found a guitar in a dumpster

[onethatcares]

last week while helping at my SILs place.

It's a Fender Stratocaster Squier Made in Mexico with a serial number that dates to 1996. Ir's black with a bunch of decals on it and the bridge pickup has been changed to a humbucker, the other two are stock.

I put new 10/46s on it and tuned it. It plays well and the only problem I found is scratchiness in the pots. I'm going to try electronic spray on them to clean them up.

Should I, and this is a weird ?, take it to the local police department and try to find out if it is stolen or not?

It's really not a bad ax, not a Fender Strat made in the U.S. of A. but not made in China either Whoever played it before put some serious notes thru it I'm sure. I just don't want to be charged with a crime I didn't commit.

Thanks

[FreepFryer]

1. Run the serial thru the registry?

Seems like u r likely legit to be the one putting good mojo thru it now, but just to be sure http://stolenguitarregistry.com/

[onethatcares]

2. thank you.

I didn't even know such a registry existed. It does not show up on the list but I'm sure lot's of players aren't aware of it either.

[WA-03 Democrat]

5. Agree with checking the serial

We cannot see the guitar but the value is nominal and was found in a dumpster, I think the authorities will give you a free pass on this one. My guess is someone was moving or a relationship breakup and the guitar was an unwelcome reminder. Love “value” guitars. You can play rough with them, scratch and beat on it with no care. Assume the neck is good since the OP didn’t mention it. Enjoy!

[stevil]

3. Tough call

You could do the diligence and find out.....but you found it in a dumpster so I say fair game. And try 9.5 - .44 if you find the 10's a little heavy on the Strat.

[Pobeka]

4. I'd try to find out if it was stolen. Just call police dept and local guitar/music shops.

If it turns out that it's stolen, you'll be doing the right thing and avoid the possibility of an unpleasant accusation if someone else recognizes it.

Deoxit will almost certainly bring those pots back to like new condition. It's like magic.

Good luck!

[lame54]

6. Dun dun dun dun dun

[onethatcares]

7. no report of it being stolen

so on with the show .

Thanx all.