NGD cheap, excellent strat

[Con-Tiki!]

although I'm not usually a strat guy, every once in a while I get the bug.
Most recently, I was tortured by the the '78 posted in the classifieds. Dangerously close to buying it, even though i have 2 other strats that never see daylight. In the end, i decided I couldn't really afford it.

2 days later, still lamenting my almost new/old guitar, I tripped over a Squier on CL. 200 bucks, one of the USA-built Squiers, white (which has been my favorite strat color since Buckaroo Banzai), and nearby.

Bought it, and a TSA case, and a weird MannMade bridge from a guy who was cleaning house. less than $300 total.
I swapped the bridge, and changed the pickups for set of 90's noiseless pickups. It's kinda beat, finish is coming off the fretboard, and there are a ton of heavy dents in the back of the neck, but it's the best strat I've ever had.
The bridge is a hunk of steel, with nickel-plated brass saddles.
weighs a ton.
I've never heard of MannMade, but it's a cool piece. No sharp edges, push-in arm, easy to float.

here are a couple pics.

[MKR]

that's awesome. looks really nice. and USA made too? damn.

i would love to have a cheap, reliable older squier strat. currently i don't have any strat or any squier for that matter and i feel like i am missing that key ingredient from my guitar family.

[simonhpieman]

white (which has been my favorite strat color since Buckaroo Banzai)

And there was me thinking that there was absolutely no point to that movie whatsoever! Surely you didn't actually enjoy it, though (the movie, not the guitar)?

Ignoring the world-famous Buckaroo, the guitar looks great although it's a shame about the neck. The bridge looks properly bad-ass!

[Con-Tiki!]

white (which has been my favorite strat color since Buckaroo Banzai)

And there was me thinking that there was absolutely no point to that movie whatsoever! Surely you didn't actually enjoy it, though (the movie, not the guitar)?

Ignoring the world-famous Buckaroo, the guitar looks great although it's a shame about the neck. The bridge looks properly bad-ass!

heck yeah, man!
shameless fan of that movie.

I was 16 when it came out (think i saw "Time Bandits" around the same time). That's also the same summer I first heard The Smiths, saw the Cure, and got my Chevy Nova.
It's impossible to overstate the effect those things had on me.

yes, the bridge is very good, although i think i would have a hard time shelling out the $200 they cost new.
as MKR mentioned also, i think there's a need for strats in any collection. For me, it's the sound of the 80's. I've been picking through old Johnny Marr stuff, and that song from the end of "Repo Man".
possibly, this is the shape of my mid-life crisis?

could be worse.

[preservation]

HAWT

good for you man !!!

[ifallalot]

That bridge looks really good. I'm currently shopping for something to replace the trem on my white Squier Strat

[mackerelmint]

Hell of a good score! Happy ngd.

[s_mcsleazy]

wow. what a deal.

i aint seen mannmade bridges in years. i fitted one of my friends strat years ago. they are really good units. he had a very heavy right hand and it was a bridge that held up.

[rhythmjones]

Nice! My stepson has a white Fender Squier Series Strat that's very similar to that. I put SC-101s in it to replace the crap ceramic pups it came with. It rips!

[Con-Tiki!]

wow. what a deal.

i aint seen mannmade bridges in years. i fitted one of my friends strat years ago. they are really good units. he had a very heavy right hand and it was a bridge that held up.

this is the first one i've seen.
i like it, although it took a little fussing to get the mounting screws right.
they're machined with grooves, and stand proud of the plate. It works, but i actually had to read the installation notes.

[daemon]

That is a nice looking Strat, even with the neck. Had no idea they made any in the US.