This is another example of Triage Guitar Shop of West Palm Beach, Florida saving an abused or abandoned classic guitar from extinction.

Please Note that the hard shell case has been removed from listing as part of price decrease.

This revived beauty started as an empty MIM Fender Standard alder body and maple neck from a 2000 Stratocaster Standard.

I confirmed its pedigree with Fender Customer Service (see pic). I suspect it was a special order since Hot Rod Red is not a standard MIM offered color.

Since Hot Rod Red is almost exclusively used on Mark Knopfler's Signature Strat model, I decided to upgrade this Strat and copy as many specs as practical from his guitar. (See discussion at end for differences).

The following is a list of actions taken and parts used to achieve this lofty goal.

Cleaned and polished body and neck.

The fret level was checked and addressed.

The neck has the following specs:

- Maple neck and fingerboard (like Alchemy live Schecter Strat. Signature has rosewood) This neck has headstock truss rod access. (Signature has bottom access. This is a lot easier).

- 9.5" Radius, C neck profile - .83" Thick at 1st Fret, .95" at 12th Fret (Signature has similar profile, but 7.25" Radius).

- 1.66" Nut Width,

- 2.17" Heel Width

- Scale: 25.5”

- Frets: medium , mild wear. (Replaced 1st four frets due to dents).

- Finish: gloss

I used the following upgraded parts the equal to, or better than the Signature model.

Fender Classic Vintage style tremolo and handle

Fender "F" neckplate and mounting screws

Fender output jack/ plate assembly

Fender full size 1V2T 250k CTS control pots

Orange drop .047uf tone capacitor.

1nf/100k Treble Bleed circuit.

Fender Custom Shop "Texas Special" single coil pickup set with Fender Parchment covers

Fender 5-way blade selector switch and tip

Note: I'be also added a "Dave Gilmour" style push-pull tone pot to allow adding in the neck pickup regardless of selector switch position. This offers several alternate sounds.

Fender Strat "aged white" knob set

Fender classic 6-inline two-pin vintage style tuning machines.

Fender Original strap buttons.

Fender 3-ply (w/b/w) pickguard wired with vintage style push back cloth wire. (See pic).

Fender 3-ply (w/b/w) Parchment tremolo cavity cover.

D'Addario "light gauge"(10-46) string set.

Neck decal stating custom mods by Triage Guitar Shop.

Weight 7 lbs. 13 oz (Signature 7 lbs. 8.3 oz)

I set the action low after changing to a new bone nut. I set the intonation and checked for buzz free playing.

This tribute Strat is on the same quality level as the Fender Signature model for significantly less. All parts are the same as used on Fender USA except MIM Fender body and neck.

The key differences from the Custom Shop Signature model are:

Body and neck made in Mexico

The neck has a maple fingerboard, bone nut and truss rod access from the top (We think this is an appearance and maintenance upgrade)

The neck radius is 9.5" rather than 7.25"

Medium frets (some signatures have medium jumbo)

Body is Alder and guitar weighs about 5 oz more.

Both are Genuine Hot Rod Red body color.

That's about it.

Oh, one more thing. The price is much lower.

Don't miss out on this quality instrument value!

Comes with extra strings, picks and a detailed Build Certificate. Hard shell casr iss available for sn additional $85. Just add to your offer and indicate desire for case in message.