trees seemed to come and go over the years. My '62 reissue has one. The '79 has two. The '87 I used to own had 2. The new Strats all seem to have 1. I don't think it makes much of a difference. With 2 it won't sound the same while playing Riviera Paradise but that's just me.

As far as the saddles go Fender was using that compressed steel during the '80s and '90s. From their website it looks like they've gone back to using the stamped steel on imports and domestics. I haven't seen the chrome ones like yours before so it may have been an experimental run.

[pchilson]

Thanks strummin67,

There are no markings on the saddles whatsoever so I don't know if a previous owner changed them or these are like you said, some Fender experiment or somesuch.
They kinda look like Graph Tech, are they?

Click to get a larger pic

[strummin67]

Yeah, they do look very similar to Graph Techs but the section where the string passes over the saddle would be black.

[pchilson]

Anyone out there know if these saddles would have been the stock saddles in '98 or aftermarket saddles that someone added on?

[pchilson]

The saddles on this guitar are:
Fender American Standard
2-Pivot Bridge
Cast saddles
2 1/16 string spacing
with center intonation screw

[pchilson]

Today I pulled the ceramic neck and middle pickups out and installed the AlNiCo 3 Highway 1 pickups I scored of ebay this past Monday evening. I have a '06 Highway 1 and just love the sound. This MIM has the Hotrails in the bridge with a coil tap. I didn't change any of the wiring scheme just simply swapped the pups. Now when I put it in the 2 position the volume is much lower than before and not right at all. This is true no matter the coil tap switch position. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Tomorrow before my git lesson I'm going by the electronics shop and picking up the capacitors and resistors I need so I can wire the Grease Bucket circuit from the Highway 1. Am I crazy thinking I want my MIM to sound like my Highway 1?

Ok, let me have it...

PS: I wasn't able to win the bridge pickup to complete the set. I kinda like the Hotrails but am thinking I'll get the bridge and put this back to 3 single coils.

[pchilson]

Hey, just got thinking about the volume drop on position 2. Could it have something to do with a ceramic mag on the hotrail and alnico on the middle pickup? Both pickups have normal volume by themselves in position 1 and 3.
Just a thought. Anyone?

[pchilson]

Or might this be some kind of phase issue?
Any help here?

[strummin67]

Solving wiring issues is beyond me. I'd suggest PMing Deaf Eddie or braderrick. They might be able to help you.

[pchilson]

Well I guess I need to find another forum, cause its apparent there is no one on this board that can or will answer any of my questions.

[StratDal]

Originally Posted by pchilson

Well I guess I need to find another forum, cause its apparent there is no one on this board that can or will answer any of my questions.

Nice guitar. Nice pics. I've got a MIM too and it's my baby. If there is a fire in the house, it's the first thing I'm grabbing. My wife and son know how to run.

As far as your questions, I couldn't tell ya to save my life. My volumes vary too depending on the switch position and the setting on my knobs. Could it be the pup heights? Based on your pics and knowledge, you'd probably know more than I would.

Worse comes to worse, put the your selector switch in the first position, turn up the volume and tone and add some over-drive. Works for me every time!

[strummin67]

Also try posting your question in the "Just Pickups" section. You might get a better response.

[pchilson]

I did post in just pickups. I think it is a phase issue. Just would like for someone who knows this stuff to confirm it.

[pchilson]

Problem sorted out now.

[strummin67]

What was it?