Strat experts, what questions should I be asking about a Strat in the Classifieds?

paulnb57

First off I should state I'm not trying to derail @jimkehoe Strat sale in our very own classifieds, I'm genuinely interested, but haven't the knowledge to ask the right questions or to satisfy myself that it is ok?
I'm not sure I'm comfortable posting this, but have no other idea how to procede.....

This is the ad
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/153356/fs-ft-fender-mark-knopfler-signature-stratocaster-guitar-hot-rod-red#latest

I nearly bought a high end Strat on here recently which turned out to be a fake, luckily the owner was able to return it to the person he got it from and get a refund..... hence my questions.....
So my thoughts and how could I be sure its pukka?

1, For whatver reason the neck has been replaced, pretty lucky for the previous owner to find a Knopfler neck to replace a broken Knopfler neck as they must be pretty rare, unless of course Fender supplied one?

2, If it is a genuine Knopfler neck, what would prove the body and hardware to be correct? Could it be a Knopfler neck on any ol Fender body?

What should I ask to see to check it out?

I'm on the Isle of Wight so travelling isn't an option, so I'm buying blind........

Thanks folks!

paulnb57

I feel a bit odd about this post so I've flagged my own post to the mods!.....

jimkehoe

@paulnb57 - Please see my response on original thread. Also please note you wouldn't be buying blind as I will not send the guitar and will only sell to someone who tries it first and collects it.
Regards
Jim.

CloudNine

paulnb57 said:

I feel a bit odd about this post so I've flagged my own post to the mods!.....

You'll get hairy palms flagging your own post too often.

guitars4you

Fender have been known to exchange a faulty neck for a new replacement - As you say for whatever reason that maybe - Generally they will not send the replacement neck to the customer to exchange, or indeed the appropriate dealer - This is because they want to keep the 'damaged' neck and stop it been sold on the open market - So chances are Fender will have handled all the exchange and appropriate check-up set up in the UK workshop - Would be interesting on what would happen now if a claim was made on a MK Strat as unless they have any 'blanks' left in the store room, they don't make such a guitar now

The MK Strat is highly sought after, partly as it is MK and partly as they no longer make it

I don't see any issues based on the few pics I have seen - @jimkehoe has been up front about any changes - Certainly regarding an identical neck he did not need to be as the only give away will be an date info on the neck itself

Does it include the correct case and any tags etc

crunchman

guitars4you said:

The MK Strat is highly sought after, partly as it is MK and partly as they no longer make it

Don't know why.

I tried one in a shop alongside a Mexican Classic Series, and the Mexican guitar blew it away tonally.

Not sure whether it's just the horrible Texas Special pickups in the Knopfler, or that particular one being made from a bad piece of wood (or a bit of both), but it really didn't sound good.

If the OP does go ahead and buy it, he should budget for a pickup change.

Personally, I wouldn't buy without being able to try first.  I've got an AVRI 62 reissue from the early 2000's, which is a really good guitar.  I've tried several others and most of them sounded lifeless in comparison to mine.  There are probably Knopfler Strats out there that are made from a good piece of wood, but based on the one I played, there is no way I'd buy without trying.

victorludorum

The only thing I'd say is that those fret ends look a bit strange in the photo which shows the chip at the neck pocket. It's probably just a trick of the light/photo, but they look vertical to me, rather than being angled back. Maybe it's just because they are at the higher fret positions on the bass side. They are jumbo frets too, which is correct for the spec, so maybe it's because of that that they look more vertical than normal.

John_A

crunchman said:

guitars4you said:

The MK Strat is highly sought after, partly as it is MK and partly as they no longer make it

Don't know why.

I tried one in a shop alongside a Mexican Classic Series, and the Mexican guitar blew it away tonally.

Not sure whether it's just the horrible Texas Special pickups in the Knopfler, or that particular one being made from a bad piece of wood (or a bit of both), but it really didn't sound good.

If the OP does go ahead and buy it, he should budget for a pickup change.

Personally, I wouldn't buy without being able to try first.  I've got an AVRI 62 reissue from the early 2000's, which is a really good guitar.  I've tried several others and most of them sounded lifeless in comparison to mine.  There are probably Knopfler Strats out there that are made from a good piece of wood, but based on the one I played, there is no way I'd buy without trying.

Lots of people actually like the Texas Specials, me included, and your opinion on 2 guitars doesnt make all MK's inferior to all Classic Series

jimkehoe

For clarity:
My original reply to concerns on the sale thread:

paulnb57 said:

Interested, but not sure how to prove its all legit, no offence intended!
Ive also asked for forum advice here......

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/153470/strat-experts-what-questions-should-i-be-asking-about-a-strat-in-the-classifieds?new=1

Paul - no problems at all and I fully understand. I have been totally upfront and honest. I bought the guitar from a person known to me through a mutual friend. I subsequently had some work done on the guitar by Charlie Chandler who I also consider a friend. Charlie is an acknowledged expert luthier and has worked on some of the most famous strats in the world including Gilmour's Clapton's and Beck's to name a few. 
I asked Charlie about it and he stated it is exactly the right spec, parts and makeup and in his opinion checks out - including the neck. When I questioned about the neck he replied that it is not that unusual to replace a neck due to damage, faults etc and again said in his opinion it is a genuine 2012 Knopfler neck. Several guitarists have played the guitar and marvelled about how good it is. I have good feedback both on this forum and on EBay etc. Unfortunately I don't play or need it at the moment and really need to finance a new(er) iPad. I predominantly play acoustic these days and if I pick up an electric it 'tends to be my old Jap tele which I have had forever. Knopfler signature strats fetch up to £2000 so I feel I have priced it appropriately given all the circumstances. I am also more than happy for anyone to come to my place and play it and check it out without any firm commitment to buy. I would only be happy selling to someone who has checked it out, played it and loves it. I have had numerous strats over the years and in my opinion this is a real cracker regardless of it being a Knopfler signature model. As I say the only issue I have which us not a fault is I find the 7.25 vintage neck radius difficult to get used to.
Hope that answers your concerns.
Kind regards....Jim.

crunchman

John_A said:

crunchman said:

guitars4you said:

The MK Strat is highly sought after, partly as it is MK and partly as they no longer make it

Don't know why.

