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Repair or exchange recently purchased 89-90 MIJ Strat?
Hi, all. I'm a newbie on several fronts: new to the forum, new to electrics and new to Strats!
I need your advice on how to handle some issues I'm having with my recently purchased (in Japan, where I live) used 89-90 MIJ Strat. I'll put the problem first, Strat info second and a little about me last.
The problem: After the first week of play, the cable socket failed to hold the lead cable. While fixing the cable jack, the shop discovered a problem with the bottom tone control and did a repair on that, too.
Post-repair, I noticed a distorted sound when strumming under clean settings that I did not notice during pre-purchase testing or during the initial week of home play. If the bottom tone control is turned past 3 it gets progressively worse. This tone control also effects all 5 pickup select positions. Last night, the middle pickup position was cutting out (little or no volume on that setting, but with the other 4 positions getting normal volume).
My guess is that the repair tech fudged the wiring job and/or some of the other components are bad. But, like I said, I wasn't having these issues pre-repair.
A side issue is that the guitar goes out of tune pretty easily--particulary the bass E string. It did not seem so as compared to others I tried when testing, but I wonder if this is normal for an electric as compared to my acoustic, which, while cheap, holds tuning pretty well.
My main question to everyone is: should I seek a guitar exchange or have them repair the current Strat? I have just under five months left on the 6-month shop warranty.
Info on the Strat: (see pic)
89-90 (J series) Fender Japan Strat
(metallic gold body, basic white pickguard)
Model: (sold as) ST54LS Fifties re-issue (may actually be a ST57-53, as a card showing that was included with a dog-eared manual in the guitar bag)
Maple-neck, 21-fret, 5-way select
set of 3 Fender Lace Gold Sensor pickups.
Price: $490
Condition: Shop mgr said about 70% fret life left.
A couple of very minor, tiny indentations in the headstock from bumping and
a small bump blemish on the side of the body, that cracked the lacquer a bit, but did not make an indentation and still feels smooth to the touch.
About me:
I'm an intermediate-level learner (not ready for live performance) and this is my first electric. I know the basics of Strat/electric anatomy, but have no hands-on experience with the tech side of things or amps yet. I practice using a Vox AC amPlug headphone amp and a TASCAM GT-R1 Guitar Trainer. I do not have a full amp.
I am completely self-taught and do not have other players on hand to ask yet. I live in Japan and bought the guitar here.
Thanks in advance for your help on this. I will be happy to post more details if needed. Friday, I plan to go to the shop and test out the guitar on some amps, comparing it against others in the store.
Assuming they give me the option of trading, I could probably get a new Japanese Standard Fender Strat for roughly an even trade. I'd lose the Lace Sensors that way, though.
Alrighty, I'll leave it there. Thanks!
All the best,
Chordial
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