A Question About Fender 'Replacement' Bodies VS 'Standard Model' Ones

[crunchee]

I've got a Fender Partscaster with a Fender MIM '60's 'replacement' alder Strat body that is factory finished in black, that has no paint in the body cavities, including the cavity for the trem springs...you can clearly see this in the Fender listing photos, and the painting (or lack thereof) is a very neat and tidy job, too (I like the look, as long as those areas don't need shielding paint or tape)...BTW, all the replacement bodies appear to be this way regardless of color:

Classic Series 60's Stratocaster® SSS Alder Body Vintage Bridge Mount - 3-Color Sunburst | Parts (fender.com)

Odd thing is, factory assembled MIM Fender Strats generally do have paint in the cavities from what I've seen (maybe other models, too), and it's not necessarily neatly finished or even masked off in those areas, especially in the trem springs cavity...they look like they have a lot of excess paint overspray on the inner surfaces of the body, and it's rough in appearance, or at the very least 'textured'.  Does anybody here know why there's a difference?

[kizanski]

Perhaps the originals are routed and then sprayed and the replacements are sprayed and then routed. 

[topekatj]

The replacement bodies also have that big hole next to the pickup routes, unsure if the assembled bodies do, perhaps the presence or absence of paint in the routs is a ‘tell’ for a replacement body?

[DaveL]

It could be that Fender knows the fit of their own necks and probably made the decision that

their necks are a good fit if the spray the cavity.     They likely mask the pocket for bodies intended

for the aftermarket parts market to allow for some tolerance differences.      I've found that Allparts 

heels are a decent amount bigger than say a musikraft.   They probably are hedging their bets and leave the

pocket fit loose so they don't get alot of complaints about finish cracks or chips...       I would say Gibson's

decision to use bolt mount tuners for most of their production guitars is similar...   not ideal but probably

leads to less rework and damage using press in collars.     

 

[crunchee]

On 11/3/2023 at 5:22 PM, topekatj said:

The replacement bodies also have that big hole next to the pickup routes,,,

I have seen that circular hole on factory-built and -finished Fenders too, my guess is that it has something to do with the manufacturing process.

I have no idea about the matter of paint in the neck pocket vs. no paint having an effect on neck fit, all I know is that all recent factory MIM Strats that I've seen have had a good neck-to-body join with no obvious gaps, and my 'replacement part' Strat neck has a snug fit in the neck pocket with the 'replacement part' body as well.

BTW, if anybody wants to see a good 'natural' (actually played and used, not faked) example of 'relic'-ing of a '70's Fender black Poly-finished Strat from use, this guitar showed up at DGS today (no affiliation, and already sold anyway, so check it out while it's still there):

Hardtail Strat '73 – Dave's Guitar Shop (davesguitar.com)

Notice in the photos of the body cavities of the '73 Hardtail, the original finish on the inside is really rough and textured where it hasn't been routed afterward...which is exactly what I also saw in the trem spring cavity of the recent 'factory' MIM Strat that I mentioned in my original question.  Nice to know that 'factory' assembled MIM guitars are finished very much like the '70's originals, when it comes to the paint job...for better, or for worse!      I think I might have just answered my own question...

[Tortious]

I got an MIM Player Strat about a year ago. When I took the backplate off, it was unfinished inside. No clue on the control cavity, paid someone competent to change the pickups out. 🧐

[crunchee]

Maybe somebody swapped out the body, including doing it on the production line?  Or not?