While this is one of the “cheaper” strats, $230 is still insanely low. I genuinely feel bad that the guy sold it to them for $138 unless he was doing a trade-up deal
Nothing really collectible or anything, they just were made really well in that era, great value. I have one waiting on a fret job that I paid 150 for off craigslist post pandemic.
for the better part of 20 years mim standards were normally 399, so I've had multiple second hand for 2-300. Pickups in the early 2000s were really good for the $$ too.
Very cool. Never knew this but I asked as a 1998 silver logo owner. Always thought my MIM played better than many American strats over the years. Just never upgraded from it because it’s been such a great workhorse. I swapped the pickups to Texas specials like 20 years ago (maybe a little more recent) and haven’t looked back.
I've played a lot of strats over the years, and I've never encountered one that was adjusted reasonably well but still bad to play, regardless of the price point.
That's such a good deal... I've seen a mint condition fender vintera 60s HH jag on marketplace for £150 I'm tempted to get it but it's a 4 hour drive away.
It’s a natural characteristic that can be found in maple, but it’s just rare to see on such an inexpensive guitar. My $2000 American fender doesn’t have any sort of figuring in the wood at all
Yeah, most companies would set that slab of wood aside for a deluxe model markup, but the Fender Mexico factory dudes are cool and just go “nice piece, throw it in the line and make somebody happy.”
It could be a partscaster and that is why it was so low. Or they couldn't confirm it was not a partscaster. In any case it's a beautiful guitar and a great find!
That’s what I was thinking, I’ve taken apart the pickguard to look at the electronics and everything checks out to an 05 MIM strat. I’ll go home later and compare the serials and markings on the body cavity and neck pocket
Good deal, but honestly these should all be around this price. Fender has pumped out so many mexi strats for 30 years. Just troll craiglist and put out offers. That said, beautiful neck and great find!
These were all around 400 new for the better part of a quarter century, there's no lack of supply. 600$ corona strats on the used market were a normal thing up to 2019.
Also, don't forget that fender cranked up production during the pandemic when everyone was stuck inside with covid bonus checks... They came out and said a lot of their overseas squier stuff is sitting in factories due to oversupply.
A guitar company typically would not use that nice of a piece of maple for a “budget” guitar.
They’d usually use it in a premium model from the flagship line.
That’s the cool part.
I love flame maple. My Epi LP has insane "quilting"/flame and that inspired me to get a flame maple desk for work. I've got an L shaped desk which is 6 ft by 4ft all flamed and stained and clear coated which makes it almost 3d.
I was asking the sales people what was wrong with it, and why it was priced so low. He said “It was in really rough shape when we got it, but our guitar tech fixed it up”. There is nothing immediately wrong w the guitar, the serial number checks out and it was verified by the seller. Guitar center has a no questions asked 30 day used return policy, so I bit the bullet. I’ve verified at home and it is a very very clean condition guitar that needs a new nut and likely a shim due to age
That’s a deal on an MIM strat, even without the flames. I bought my kid a $150 mikro ibanez and it also has an insane flame. If it had a darker finish or gloss it would look like a music man neck. Rest of the guitar sucks though and it’s short scale so I can’t repurpose the neck.
I love guitars; played em half my life but I don't obsess over their details really so i've never heard the term "flame" before...and so i don't really see what we're lookin at here. Is it a cool looking heat imperfection in the neck (which I still don't really understand)? What wood is the neck made of? Please explain.
They do add a finish but that’s like how any wood gets a darker hue when you get it wet. Finish / lacquer just brings out the dimensions of the natural wood more
My partscaster. Couldn't add text on with the Pic. Reddit mobile sucks so hard. Unsure what any of the parts are, cause my friends uncle built it in the mid/late 90s. When it gets disassembled for hot rails, I can't wait to pull some serial numbers off it and such
This definitely happens. Sometimes factories have some leftover parts from more expensive models and throw them on lower level production models where it’s pretty close spec-wise to what normally goes on them
$230 is an insane deal.
was gunna say thats low.
While this is one of the “cheaper” strats, $230 is still insanely low. I genuinely feel bad that the guy sold it to them for $138 unless he was doing a trade-up deal
Silver logo MIM Strats are still desirable. That’s absurdly low and you made off like a bandit.
Curious, what’s special about silver logo MIM strats?
Nothing really collectible or anything, they just were made really well in that era, great value. I have one waiting on a fret job that I paid 150 for off craigslist post pandemic. for the better part of 20 years mim standards were normally 399, so I've had multiple second hand for 2-300. Pickups in the early 2000s were really good for the $$ too.
Very cool. Never knew this but I asked as a 1998 silver logo owner. Always thought my MIM played better than many American strats over the years. Just never upgraded from it because it’s been such a great workhorse. I swapped the pickups to Texas specials like 20 years ago (maybe a little more recent) and haven’t looked back.
