Post by mrvander on Jun 4, 2021 19:07:46 GMT -5
Hello,
Excellent site with lots of info but I have a few questions if anyone knows the answers...
First Question:
I own a HM Strat that I bought in 1987 or '88, I forget exactly. I originally ordered a "Contemporary HSS Strat" from a Musician's Friend catalog but they must have had inventory problems as I received a HM Strat with a Fender hardshell case. This has been my main guitar for over 33 years now. I don't have any plans on selling it as it has lots of emotional value to me not to mention I still play it to this day. With all the later models and more recent re-issues, what I'd like to know is if there are any unique features that definitely identify this as an Original 80's Japanese HM Strat.
According to the info on this site, it looks to be a 2nd Version Japanese make. HSS config, all black, no pickguard, three controls, five way plus coil switch, Kahler "Spyder", 24 Fret rosewood, natural finish on the back with darker skunk stripe, Gotoh tuners and pink swoosh "Strat" logo which also says "International Series by Fender". The serial number used to be on the bottom of the back of the neck but has long since been worn away by playing and cleaning.
Are the combination of these features enough to ID it as one of the 80's originals? Is there any place else there might be a serial inside or neck stamp under the body connection?
Second Question:
The skunk stripe on the back of the neck is slightly coming out of it's slot in a small area about mid-neck. It doesn't affect playability or feel so I've left it alone. Has anyone else had this issue and did you fix it? Does anyone know of any resources on how to fix a skunk stripe?
Third Question:
About a year ago, I noticed the bottom tone pot was no longer working. It could have been out for years and I just never noticed. I brought it to a local tech who, from online reviews, seemed to have a good reputation in the Chicago area. That may have been a mistake. I'm not exactly happy about the job he did. Not that it was bad but it wasn't great. The setup itself left a lot of buzzing then there's the repair I asked him to do with the tone pot.
First, he wasn't familiar with the model. No worries, not every tech can know every guitar out there. So I informed him about the vintage nature of the guitar, what it meant to me personally and provided him with a printed copy of the user manual and wiring schematic. His contacts at Fender told him they no longer make that exact TBX pot but they sent him the closest equivalent. It was still a TBX pot but the dimensions were slightly larger. The tech was able to fit it into the cavity, but he had to route out the hole ever slightly (with my permission) to get the new pot's post to fit through. What he didn't tell me was the original knob didn't exactly fit on the new post and now it looks ridiculous in my opinion, sitting higher off the guitar than the other two knobs. I mean YOU can't see it if you're looking at someone playing the guitar (it's all black anyway) but I can see it when I'm playing the darn thing.
(here comes the question)... does anyone know of a resource to obtain the original TBX pots? I'm gonna get a new guitar soon then take this one out of commission for a bit to work on it and thinking I may replace the tone pot again if I can find an original.
Fourth Question:
Anyone know of a good method to really clean the back of the neck? Years of more playing than cleaning has left mine a bit grungy. I'd like to give it a real good cleaning without damaging it. Especially if I attempt to repair the skunk stripe.
Whew - that's all for now. Thanks in advance to anyone who has anything to say. Stay heavy.
Excellent site with lots of info but I have a few questions if anyone knows the answers...
First Question:
I own a HM Strat that I bought in 1987 or '88, I forget exactly. I originally ordered a "Contemporary HSS Strat" from a Musician's Friend catalog but they must have had inventory problems as I received a HM Strat with a Fender hardshell case. This has been my main guitar for over 33 years now. I don't have any plans on selling it as it has lots of emotional value to me not to mention I still play it to this day. With all the later models and more recent re-issues, what I'd like to know is if there are any unique features that definitely identify this as an Original 80's Japanese HM Strat.
According to the info on this site, it looks to be a 2nd Version Japanese make. HSS config, all black, no pickguard, three controls, five way plus coil switch, Kahler "Spyder", 24 Fret rosewood, natural finish on the back with darker skunk stripe, Gotoh tuners and pink swoosh "Strat" logo which also says "International Series by Fender". The serial number used to be on the bottom of the back of the neck but has long since been worn away by playing and cleaning.
Are the combination of these features enough to ID it as one of the 80's originals? Is there any place else there might be a serial inside or neck stamp under the body connection?
Second Question:
The skunk stripe on the back of the neck is slightly coming out of it's slot in a small area about mid-neck. It doesn't affect playability or feel so I've left it alone. Has anyone else had this issue and did you fix it? Does anyone know of any resources on how to fix a skunk stripe?
Third Question:
About a year ago, I noticed the bottom tone pot was no longer working. It could have been out for years and I just never noticed. I brought it to a local tech who, from online reviews, seemed to have a good reputation in the Chicago area. That may have been a mistake. I'm not exactly happy about the job he did. Not that it was bad but it wasn't great. The setup itself left a lot of buzzing then there's the repair I asked him to do with the tone pot.
First, he wasn't familiar with the model. No worries, not every tech can know every guitar out there. So I informed him about the vintage nature of the guitar, what it meant to me personally and provided him with a printed copy of the user manual and wiring schematic. His contacts at Fender told him they no longer make that exact TBX pot but they sent him the closest equivalent. It was still a TBX pot but the dimensions were slightly larger. The tech was able to fit it into the cavity, but he had to route out the hole ever slightly (with my permission) to get the new pot's post to fit through. What he didn't tell me was the original knob didn't exactly fit on the new post and now it looks ridiculous in my opinion, sitting higher off the guitar than the other two knobs. I mean YOU can't see it if you're looking at someone playing the guitar (it's all black anyway) but I can see it when I'm playing the darn thing.
(here comes the question)... does anyone know of a resource to obtain the original TBX pots? I'm gonna get a new guitar soon then take this one out of commission for a bit to work on it and thinking I may replace the tone pot again if I can find an original.
Fourth Question:
Anyone know of a good method to really clean the back of the neck? Years of more playing than cleaning has left mine a bit grungy. I'd like to give it a real good cleaning without damaging it. Especially if I attempt to repair the skunk stripe.
Whew - that's all for now. Thanks in advance to anyone who has anything to say. Stay heavy.
