MIM Satin Strat

[Steve Mavronis]

I have a 2004 Fender Standard Stratocaster in Satin Midnight Blue. Does anyone know what years Fender produced the satin finish Strats?

Here is a front/back photo of mine. I call her my Midnight Mistress and she never lets me down. The rosewood fretboard was scalloped for me by Dean Cascione of DC Custom Guitars. DIY mod upgrades that I added are: Seymour Duncan YJM-Fury pickup set, Wilkinson American Strat bridge (wrong size - so modded the body LOL), Graph Tech nut & tree, Fender locking tuners, Fender '70s 'F' style neck plate, and Fender strap blocks with a Fender tweed strap.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

That's a beautiful finish, and the exact guitar I thought of when I read the post title.

I remember those being available maybe a couple years around 2004. Maybe 2002-2005? Guessing '05 as the end, as '06 was a big change up for MIM Fenders. Regardless, I remember loving that particular finish when they were hanging in the local shop.

 

[Mincer]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

Welcome to the forum!

I remember these. That color was my favorite of the series. How has the finish held up? I dig the scalloped frets, too.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

That sounds about right. I remember them being pretty new during the year I worked in MI sales, which was '03-'04.

I also remember them being a bit tricky to KEEP satin. They had a tendency to get polished anywhere they were frequently touched.

That's a beautiful finish, and the exact guitar I thought of when I read the post title.

I remember those being available maybe a couple years around 2004. Maybe 2002-2005? Guessing '05 as the end, as '06 was a big change up for MIM Fenders. Regardless, I remember loving that particular finish when they were hanging in the local shop.

 

[Steve Mavronis]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

Welcome to the forum! I remember these. That color was my favorite of the series. How has the finish held up? I dig the scalloped frets, too.

Thanks! Yeah the other color I remember in the store was Midnight Wine which also looked nice. I think there was a satin gunmetal gray finish too. I like the Midnight Blue the best. I guess you could call it flat dark indigo blue. The finish on mine has held up really well as you can see in the photos. The only part that doesn't look as flat as the rest is where my forearm rests on the body and buffed it a bit. I've only cleaned it using a slightly damp washcloth. It took my friend Dean a long time to convince me to have the neck scalloped. I wasn't sure how that would feel but since I really like that. I feel like I have a lighter touch and bending strings with vibrato is easier because my finger grips the string better when I push it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I remember really wanting one of these models when they came out. I would have it scalloped, too.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

Loved the satin series as well! It was only a handful of years for sure...maybe just go search some old fender frontlines to see?

 

[Steve Mavronis]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I recently saw a Satin Midnight Wine version on Reverb and I almost was going to buy it. That would have been nice also. In any case MIM Strat's make excellent modding platforms for $400.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I recently saw a Satin Midnight Wine version on Reverb and I almost was going to buy it. That would have been nice also. In any case MIM Strat's make excellent modding platforms for $400.

Agreed. Just got an '06 I've been modding and posting about like crazy.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

No serial number on that guitar? If so then the Fender web page is a good place to find the year it left the factory.

 

[Steve Mavronis]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

Serial number lockups at Fender, Guitar Insite:

STANDARD STRATOCASTER® SATIN (2003-2006) (2006-2007)
Serial #: MZ4234959
Brand: Fender
Product Category: Guitars

Serial number: MZ4234959
Production year: 2004 or 2005
Made in Ensenada, Mexico

Being "MZ4" that should mean 2004.

 

[Mincer]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I wish Warmoth would do satin finishes like that. I have an Ernie Ball with a textured finish, which I like a lot.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I'm really into the current trend of open grain finishes. My PRS doesn't have any grain filler, and I love how it feels and looks. Nothing wrong with an old glossy finish, but I like a lot of different stuff.

 

[TVFV]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I wish Warmoth would do satin finishes like that. I have an Ernie Ball with a textured finish, which I like a lot.

I'm pretty sure they do satin finishes.

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I'm pretty sure they do satin finishes.

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk

Well, they do, but not like that blue/purple. These Fenders also have a cool, weird texture to it.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

These Fenders also have a cool, weird texture to it.

I painted my son’s black mini Strat pink for my daughter. Used a Plastidip style paint. It came out more of a purple, but has that same texture you’re describing. If you’re good with a rattle can, you could do one yourself for about $20, and if you hate it, it peels off with a little work.

 

[Francois]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

A pity I cannot see the pic.

 

[Steve Mavronis]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

A pity I cannot see the pic.

Hi, maybe this Facebook picture link will work for you?


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10218215624360041&set=a.1043031914035&type=3&theater

 

[Steve Mavronis]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

I want to show you how I did the tremolo bridge replacement. I wanted a new bridge mainly for the push in tremolo arm which I think is a nice feature, plus the offset block string holes better match the normal string saddle intonation positions. I had my wife order this as a Christmas present in 2014. I removed the stock bridge which needed replacing since I found that its knife edge was all chewed up and chipped from pivoting against the 6 mounting screws. When I test fitted the new Wilkinson bridge much to my dismay I found that the 6 holes didn't line up! I had no idea that the spacing was wider on an American Strat vs my Standard Strat. Then I noticed another problem. In the Mexican factory I'm assuming the working used a drilling template but all the screw holes were drilled at "not" a right angle as indicated by the toothpicks I inserted. At this point I decided to keep the new Wilkinson bridge and go for it. So I drilled out the holes a little larger to match the diameter of the wooden dowel that I got from Home Depot. So I filled the crooked holes and after the wood glue dried I lightly sanded with painters tape all around to not damage as much of the finish as possible. I used a 0.11" drill bit which is close to 7/64" that is inside the bridge screw threads and what they say is typical for a Stratocaster bridge screw bit size. I carefully drilled vertically an inch into the body for the full length of the screws all by hand with a precision bit handle very gradually and controlled. It really didn't take that long a little at a time back and forth between the holes alternating and checking. I soaped up the screws and mounted the bridge to the body to Fender specs. It works great to this day 5 years going strong since that big mod.

 

[Mincer]

Re: MIM Satin Strat

That's a cool way to solve this problem. And it looks great!