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Post subject: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 1:31 am
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Greetings from Finland.

I am about to purchase a used 2012 CS EC strat.
Serial number is CN959xx

There is one thing concerning authenticity that bothers me.
Namely, the Eric Clapton signature plus the text "Blackie" are on the frontside of the headstock.
As far I can tell Custom Shop models have them on the backside of the headstock.

Otherwise, seems to be a legit guitar. The things that seem right are:
- a valid looking COA, the serial number matches with the guitar
- custom shop neckplate with serial number
- the chrome bridge cover is included
- custom shop decals (back of headstock and neckplate)
- the seller has been a reputable establishment since the previous ice age
- seems to be a really fine player, can not spot any faults (sound or buildwise)

I have until next Monday to decide what to do.
Pics can be found here:
http://www.kitarapaja.com/pics/fcsecbla ... 24_765.JPG
http://www.kitarapaja.com/pics/fcsecbla ... 24_765.JPG
http://www.kitarapaja.com/pics/fcsecbla ... 24_768.jpg

Hopefully this could be confirmed as a genuine item.
I also have contacted Fender with exact same questions, presumably getting answer will take time however, this is why I also posted this here on the forum.

Best Regards,
Ora


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 1:58 pm
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The plot thickens a bit.

Here's what Fender customer service had to say:
Serial number CN959xx dated 09/2004
Model Name: Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster®
Series: Artist
Source: U.S. Fender Custom Shop

I also took a peek under the hood.
The bottom of the neck pickup cavity has a quite deep "C L A P T O N" imprint
-> http://maihinnousu.net/dyn/gallery/f/3924.jpg
The neck cavity has a stamp (ink) "12 - 05 - 03" (is that first number month or year?) and (I think) a penciled V
-> http://maihinnousu.net/dyn/gallery/f/3925.jpg
The bottom of the neck heel has a stamp "JAN 13 2004" and two things written with a pencil
1. "CLAPTON" above the date stamp
2. "GERMANY SHOW" below the date stamp
-> http://maihinnousu.net/dyn/gallery/f/3923.jpg

That the Clapton signature is on the front of the headstock seems consistent with early 2004 ec strats.
I found 2004 CS EC Strats exactly like this one.
But the COA (which looks totally legit) dates the instrument 10/19/12.
I don't know what to think of all this!

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Best regards,
edgehill


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:06 pm
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Run! We have no reason to doubt Customer Service. There are no signatures on the face of the CS headstock, and COA's general carry the serial number of the guitar. Is it there?

Doc :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:48 pm
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Thanks.
However I found some evidence that early 2004 CS EC strats might have the sig on the front.

Like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlTD1Pjdp0w

Or this one:
http://www.leadguitars.fr/fender-custom ... 95958.html
http://static.musicbusiness.fr/media/ca ... 5958-7.jpg

The one I'm trying out is exactly like the one above.

And yes there is a COA but with a date 10/19/12 with Mike Eldred sig.
If the COA was not there, I would say this is a 2004 CS EC.

Best Regards,
edgehill


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:58 am
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Replacement COA? It wouldn't have the original date of the guitar on it, just the date of issue of the new certificate.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 5:44 am
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Butterscotch wrote:
Replacement COA? It wouldn't have the original date of the guitar on it, just the date of issue of the new certificate.

Interesting. The one fact which doesn't fall into line is the response from Fender which puts that serial number on an "Artist'' series guitar. Now that might be a misinterpretation because the Custom Shop 'signature'guitars are designated Artist series. Fender's penchant for inconsistency never fails to disappoint.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:49 pm
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Butterscotch wrote:
Replacement COA? It wouldn't have the original date of the guitar on it, just the date of issue of the new certificate.


Yep. I had to get a replacement COA and they are not back dated.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Clapton Strat - fishy or not?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 7:29 am
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mhowell wrote:
Butterscotch wrote:
Replacement COA? It wouldn't have the original date of the guitar on it, just the date of issue of the new certificate.


Yep. I had to get a replacement COA and they are not back dated.

Been there, done that. Agree its a bummer. They miss/matched the serial numbers on my Gilmour with another guitar and had to issue a new COA, but they didn't back date it to the production date. I'm sure they had that date in their records. :twisted:

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