50's Classic Blem & Solder...

StratDen · May 29th, 2008, 04:38 PM

Yes, you read that right. The 50's Classic Surf Green Strat has arrived. It's cosmetically perfect, but whomever had it and returned it, had to be inside of this guitar. It needs set-up which screams out in utter obvious form. "No way it left the factory like this, I say to myself!" The low E is falling off the fret board, the pickup heights are all off and leaning forward, there's a rattle inside one of the cavities likely from broken off solder, of which a small piece of of the solder fell out onto the floor when I first took the guitar out of the gigbag. And finally, the Trem arm is missing (I have to call MF about that). Thus far it seems to work plugged in, save for the above.

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? LOL!

Did I mention the guitar is perfect cosmetically?

Now, I can do the following:

A: Recognize the fact I saved $160 from the new price and do the set-up and try and track down where the solder broke off myself and go from there;

B. Since the solder issue falls under electronics, MF says I can bring it to a Fender dealer if I choose under warranty. Hmmm:

C. Just send it back and try again with something else.

I'm leaning towards a combo of A & B. The neck is wonderful, the frets are dressed like any CS I've ever played.

So here's the question to the board: What would you do?

thaus · May 29th, 2008, 06:03 PM

You know my obvious answer! Keep it and set it up.........neck is the most important and if it's a good one as you say, the other stuff is easy! Nice score.....now where is the pic??

Axis29 · May 29th, 2008, 06:21 PM

If I bought it blem for a good price, I'd fix it myself.... The wait on warranty work is unruly around here.

StratDen · May 29th, 2008, 11:39 PM

Ok, as you guys probably figured out the guitar was too nice to do anything but make it right. I found the source of the loose solder piece in the bridge pickup cavity and all is well there. I had to re-solder the bridge pickup to replace what was broken off (I'm guessing during some jostling, or maybe just a bad solder job at the factory?), no big deal. Tomorrow evening when I get home I'll do the set-up, and I'll get some pics up soon thereafter.

thaus · May 30th, 2008, 06:43 AM

Looking forward to seeing the guitar. Played mine last night and went away thinking how much better could a strat play or sound? None better!!!

bobthecanadian · May 30th, 2008, 07:26 AM

Yes, we must see pictures! Looking forward to it! Oh, a couple of sound clips too, if it's not too much trouble.

Bob

StratDen · May 30th, 2008, 09:03 AM

I did have to call MF back and ask if they could send along a Tremolo Arm since the one for this guitar was missing. I have to work on getting my gear together for uploading sound and video. My Video camera is on the fritz and all I have right now is my cell phone which does crummy 30 second clips at a time. This was part of my reason why I was asking Dove what he was using for capturing and uploading his sound clips...

StratDen · June 4th, 2008, 11:08 AM

Raining here, but I got few snaps taken. BTW, that's a light reflection from the window, not a a racing stripe on the body... I didn't notice it until I just uploaded the pics.

thaus · June 4th, 2008, 01:51 PM

[quote=StratDen;5971]Raining here, but I got few snaps taken. BTW, that's a light reflection from the window, not a a racing stripe on the body... I didn't notice it until I just uploaded the pics.

Nice Dennis! You'll be glad you kept it. Everytime I pick up mine I am astounded by the quality and fit and finish of the neck. Very comfortable with the soft-V.

StratDen · June 5th, 2008, 08:39 AM

Yes, the soft V is quite comfortable, and I like the feel of the EJ neck alot, I have no complaints going back and forth between the different radius'...

thaus · June 5th, 2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StratDen

Yes, the soft V is quite comfortable, and I like the feel of the EJ neck alot, I have no complaints going back and forth between the different radius'...

I think a lot more is made of the ultimate feel of the differing radius' on a guitar. Or maybe I don't have the feel that others have because I can switch between them without too much problem. I do find that hand-fatigue increases with thin necks though; my baseball bat Nocaster and Esquire necks can be played much longer without fatigue. My latest project is actually documenting the various neck radius' (is that a word!) of my guitars. Just for my own self-interest. I will post the info when I am finished.

StratDen · June 5th, 2008, 12:18 PM

Totally agree on all points there. To underscore your point about the thin necks which I too feel contribute to fret hand fatigue for me, is an otherwise great looking and sounding Used 1960's Custom Shop NOS Sunburst Strat that has this pencil-thin like neck. It's been there for a long time now. If I could find another CS Neck that was beefier, it would be a great buy.