I suspect Strats just aren't my thing.

[GuitarStv]

I say ditch it. As Christopher mentioned, you don't actually have a strat anyway. No single coil pickups, no tone controls, no functioning tremolo, no middle pickup. Strats are radically different than Les Pauls, but you seem to be trying to force this one to be more like the guitar you're more comfortable on . . . so it makes sense you're disappointed with it. If you keep it, turn it back into a real strat and then learn to love it for what it is rather than being disappointed in it for what it never could be.

[Masta' C]

Yup, I've come to the conclusion that the beauty of a Strat is pretty much in its original configuration, sort of how a Tele is really best as a traditional Tele.

I've enjoyed a ton of different guitars, but I've never fully gelled with any of my "Super Strats" (Fender, Charvel, Warmoth, etc)

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, I doubt turning it into a "real Strat" is gonna help the issue. I'd probably play it even less.

I was thinking about turning it into HSS or SSS with a JB or a JB Jr. in the bridge... but that would mean I'd have to get a new pickguard, and that would likely add more issues like the middle pickup getting in the way or the knob being very close to where I pick.

FWIW, what I do like about it is I think it looks really cool. Like an old beat up Strat that someone modded and tried to make it work for Metulz.

But ultimately, it's not working, LOL. At least not as much as my other guitars. If it was my only guitar, I'd probably be contempt with it. But I've got other stuff that I can't help comparing it to.

[Mincer]

Well, if looks are the only thing you like, don't waste any more time. The beauty about playing guitar is that over time you can refine your tastes into an instrument unique to you. I put time into instruments I was 'supposed to love because I am a guitarist', and it just course-corrected me towards what I really like.

[Ascension]

Yeah, I doubt turning it into a "real Strat" is gonna help the issue. I'd probably play it even less.

I was thinking about turning it into HSS or SSS with a JB or a JB Jr. in the bridge... but that would mean I'd have to get a new pickguard, and that would likely add more issues like the middle pickup getting in the way or the knob being very close to where I pick.

FWIW, what I do like about it is I think it looks really cool. Like an old beat up Strat that someone modded and tried to make it work for Metulz.

But ultimately, it's not working, LOL. At least not as much as my other guitars. If it was my only guitar, I'd probably be contempt with it. But I've got other stuff that I can't help comparing it to.

It's just not your thing, so move on. I had the same experience with Les Pauls and Gibsons in general. Owned several over the years and very nice ones, but just never played them. So I no longer own one. No shame in understanding something just not working for you, man.

[Rex_Rocker]

So that's another thing. How much do I sell it for?

It is a Fender MIM Road Worn body from 2010. It is a bit beat up. Meaning more beat up that it was from the factory. It's developed some finish checking and it's got a little bit of finish mishing right below what was supposed to be there from the factory on the arm cutaway.

It's a Fender MIM Flat Oval baked Maple neck from 2023.

It's got Fender locking tuners, Fender straplocks, Highwood saddles, a cheapie Musiclily steel block, a Chinese pickguard which isn't actually bad, a Duncan Custom, and a DiMarzio SDS-1.

I was thinking 600? 500?

[Masta' C]

Yeah, I doubt turning it into a "real Strat" is gonna help the issue. I'd probably play it even less.

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting that. Only that the "Strat" platform tends to be best suited to more traditional "Strat" features. There are so many other guitars that are "Strat-like", but improve upon the basic design of a Strat significantly that there's no point in settling. You're talking about doing drastic mods (in addition to everything you've already done) to try and get it sounding right. Even then, you're not happy with the neck, so it's really a bust.

I think you could get $500 out of it. Personally, I think it looks cool, at least from the pic you shared. Plus, the upgrades are tasteful. The difficulty is going to be finding a "Strat" buyer that just happens to appreciate those specific features. You might consider parting it out. A loaded Fender neck with locking tuners in good shape is worth $300 easily and someone might spend upwards of $250 for the loaded body with those upgrades (make sure mention "relic", ha ha!).

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, I don't think 500 is too bad. I could probably get a used Korean LTD for that which I'm sure would suit me better.