I tried one in a shop alongside a Mexican Classic Series, and the Mexican guitar blew it away tonally.

Not sure whether it's just the horrible Texas Special pickups in the Knopfler, or that particular one being made from a bad piece of wood (or a bit of both), but it really didn't sound good.

If the OP does go ahead and buy it, he should budget for a pickup change.

Personally, I wouldn't buy without being able to try first.  I've got an AVRI 62 reissue from the early 2000's, which is a really good guitar.  I've tried several others and most of them sounded lifeless in comparison to mine.  There are probably Knopfler Strats out there that are made from a good piece of wood, but based on the one I played, there is no way I'd buy without trying.

Lots of people actually like the Texas Specials, me included, and your opinion on 2 guitars doesnt make all MK's inferior to all Classic Series

It doesn't invalidate what I said about trying them though.  And that's not just based on those two guitars.  That's based on trying a lot of guitars over the years.  If you can find a good one, then great, but I wouldn't buy one without playing it.

Texas Specials may be a matter of taste, but you can always add a bit more gain to a lower output pickup.  It's very hard to get back the top end detail in the sound that you lose with overwound pickups.

Funkfingers

The neck replacement sounds to me like standard dealership Return To Fender procedure.

They do all the work. They verify and warranty any replacement parts. They take possession of any defective parts - partly to prevent fraudulent resale, partly, perhaps, for QA reasons.

The return process should generate a paperwork trail. This would be a handy way to varify any aspect that later gets queried.

John_A

crunchman said:

John_A said:

crunchman said:

guitars4you said:

The MK Strat is highly sought after, partly as it is MK and partly as they no longer make it

Don't know why.

I tried one in a shop alongside a Mexican Classic Series, and the Mexican guitar blew it away tonally.

Not sure whether it's just the horrible Texas Special pickups in the Knopfler, or that particular one being made from a bad piece of wood (or a bit of both), but it really didn't sound good.

If the OP does go ahead and buy it, he should budget for a pickup change.

Personally, I wouldn't buy without being able to try first.  I've got an AVRI 62 reissue from the early 2000's, which is a really good guitar.  I've tried several others and most of them sounded lifeless in comparison to mine.  There are probably Knopfler Strats out there that are made from a good piece of wood, but based on the one I played, there is no way I'd buy without trying.

Lots of people actually like the Texas Specials, me included, and your opinion on 2 guitars doesnt make all MK's inferior to all Classic Series

It doesn't invalidate what I said about trying them though.  And that's not just based on those two guitars.  That's based on trying a lot of guitars over the years.  If you can find a good one, then great, but I wouldn't buy one without playing it.

Texas Specials may be a matter of taste, but you can always add a bit more gain to a lower output pickup.  It's very hard to get back the top end detail in the sound that you lose with overwound pickups.

Yes, totally valid points.  I personally like a bit of a hot pickup, as mostly a humbucker player I find trad strat pickups a bit thin.  Jest preference though, plenty of people make great noises with vintage pickups, I'm just not one of them

paulnb57

Thanks for the responses folks and to Jim for his understanding.......all pretty academic as it's collect only......oh, well.....

GoldenEraGuitars

paulnb57 said:

Thanks for the responses folks and to Jim for his understanding.......all pretty academic as it's collect only......oh, well.....

Well... 

At least Jim got a bump out of his ad.

Strat_a_tat_tat

Funkfingers said:

... sounds to me like standard dealership Return To Fender... 

Didn't Elvis sing about this very same thing?

victorludorum

paulnb57 said:

Thanks for the responses folks and to Jim for his understanding.......all pretty academic as it's collect only......oh, well.....

Get on that ferry, mate! Dorking's a nice part of the world, and I imagine that @jimkehoe will make you a lovely cup of tea to greet you ;-) Having seen some of the things that Jim's flogged over the years, I wouldn't mind betting he has some nice goodies stashed away there that he might let you play too!

SNAKEBITE

paulnb57 said:

I'm on the Isle of Wight so travelling isn't an option, so I'm buying blind........

I thought the Isle of Wight was a holiday destination, not an internment camp.

paulnb57

SNAKEBITE said:

paulnb57 said:

I'm on the Isle of Wight so travelling isn't an option, so I'm buying blind........

I thought the Isle of Wight was a holiday destination, not an internment camp.

Ferry fare will be around £80 plus fuel etc, blah blah.....

GoldenEraGuitars

paulnb57 said:

SNAKEBITE said:

paulnb57 said:

I'm on the Isle of Wight so travelling isn't an option, so I'm buying blind........

I thought the Isle of Wight was a holiday destination, not an internment camp.

Ferry fare will be around £80 plus fuel etc, blah blah.....

You could at least send him a packet of chocolate biccies for tyre kicking about a guitar you were never going to buy

paulnb57

lonestar said:

paulnb57 said:

SNAKEBITE said:

paulnb57 said:

I'm on the Isle of Wight so travelling isn't an option, so I'm buying blind........

I thought the Isle of Wight was a holiday destination, not an internment camp.

Ferry fare will be around £80 plus fuel etc, blah blah.....

You could at least send him a packet of chocolate biccies for tyre kicking about a guitar you were never going to buy

Who said I was never going to buy?.....