1996 MIK Squier Stratocaster Neck - Part 3

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Headstock and Neck - Right Side

With the neck lying on its left side, we'll take a journey along the right (lower) edge of the headstock and neck all the way down to the neck heel. The first thing you'll notice is the snug fit of the nut in its slot, testimony to Cor-Tek's meticulousness. Sighting down this edge also reveals a clearly demarcated "border" between the fretboard refinish and the original. Refinish notwithstanding, this is definitely a true blue one-piece maple neck, what a rarity!

Headstock - Right (Lower) Side

Nut - Right Side

Right Side of Neck - 1

Evidence of Refinished Fretboard

Right Side of Neck - 2

Right Side of Neck - 3

Right Side of Neck - 4

Right Side of Neck Heel - 1

Right Side of Neck Heel - 2

Headstock and Neck - Left Side

Now we've flipped the neck and it's resting on its right side. Let us once again journey from the headstock to the neck heel, albeit down the left (upper) edge. Once again, the well-seated nut takes center stage. The fit is virtually seamless, save for embedded dust and grime, which is to be expected on an instrument of this age. This edge also displays black side dots at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st frets. And here, once again, we are confronted with clear evidence of a much darker fretboard refinish.  

Headstock - Left (Upper) Side

Nut - Left Side

Left Side of Neck - 1

Left Side of Neck - 2

Left Side of Neck - 3

Evidence of Refinished Fretboard

Left Side of Neck - 4

Left Side of Neck Heel - 1

Left Side of Neck Heel - 2

  

Back of Headstock and Neck

The back of the headstock displays attractive figuring, as does the rest of the neck. Sadly, a close look at this side of the headstock tells us that the missing stock tuners were of the economical "trapezoid" variety. Moving down, the classic "skunk" stripe, a necessity on any one-piece neck, begins around the 2nd fret. Although this neck would have been originally finished in clear poly, years of use have removed any stickiness, and it now feels silky smooth. On the whole, this neck is relatively free from any defects, save for a dent at the 9th fret.

Back of Headstock - Trapezoid Tuners

Back of Neck - 1

Back of Neck - 2

Back of Neck - 3

Back of Neck - 4

The neck heel is where the skunk stripe ends, with a small gap between it and the truss rod anchor. Now, the truss rod anchor on this Squier Strat is a wooden cylinder, quite unlike the metal anchors you'd typically find on Strats of that era. There are also markings on the neck heel, the most noticeable being a figure 8 painted in black. There is also a reddish marking below the 8, probably made with a carpenter's pencil. It's too faint to be read, however. Finally, the grain pattern at the butt end of this neck strongly suggests that it's rift sawn.

Neck Heel Markings

Neck Heel - Butt End