[Supernautilus]

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting that. Only that the "Strat" platform tends to be best suited to more traditional "Strat" features. There are so many other guitars that are "Strat-like", but improve upon the basic design of a Strat significantly that there's no point in settling. You're talking about doing drastic mods (in addition to everything you've already done) to try and get it sounding right. Even then, you're not happy with the neck, so it's really a bust.

I think you could get $500 out of it. Personally, I think it looks cool, at least from the pic you shared. Plus, the upgrades are tasteful. The difficulty is going to be finding a "Strat" buyer that just happens to appreciate those specific features. You might consider parting it out. A loaded Fender neck with locking tuners in good shape is worth $300 easily and someone might spend upwards of $250 for the loaded body with those upgrades (make sure mention "relic", ha ha!).

You’re right about parting. I realized a while ago that getting your money back on modded guitars is nearly impossible. The best way is parting. There’s a whole cottage industry for parting now on Reverb and Ebay…bodies, necks, hardware, etc. Which works out for anyone wanting to build a partscaster, so it’s kind of a win-win.

[EmiAba]

So that's another thing. How much do I sell it for?

It is a Fender MIM Road Worn body from 2010. It is a bit beat up. Meaning more beat up that it was from the factory. It's developed some finish checking and it's got a little bit of finish mishing right below what was supposed to be there from the factory on the arm cutaway.

It's a Fender MIM Flat Oval baked Maple neck from 2023.

It's got Fender locking tuners, Fender straplocks, Highwood saddles, a cheapie Musiclily steel block, a Chinese pickguard which isn't actually bad, a Duncan Custom, and a DiMarzio SDS-1.

I was thinking 600? 500?

My very first guitar was a 91 fender stratocaster American standard. Black with white pick guard and rosewood fingerboard. It was a present my late aunt bought me to celebrate my high school diploma in 1994. I always had a love/hate relationship with it. And still don't know why. Maybe the neck shape or its tone but I got rid of it few years later in favor of a 2003 les paul classic. I am fashinated with the stratocaster body shape when someone else is playing it but I don't see me playing it. While I have different feelings for the ibanez az224f I own nowadays.
Anyway in Italia a MIM strat in a good shape is around 600 euro. And I think it's a fair price

[donaldr]

I always loved the Strat look and playability. I like the sound it produces but from other people, not me. I have a wonderful MIM Strat that only has the body and neck from original, everything else has been upgraded. I tried the HSS config but back to SSS vintage output. I don't use it that much but it's the perfect Strat for when I would want to play a Strat in the future or for when I want to add a different sound layer in a recording.

I have an LTD Strat copy and this one sounds fantastic. Again only the body and neck left from the original, with STK-S4 neck and STK-S7 bridge (dummy middle), 3-way switch and Gotoh 510 bridge. I play that Strat (which sounds beefy) as much as my two main guitars (Godin and Ibanez) but for different things. Maybe try this pickup config before selling? But use it for something different that what you are using your other guitars for.

[donaldr]

A lot of guys say they don't like Strats because all the Strats they've set up to be super Strats haven't worked out for them. Hot humbuckers, metal, and a synchronized tremolo don't go to well together in my opinion. I think that all the magic from a Strat comes from the SSS part of it.

Nope, vintage output SSS and 6-screw bridge (upgraded to Hipshot) config for me and still don't like it that much. Maybe it's the alder body?
I might try a loaded pickguard with neck/bridge Red Devil pickups.

[Rex_Rocker]

I don't think the 6 point trem is so much a problem (for me) as the distance between the saddles and the bridge pickup is. This pickguard ain't too bad, but I had a pickguard based on the Tom Delonge Strat which has the bridge pickup a mile off the bridge itself.

[Rex_Rocker]

This is not my Strat, but you can see here how you can almost fit another bridge pickup between the bridge pickup itself and the edge of the saddles.

[Mincer]

This is not my Strat, but you can see here how you can almost fit another bridge pickup between the bridge pickup itself and the edge of the saddles.

Well, to me, that would be a bonus. I don't like bright bridge pickups.