the Fly Clone Project

Hello all,

Recently bought a used NiteFly, just working out the year based on the serial number on it: 032238 USA

It is of the Refined generation - Dimarzio pickups with italicized font in the bridge, no stereo/mono button, but I am struggling with the serial number. Using the guide here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=63 I have worked it out as below:

Nitefly Method:
March 2002, 238th guitar
You can see why this confuses me as with no stereo/mono button and the control layout, it can't be 2002

Refined (2003-2006) Fly Method:
32nd day, 23rd guitar, 2008

Pre-Refined Fly Method:
32nd day, 23rd guitar, 2008

A little help would be much appreciated, thank you all.

Hi @PatchworkBoy87; can you post a photo or two?

Does it have a battery compartment? Are you certain it’s Refined? If you bought this used, it’s not unlikely that the original electronics were changed. A photo of the electronics cavity would likely confirm that.

Hey v,

Yes, it has a battery compartment on the back.

Interesting! Thanks fine posting those—looks great btw!!

I would be shocked if that neck was not, in fact, a 2002 neck. The saddles, for sure, are from 2007 or later, and those saddles in combination with the unconventional electronics you’ve described suggest to me that this is a 2002 that has had some modifications. It definitely did not leave the factory with that combination of parts.

That would make sense, the seller did mention that the bridge was replaced. It's also gutted - no trem mechanics, just a block of wood, and no piezos either.

Gotcha! I think we’ve solved the mystery then, @PatchworkBoy87!

If you had the interest, you could get it back to the original electronics setup and a standard Strat-style “trem claw” would do the trick to get the vibrato going; I have a Tremol-No in my NiteFly, which has been working well:

I'll have to take a look at fitting a Trem Claw and source some springs too. That Tremol-No looks interesting, I'll take a look into that too. Thanks V.

You got it!