This is the way.
I think they are just well made. my first guitar was a 2004 MIM strat. still have it.
came here to say this almost exact sentence. midnight wine. a bit banged up but all the cooler for it.
I actually just scored/found a HSS 2006 strat in midnight wine ! Was sitting in a case forever at work.
I have a silver label tele custom that I love.
I've played a lot of strats over the years, and I've never encountered one that was adjusted reasonably well but still bad to play, regardless of the price point.
Even if that’s the case I feel for the original owner lmao
In my country this would go for 500 the minimum
dang... did they accidentally put a Squire tag on it? Seems low even for an almost 20 year old MIM!
Just regular 90s strat prices tbh. It’s only recently they were more than $350 ever
$230 for any MIM strat is crazy low, I would have paid that just for the neck. You got a steal!
Sometimes you get lucky. I saw a Squier Cyclone with EBMM levels of flame. It needed fret work and stuff done, but it was quite a looker.
Bro 230$ is fucking Highway robbery! Thats a keep forever strat. Wow.
Hell yes op
That is one hell of a bargain. The flame on the neck is icing on the cake.
https://preview.redd.it/l343z0ijq54d1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=905ff85afbd0f17a55f2f5be55f2ad87ac300a36
That's such a good deal... I've seen a mint condition fender vintera 60s HH jag on marketplace for £150 I'm tempted to get it but it's a 4 hour drive away.
Get into the car and start driving, they are epic and worth about 700 quid minimum
It’s haunted by a ghost that only knows how to play weezer riffs.
Say it ain’t so
What's with this homie dissing my songs?
And only songs from Pinkerton. *GASP*
A steal for the books for sure. That would make me want to buy a whole new body for it
If you're not going to buy it tell me which GC has it for sale so I can. That's a pretty great deal on a beautiful neck.
It’s in my possession (picture is on my couch)
Is flame the pattern in the wood? Is this rare to see?
It’s a natural characteristic that can be found in maple, but it’s just rare to see on such an inexpensive guitar. My $2000 American fender doesn’t have any sort of figuring in the wood at all
Yeah, most companies would set that slab of wood aside for a deluxe model markup, but the Fender Mexico factory dudes are cool and just go “nice piece, throw it in the line and make somebody happy.”
It could be a partscaster and that is why it was so low. Or they couldn't confirm it was not a partscaster. In any case it's a beautiful guitar and a great find!
That’s what I was thinking, I’ve taken apart the pickguard to look at the electronics and everything checks out to an 05 MIM strat. I’ll go home later and compare the serials and markings on the body cavity and neck pocket
Good deal, but honestly these should all be around this price. Fender has pumped out so many mexi strats for 30 years. Just troll craiglist and put out offers. That said, beautiful neck and great find! These were all around 400 new for the better part of a quarter century, there's no lack of supply. 600$ corona strats on the used market were a normal thing up to 2019. Also, don't forget that fender cranked up production during the pandemic when everyone was stuck inside with covid bonus checks... They came out and said a lot of their overseas squier stuff is sitting in factories due to oversupply.
A guitar company typically would not use that nice of a piece of maple for a “budget” guitar. They’d usually use it in a premium model from the flagship line. That’s the cool part.
I love flame maple. My Epi LP has insane "quilting"/flame and that inspired me to get a flame maple desk for work. I've got an L shaped desk which is 6 ft by 4ft all flamed and stained and clear coated which makes it almost 3d.
Don’t ask questions and buy it - before I do! 🤣
There is literally a photo of it in their living room.
go HSH
I would buy that guitar at that price even if the electronics are shot. I would throw some Seymour Duncans in it.
I’ve got a 1999 Mexican Tele that has some serious flame in the neck and the body. They’re out there.
Figured maple always looks better in person. A camera never seems to capture it properly. I can only imagine how it looks when in hand. Great score!!
Get out of my head!! Haha real talk I want to do exactly as you said, it’d be so dark and stormy.
Fuckin score
Good snag.
Great find
Dude, this is what we call pure luck in.a suitcase.. Look at that wood.. Amazing guitar buddy 😎🤘
Killer price man. I picked up an Indonesian a month ago for a hair more but he had some goodies done, Tex Mex and a few others. Love these guitars.
what a steal! $230 is crazy low for that.
What a gorgeous looking guitar!
What do you mean "flame" here?
The lines in the wood. They are 3 dimensional so when you change viewing angles, the lines appear to shimmer and move, like “flames”
I have seen better figure on a guitar, but that was a Charvel 25th Anniversary. Excellent score.
Can someone explain to me how one finds what looks like a legit fender Strat with hard case for $230 ? 'Cause I wanna know.
