2004 Fender Mexico Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Anyone else have fond memories of their first MIM Fender? I certainly do -- I played a MIM Telecaster for years as my default stage choice and enjoyed it every minute of play. This '04 Stratocaster conjures-up similar feelings of goodwill. After these are adjusted, they play great and continue to do so. They're just good, practical guitars.

The finish on this one looks like "midnight wine metallic" but it's more red than the sort-of deep red-purple that I remember on my own midnight wine guitar from "back in the day." It's a handsome look and a shade lighter, perhaps, than what the photos show.

The neck is retro in flavor and quick and the (pau ferro?) fretboard gives a nice contrast with the body color. The pickguard has aged into a cream color as well, which is a little classier than if it was still bright-white and factory fresh.

Though this shipped as factory "SSH" configuration, the bridge humbucker has been replaced with a genuine Duncan '59 pickup instead.

Repairs included: cleaning and setup.

Body wood: probably alder

Bridge: standard with vintage stamped saddles

Fretboard: likely pau ferro

Neck wood: maple

Pickups: 2x original single coils, 1x Duncan '59 humbucker

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 46w-10

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: 9 1/2"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 25 1/2"

Nut width: 1 5/8"

Body width: 12 5/8"

Body depth: 1 3/4"

Weight: 7 lbs 15 oz

Condition notes: it's fairly clean but there's pickwear on the pickguard, two extra mounting holes for the old humbucker on the pickguard, and very minor scratches and nicks here and there on the body. There's a finish crack running from the treble side of the neck pocket corner into the side -- something very common on Fenders of any stripe.

It comes with: a nice hard case!