MIM Strat help

[DonP]

I bought a used strat at GC. Maple neck, black body.

It appears to be a Classic 50s, but the date (MN66....) is 1996, and from the research I've done, Classics didn't start until 1999.

Says Fender Stratocaster on the front of the headstock, Made in Mexico and s/n are on the back.

Vintage tuners
Fender logo is gold with black outline
21 fret
vintage trem

pickups might have been upgraded. The are Fender Custom shop (chrome sticker with a V) but I didn't check to see which ones. The pickguard is a black pearl.

I'll try to get pictures next week.

[rjohnstone]

I thought all the MIM Strats had the serial number on the front of the headstock like the USA's?
Mine does anyway, but then again, it's an 05.

Some quicky Google research suggest they started making them in 1993, but can't say for sure.

[DonP]

I'm still having a hard time finding out when they are made. Can you post the link you found?

Also, compared to others I've found on the web, mine does not have the "syncronized trem" and "contour body" decals on the headstock, like newer ones have.

edit: another tidbit - mine adjusts the truss rod from the neck, not the body like this one:

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/msg/1378289415.html

[rjohnstone]

What I found earlier turned out to be a mislabeled 1993 Classic series with a Floyd, not a Classic 50's series.

[84sups]

The classic series says MIM on the back of the headstock. I guess so it looks right.

Sound like a 50s reissue strat to me. The singles in those sound pretty good.

[leftybob]

The pups are definitly not original or the guard, you have an upgraded MIM.
Any pictures of your guitar ? This would proove helpful for sure.

[DonP]

I said I won't have pictures until next week. I'll get neck pocket shots as well. I do remember when I pulled the neck, there was quite a bit of shim in there towards the back.

The thing that has me most puzzled is the date - MN66....which means it would be a 1996 axe, but from everything I've found, Fender didn't start these until 1999.

Also, the bridge saddles have little "Fender" stamps on both sides. I think the trem block looked fat, but that's just relative.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Does anywone know what year Fender changed the "Standard" strat (MIM) from Poplar to Alder?

[rjohnstone]

Does anywone know what year Fender changed the "Standard" strat (MIM) from Poplar to Alder?

I just read that yesterday on one of the Strat forums... early 2000's.
Can't remember the year off the top of my head though.

[DonP]

Ok, I'm a flake with the pictures. Got the camera, but no batteries and I don't have the correct USB cord at the apartment.

Below is not my auction, but pretty much what I've got. I've id'd the pickups as Texas Specials by the DC Resistance readings I got. Mine's got a black pearl pickguard and black pickup covers with white knobs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Stratocaster-MIM_W0QQitemZ280398838850QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item414912bc42&_trksid=p4999.c0.m14