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Post by peterbower on Mar 8, 2011 8:31:36 GMT
Tony
How interesting, and it reminds me of a paint job I did a few years ago on a Korean made Squire, The body was, well I don't really know but it had a thin hardwood veneer on the front and back to make the surface harder and more resistant to 'dings'.
The wood underneath was quite soft and it could have been Pine!! I saw a plywood body once on a far Eastern Squire.
I have an early MIJ 62 reissue Strat in sunburst with a lovely rosewood neck. When I stripped the guitar down for a pickup change written in the switch cavity in felt pen was 'Alder/USA Export'.
The heel plate was also engraved with the word fender. I checked the serial number on the MIJ registry and it turns out to be an Export model to the US. I must admit that the grain and figuring in the wood was superb. I guess Fender Squire and Fender from Japan had different specs.
Mind you, check out the Squire classic vibe 50's, although its made in China it has an Alder body and a great playable neck, a superbly made guitar at under £300
Peter
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Post by joeboy on Mar 8, 2011 10:07:33 GMT
Hi Tony Sorry to hear about your family illness  it sounds like very difficult times for you, I hope everything works out ok I have a strat here that is very similar to what you are describing. It is a Vester Strat - more info here: www.vesterfansite.nl/page2.php The neck is top quality & the body is slightly slimmer than a normal strat, it plays great. I took the neck off a while back & noticed the body didn't look like wood, I stripped all the hardware from the body & the body wood I can only describes as looking to be made form a similar substance as hardboard but obviously much thicker, it's like heavily compressed fibre? It's quite heavy & very hard. As I found the guitar in our local secondhand store who deal in used musical instruments, there is always the possibility that the body is not original?? I like to think this is a completely genuine Vester guitar but there is no way of knowing for sure. The thing is, the guitar sounds great, the body has masses of resonance & it really is a nice guitar so I have no plans to change anything? I'm wondering if maybe this was some kind of experimental substance? I've not heard of this type of wood/compressed fibre used before in a guitar body, but yours does indeed sound to be very similar? What does you Squire sound like, did you rate it before you found out the body was mdf? (EDIT)
Have a look here this is an interesting thread 
www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/89943-mdf-awful-stuff.html
Charlie, I hope it's ok linking to another forum thread, if not please delete the link?Found this too |
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Post by kipper on Mar 8, 2011 14:18:39 GMT
tony there were lots of fender stratocasters built with big routing it was known the swimming pool rout. it was used on fender strats in the 1990`s top end guitars usa made ones. hope this helps. peter
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Post by peterbower on Mar 8, 2011 15:23:41 GMT
Hi Tone & Peter
The strangest wood I have seen for a Strat body was Balsa wood. It belongs to a mate of mine and he still gigs it. It is hard grade Balsa painted in Fiesta red and the guitar weighs nothing. Ironically, it sounds pretty good as well.
Peter
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Post by peterbower on Mar 8, 2011 18:30:49 GMT
Tony
It could be due to having some side by side humbuckers fitted. It was a popular mod a few years ago not to mention the hot rod Strats that Fender made as well. Perhaps it was easier in production to make the 'cavity fits all' combinations.
Peter
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Post by kipper on Mar 8, 2011 19:18:29 GMT
the swimming pool route was brought about as a one size fits all, in other words it cut costs. the new strats are back s/s/s and s/s/h. i think a lot of this is in the mind. we all think bodies have to be made with real wood. i have had a couple plywood squiers. and thought how well they played. then found out they were ply and it did stick in my mind. i dont have them now!!!
parker guitars used mdf for a long time, dont know if they still do. peter
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Post by kipper on Mar 9, 2011 16:24:53 GMT
hi tony there is so much !! folk law!! about fender guitars and were they were made from different bits ect that its hard to know what is true or not. i think fender like all company`s will move factory`s and country`s to suit there budget. but they really dont want us all to know this, so they put out story`s to cover up where they are made. think about it. they fender could clear all these story`s up by telling the full story but they choose not to do that. it would be so simple to put statments out saying what is right and what is not. dont get me wrong i love anything fender. but they play this silly game with us all. makes the world go round i suppose. peter
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Post by DaveC on Mar 10, 2011 16:58:57 GMT
Hi Tony,
The easy way to a new body is from Warmoth (US). Comes pre-drilled and routed, made of any wood you choose and finished any way you like. All you have to do is (possibly) shim the neck and transfer your hardware.
AllParts (UK) offer a similar service but there's less choice.
Dave C.
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Post by john on Mar 10, 2011 20:54:23 GMT
Hi Tony.
This is the second instance of hearing about MDF guitars. A friend of mine who owns a music school bought in 2 acoustic guitars, Fenders made in China
He had sold one to a student which was returned with the headstock hanging off. The head made of MDF had been mated to the neck and thinly veneered. He contacted Fender and within a day the rep called around and replaced both guitars, very apologetic.
Fender Asia uses various factories throughout the whole region to make their instruments so I guess it's buyer beware. As in your case you never know until you look or something goes wrong.
Regards
John
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Post by neopardyguitars on Mar 11, 2011 20:41:28 GMT
Hallo Tony,
I have a small collection of early Japanese Squiers, (none MDF - but some ply) ), but this issue has cropped up on Harmony Central at least once, so your experience is not unique.
Many of the Early, (80's) Korean Squiers, 'E' onwards, had plywood bodies. They sounded very good......
There does not seem to be any uniformity amongst the Early Squiers, apart from the JV series, and to a lesser extent, the SQ.
Alder was used,amongst other woods, such as Poplar, Plywood and Basswood and you can pretty well guarantee the Silver Series, (Japanese built), is normally Alder.I guess the crux is whether the guitars sounds and play well, and since the value of these guitars are increasing, any modifications reduce the value.
The best sounding example through my hands was a Korean 7 digit serial number, which are difficult to age, but it sounded as sweet as a nut, and had a plywood body. Heavier than Alder, but the ageing process makes these guitars very pleasant to play, and who can tell under the finish?
I would be interested how the MDF instrument sounded. kind regards, arthur.
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Post by john on Mar 12, 2011 22:48:56 GMT
Hi Tony. I'm unsure what went on about the neck, I'll ask Bill next time I see him as both guitars were replaced rather quickly I thought. I didn't see the guitar myself only a photo the Bill had emailed to Fender and it was definitely "chip board" I'll let you know what I find out. Being made in China, it could have been for their own market and slipped through the system  Regards John |
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Post by john on Mar 12, 2011 22:52:57 GMT
Hi Tony
Unsure what went on. Will check with Bill next time I see him and find out for you. Could have been made for the Chinese market and slipped through.
Regards
John
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Post by john on Mar 12, 2011 22:55:18 GMT
Sorry for the double entry as my computer had shown it had not gone through.
Regards
John
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2011 13:18:17 GMT
Hi Tony,
I too have a MDF Squier Strat. It cost £99 in March 2004. It was Called
"The Horizon Squier Strat". It coloured "Torino Red"--Which has the Fiestsa Red Orange Tinge. The Serial Number is CA---------. (Which I believe means that it was Made in the Japanese "Cort" factory.It looks very Good--But Doesn't sound so Good--(Not Much Sustain).
The Dimensions are a Bit Bigger than an American Strat--Which Means that you cant Replace The Neck,or the Bridge.
Cheers
Ian
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it sounds like very difficult times for you, I hope everything works out ok 
