MIM HSS Strat but what is it?

[Johnny T]

I have a Made in Mexico HSS Strat , it' says Fender in gold Spaghetti with black outline on the headstock and Stratocaster in a straight line after it. It has the serial number on the back of the headstock with Made in Mexico written under it Serial number is MN657487. The rest is; vintage kluson style tuners (no name) maple neck with skunk stripe,off white/cream colour body (don't know what wood or how many pieces it is), 2 single coils have staggered pole pieces, Humbucker is 'split' in position 2 on the selector and full in position 1 (if that makes sense) The bridge saddles are stamped Fender and are the bent metal type, not solid. If you got any ideas I would be grateful as I can't seem to find any info on it. Oh, it sounds great, I love it.
Here's the pictures.
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[nvosmeier]

Looks nice! 96 MIM.

[Johnny T]

Thanks nvosmeier,
That's a good start. My main question is why have I not seen another one like this. I thought the MIM strats were a bit like Squiers ie: mass produced and quite common. It may be this is a partscaster or a custom job. I don't know. Just curious to find out something about the old blighter. Now I know the year....Anybody else? If you got one or you know then I would be grateful.

[boris bubbanov]

The tuners don't look like pings, but possibly gotohs. Look how the end of the post does not protrude a 16th inch past the machine cover but is flush.

Bridge looks MIM, and the body color is what vintage white is supposed to look like in my book. Take the guitar apart and check the heel, pocket and pickguard undersides to learn more.

Nice find.


Bubbanov

[Deaf Eddie]

The wiring function is stock for a regular ol' MIM Fat Strat, but it has the wrong tuners and headstock logo for that model. Methinks it's someone's "personalization" of that model, or a parts guitar.

[Johnny T]

Hi all
Took some advice and took off the neck and took of the pickguard. Some off the photos are a little blurred but I couldn't light them better. It's going to stay in bits 'til I finish my investigating and to allow more information to be gleaned.
The number on the single coils is : 016730 and the number on the neck looks like 70221. The number on the humbucker is 0050950.Any other questions I'll be online all evening. Thanks to all who pitch in.You guys RULE!!!

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[Johnny T]

Took another couple of pictures under less than ideal conditions (Welsh weather, dark yer) and brightened up in Photoshop.The number in the neck pocket was under a shim. I took the picture and typed above what it looks like to me. The other is inside the pocket, looks like a solid body to me, what do I know, I'm just fishing for clues....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/...456c94.jpg?v=0
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[rwfelton]

I have a 2007 MIM Strat HSS. I love the tone that comes from both single coils but the HB has way too much high end and is real jangly sounding. A friend has given me his diamond back HB from his American Strat. Would this pup sound better? It also seems that my tuning knobs have different ratios to them. Some turn faster than others and some feel more well made than others, but they all look the same. He gave me a set (NIB) that looks identical to the ones i have. Should these work better?

[Jack FFR1846]

So I'm going to say that this isn't a MIM standard strat. The pic is small, but the single coils look like alnicos (I don't see the 2 bar magnets). That combined with the vintage tuners and the tell tale Fender on the front and serial on the back point to some kind of a special. It's not a Deluxe (no gold hardware). Also possible it has changed tuners and pickups. I have a standard that I put vintage tuners on and there's no sign unless I pull one tuner and look for the ping holes. Does it have a larger block? That could indicate an upper model mim.

[spikypaddy]

Originally Posted by Jack FFR1846

It's not a Deluxe (no gold hardware).

Only the Deluxe Super Strat (or Deluxe Player's Strat as it's now known) had the gold hardware in the MIM Deluxe range. However, they did have a "Deluxe Series" decal on the headstock where most other Strats have the "Original Contour Body" decal.