Been looking at a guitar at the Scandinavian counter part to craigslist for a while now, and I've been mailing back and forth with the seller.
In the ad he describes it as a Japanese Tele-copy, with good quality. I am still uncertain if he means it to be an authorized Fender product built in Japan, or a Japanese counterfeit.
After a while I got him to mail me the serial number, although I have not seen it being detailed in a picture. He claims it to be Z0161268. He also claims to have bought the guitar new in 2008.
The only match I can find on Fender webpages to this number is for it to be a U.S. instrument, made in 2000/2001. How can this be; did I miss something?
It is listed for about $240.
I'll also include the pictures that are with the ad.
I am sorry if the answer to this is incredibly obvious; I have only my lack of experience to point at if it'll come down to an excuse.

Thanks in advance.

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When 900 years you reach, look as good you will not!
- Master Yoda

Doubtful that it's "the real McCoy".

The decal is suspect and the jack ferrule seems to be mis-located.

It's probably worth the asking price though, assuming it plays good and sounds well.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Also, was there a top-loading tele in this era?

As far as I know it was a failed experiment totally abandoned decades ago (like it lasted 1 year-ish in the late 50's)

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

The seller must mean Japanese counterfeit. There is nothing legit about that guitar.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.