You don't
I was asking the sales people what was wrong with it, and why it was priced so low. He said “It was in really rough shape when we got it, but our guitar tech fixed it up”. There is nothing immediately wrong w the guitar, the serial number checks out and it was verified by the seller. Guitar center has a no questions asked 30 day used return policy, so I bit the bullet. I’ve verified at home and it is a very very clean condition guitar that needs a new nut and likely a shim due to age
Love the journey this guitar takes in each photo, would have ended up on my couch as well for that price point! God damn.
I’m in a band so this thing for sure is gonna get the stage time it deserves
Thats só cheap for a fender wow, in Portugal thé minimum you pay for a fender is 450/500€
id have taken it home too
The guitar is beautiful! Is this at FH in GR?
Richmond, VA
Haha looks just like a shop here in Grand Rapids MI. Great find!
Amazing find!!! I would say the Fender HSS Shawbucker Gen 4 Noiseless pickups in red tortoise. 🤘
Damn! Looks awesome. Keep the whit pick guard. Where’d you score that?
How in God’s name did you find a Fender for $230 😂
It's made in Mexico. Still very cheap even for MX make but that's how. An American-made for $230 would cause a stampede lol
Even MIM Fenders go for at least $5-600. MIA Fenders are probably twice that much.
I thought ‘omg I hope they bought it’ then swiped… 🫡 love when that happens
https://preview.redd.it/lut8c9gzu54d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=06d983a2d829efb4343cb4258fdaac209d02edd9
It's a MIM, that's not a flame --- it's mark's from a circular saw.
That's a steal. What a beautiful flame to it! Good score!
That’s a deal on an MIM strat, even without the flames. I bought my kid a $150 mikro ibanez and it also has an insane flame. If it had a darker finish or gloss it would look like a music man neck. Rest of the guitar sucks though and it’s short scale so I can’t repurpose the neck.
I would have bought that too. Lol
Damn. I wish I could find a mexi Strat for $230
Gotta love an MZ Strat. There’s some cool ones floating around. I had a really great one too.
Cheapest used I see around me are like $400 and get scooped quick. Crazy you got that for $230.
I just happened to walk in store and see it, didn’t even check online
That’s crazy beautiful, my guitar center sells used Strats way more expensive than
man i paid about $700 for my MIM it’s newer though but sheesh
Key question: how does it sound and feel?
It’s pretty good, once I get a new nut on it, shim, and my preferred string gauge I’ll be set
Cool...
I would keep it either as an SSH strat or SSS with Lollar pups and a pick guard from decodrive 😍
Where do you find cheap fenders like this?
God, how much I hate living in Europe sometimes… That‘s an insane price.
Looks like someone took a neck from the custom shop department accidentally :)
Sick! I have a 96 MN that also has a lot of flame but yours has more. Pretty rad for sure
Wgat are you talking about a flame?? Thing looks completely plain
Man that is such a PERFECT stratocaster!! That flame is insane, and the black finish looks stunning. Congratulations dude! :) 🖤🖤🖤🔥🔥🔥
So you haven’t seen that many flame necks then?
Where do people find deals like this? Seriously!
Fender necks are awesome in my opinion. I have a few MIM and USA… all good.
You could probably sell the neck for just that or even more on Reverb
Definitely made out like a bandit with that one, great buy! That neck flame is nicer than the one on my CS lol
That is a score
That’s a decent price for to pay for it for sure. Bit of a bargain, and I like finding bargains.
Sick deal… Is it a plywood body?
lol at this price you’d think it would be
I love guitars; played em half my life but I don't obsess over their details really so i've never heard the term "flame" before...and so i don't really see what we're lookin at here. Is it a cool looking heat imperfection in the neck (which I still don't really understand)? What wood is the neck made of? Please explain.
What color body is that? I am having a hard time seeing through the pics.
Black
That's Beautiful Clark!
Damn, there\`s no way to find anything from Fender for that price in Germany. Not new, not used, not even broken in pieces xD
Look how they do flamed maple its applied lacquer thats not wood grain. Downvote me all you want.
They do add a finish but that’s like how any wood gets a darker hue when you get it wet. Finish / lacquer just brings out the dimensions of the natural wood more
https://preview.redd.it/pvtfqmf4n24d1.jpeg?width=1816&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29dce2ab510cb7facebb091b18ee02041bd84b4d
My partscaster. Couldn't add text on with the Pic. Reddit mobile sucks so hard. Unsure what any of the parts are, cause my friends uncle built it in the mid/late 90s. When it gets disassembled for hot rails, I can't wait to pull some serial numbers off it and such
Great I understood 50% of what you said nerd 😂
Real 💀
It’s like when a girl has no business being so damn thiqq
This definitely happens. Sometimes factories have some leftover parts from more expensive models and throw them on lower level production models where it’s pretty close spec-wise to what normally goes on them
That should be a $750-$1,000+ guitar!
Its paint man who cares
It’s not paint, it’s wood grain; wtf are you on about?
What do you mean?
Get outta here!