Search tips for GEAR

The STRATosphere lists new, like new and used gear everyday Monday through Friday. We always have over 5000 items to choose fromon eBay at any time, but if you are interested in new arrivals, about 100 itemsare newly listed every day between 8 and 8:30am Eastern Time. If you havespecific requests, please don't hesitate to message us and we will do our bestto get the items you are looking for.

We can't always list everything we want in our titles toidentify all of the items key features. Here are some tips and searchterms to help search our listings for what you are looking for.

We generally offer guitar/bass bodies in three bodyconfigurations if they are bolt-on neck guitars:

1.Body hardware(Bodywith Bridge & Tailpiece if applicable, strap buttons, neck plate withscrews, back plate/trem covers if applicable)

2.Loaded Body(Completebody with all electronics, wiring, hardware as it would come new withoutmodifications unless specified otherwise)

3.Body(Bodywith Strap Buttons Only)

We generally offer two neck configurations:

1.Neck Tuners(TunersOn. It may say Neck & Tuners, Neck + Tuners, Neck w/Tuners, etc.)

2.Neck(willgive you results with and without tuners)

We offer guitars/basses that are set neck, neck through, orbolt on guitars as a husk to be the base for your custom build.

1.Body Neck(Wewould only have body and Neck in the title if they were sold connected.Body & Neck, Body + Neck, etc.)

We offer Guitar/Bass electronics in several variations:

1.Pickup Parts Knob (or Knobs)(Thisconfiguration is all the pickups that would have come with a specificguitar/bass, wiring, knobs, switches and input jack. Minimal Solderingwould be required to get the electronics in your custom build and wouldgenerally consist of connecting a ground wire, input jack or toggle switch,after the electronics are in place on your guitar/bass).

2.Loaded Pickguard(Thisis similar to the Pickups parts and knobs configuration but the pickups wouldbe in place and attached to the original pickguard from the guitar. AStrat Loaded Pickguard would have everything attached to the pickguard so itwould pop into your S style guitar, minor wiring and minor adjustments but alloriginal solder joints in tact between pickups and pots).

3.Pickup Set(Thiswould be the original pickups from the specified guitar/bass with the fulllength lead wires, mounting screws, springs and mounting rings if applicable).

4.Neck, Middle or Bridge Pickup(individualPickup you may be looking for from a specified guitar/bass.

5.Pots Switch (Potentiometers, Switch, Capacitorand all wiring with as many original solder joints as possible, from theguitar/bass specified)

Other tips would be to keep any extra words out of thesearch. If you put in any word into the search that doesn't match ourtitle, it won't show that we have it.

1.We always specify the fingerboard wood withoutabbreviation (maple,rosewood,ebony,etc.).

2.Stratocaster is alwaysSTRAT,Telecaster is alwaysTELE.

3.Common Series naming that may help yousearch:Classic Vibe 50s/60s/70s, American Vintagealways hasAV II and the full year (1963, 1977, etc.),Standard,ProfessionalII,Professional Classic,Vintera,Sonic,Affinity,RoadWorn, Ultra, Ultra Luxe,etc.. Artist series will have theirlast name in the title but don't try to find everything by fullname.

4.Color is always mentioned in the title for thebody unless it is only one option (Buddy Guy or SRV Loaded Body forinstance). The color may be abbreviated so it may be best to try a coupledifferent ways (surf, green, srf) or leave a color out and browse the optionswe do have for a specific series you are looking for.

Please reach out if you have questions or don't find whatyou are looking for. We have a great customer service team and we'rehappy to assist!

Frequent Questions

1. Do we offer discounts?

Any sort of potential discount or deal wouldlikely be dependent on the specific item(s) that you're interested in, and we'dneed to know the 12-digit item number of the item to investigate them furthersince there are a few different factors that may go into pricing, such aschanges implemented by manufacturers, the age of a particular listing, and soon. In general, we set our own asking prices so there is often minimal wiggle room. We do always have discounted items that get released on the 1st of every month, and we generally have at least 1 end of the year sale. In addition to sale items, theSTRATosphere is always looking for unique offerings, manufacturer closeouts, exclusive items, etc., to offer its customers at great prices.

2. Where do we get the products we sell?

Unlike some of our competitors, theSTRATosphere typically offers parts from new A-Stockinstruments that we received from manufacturers and we make the sum of their parts and components available for sale to customers, repair technicians, luthiers, and/or creativefolks that want to assemble their own instruments, just as we have been forabout 20 years now! Most of our items are considered "open box"items because they come from whole instruments thatve already been assembled, setup to play, and passed through the factorys quality control department, so itshould have little to no play time on it, and they should be free from anydefects too! In addition to open box parts, we are dealers and distributors for many parts brands and products that will come with full manufacturer's warranties. If we are selling Used, demo or B stock items, they will be clearly marked as such in the titles of our listings. Lastly, theSTRATosphere would NEVER sell counterfeit products where we claimed it was something it wasn't, or from a guitar/bass that it wasn't. We pride ourselves on transparency, we are owned and operated by musicians, and we have dedicated customer service staff that will work hard to get you the gear you are looking for.

3. Is the part you are looking at compatible with yourguitar/bass?

For the best fit and function we can only recommend pairing items that are thesame make and model. We would suggest consulting with a Luthier or a trusted guitar technician. In the past several years, most Fender and Squier parts from the same body shape (Strat, Tele, Jazz, etc.) are compatible. Hole spacings, dimensions of neck pocket, etc. However, even if an item is a direct replacement to what you had, there will likely be necessary adjustments. Expect that a completed custom build will need final setup, wiring, and potential fret leveling/crowing/polishing.

4. Can we combine Shipping?

Yes, on most items we can. Please commit to purchase the items, requesta total and we will invoice you accordingly. If it will not allow you torequest a total, please add a note to the order requesting: Combine and refundexcess S & H. We will then refund the excess S & H once the order hasshipped. Some items cannot be combined due to packaging size and damageconcerns: such as: a neck and body, a neck and pickguard, multiple hardshellcases or say a neck and gig bag.

Returns FAQs

RETURN POLICY

We have a 30 day return policy. You can return the item for any reason within that time frame. It must be returned in the condition received.

RETURN GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Please pack well and return to:

The STRATosphere

112 Crawley Falls Rd.

Brentwood, NH 03833

Please include your full name, order # and reason for return. Upon receipt we will issue a refund.

RETURN - ADDITONAL INSTRUCTIONS

The item needs to be in transit back to us within 30 days from the day that you received it. Insuring the item is up to you. We issue the refund upon return. If we never receive the return we would be unable to issue a refund. If it arrives back to us damaged, we will need to deduct from the refund for the damage.

GOT WRONG ITEM EXCHANGE

In case of you receiving the wrong Item(s), we will create a return label and send via email. Please return the mistaken item and once it shows in transit back to us we will send your ordered item right away. We do our best to avoid this inconvenience and disappointment.

DAMAGED- RECEIVED DAMAGED (return label)

In case of you receiving damaged Item(s), we will create a return label and send via email.Please return and upon receipt we will issue a full refund.

GENERAL RETURN RETURN LABEL REQUESTED REFUND (Damaged, not as pictured.)

In the case where the items had damage not from shipping or the item(s) were not as described, we will create a return label and send via email. Please return and upon receipt we will issue a full refund. On a case by case basis, if the customer is still willing to keep the item not as described, we sometimes will negotiate a partial refund versus taking the item(s) back for a full refund.

International Sales

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COST

We only ship by expedited methods since they are the fastest and most reliable.We have had too many lost packages sent by First Class mail and Priority.

INTERNATIONAL - DECLARATIONS LOWER VALUE REQUESTED

We're sorry, we must declare the actual value of the item.

INTERNATIONAL DUTIES/TAXES

There wouldbe duties that you would have to pay. We do not know how much it would be. Ifyou contact your local customs agency, they should be able to provide you withdetails on how the rate is calculated.

INTERNATIONAL RETURNS - return casesopened in eBay for international shipments when item is not asdescribed/defective/damaged. Send this message after approving return:

We're sorry there is an issue with your order.We are unable to create return shipping labels for international orders. Pleaselet us know the cost to return the item by the most economical means and yourPayPal email address and we will send you the funds.

About Us

The STRATosphere (Fret Factory, llc) is best known foroffering the finest selection of guitar parts in the world. Quality has alwaysbeen our top priority. Shop 24/7 to build a better guitar! We've been inbusiness for over 20 years offering a unique blend of hard to find, proprietaryand discounted guitar parts. Owned and operated in New Hampshire, with apassion to help with your custom builds or restoration needs.

The STRATosphere is not a walk-in music store and weoperate more like a production facility and warehouse. Once guitars aredisassembled, pictured and listings online for sale, they are immediatelypacked and ready to ship out. We do not have a selection to browse and wehave to stay busy to get the items you want out the door and in your hands asfast as possible. Local customers can buy on eBay and pay for it inadvance and arrange a time to come pick up the item(s), but it must be coordinatedbefore arriving.

The STRATosphere is in no way sponsored, endorsed, oraffiliated with Gibson Brands, Inc. LES PAUL, SG, ES, EXPLORER, FLYING V,GIBSON, the corresponding body shape designs and headstock designs areregistered trademarks of Gibson Brands, Inc. The STRATosphere is not anauthorized dealer or reseller of Gibson products. Therefore, Gibson productspurchased through The STRATosphere are not covered under warranty by GibsonBrands, Inc.**The STRATosphere is not affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments.Strat, Stratocaster, Esquire, Telecaster, Tele, Jazzmaster, Jaguar,Mustang, P Bass, J Bass, Fender and the distinctive headstock design ofFender guitars are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments. Allapplicable Fender products are covered under warranty by The STRATosphere.