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Post subject: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California series
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 7:15 am
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Hi,

I know these guitars exist and are one of those that should be from the Mexico plant entirely, but say made in USA on the headstock. I was wondering, was there any other series besides the Traditional and California?

Lately we have been discussing a particular strat from the late 90's on a local forum that is neither California or Traditional, but has that 70's style zamak bridge (same as Squiers), spaghetti logo and Stratocaster script (no contour body or synchronized trem), says made in USA, blank neckplate. Some say it's a fake, but I think it might be one of those "lost and forgotten" Strats that were really cheap new in the late 90's but retained the "Made in USA" script.

http://www.bolha.com/glasbila-glasbena-oprema/glasbila/brenkala/elektricne-kitare/fender-stratocaster-usa-99-1302275531.html?aclct=1450900006&kw=fender+stratocaster

Here's a link to the classifieds. The description says it's a two-point trem, but it's not.

We are just curious what this guitar is and if it's really legit. The serial number appears to be N9113231, but that's just my assumption based on the last pic. Nevertheless a "N9113231" would be totally valid 1999-2000 serial #. And yes, fakers can use valid numbers with no problem. :)

Any help?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:34 am
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I have a 98 mim and it is traditionally labeled on the headstock.
I don't believe there was / is a mix of these. They are either mia or mim but also keep in mind that at certain times Fender needed to have some of its guitars built offsite but was still made under the same nomenclature..

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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:42 am
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Yes, there was a time period when Fender apparently was switching some production to Mexico and while the plant still wasn't capable of cutting lumber there, the guitars were cut in USA and then painted in Mexico. This is what can be found on the internet. Who assembled them, I don't know. I also don't have a clue what plant these guitars were initially planned for - were they meant to be American or Mexican-made Strats?

But I know for a fact that the Traditional Series from the late 90's were made in a similar way. They all say Made in USA, but there are cheap electronics (ceramic bar magnets, 500k metric/Alpha style pots, plastic Megaswitch, pointier switch tip, etc.) and hardware (zamak, skinny trem block). The arm contour isn't the same as the US specs, either. I had this very guitar on my bench for repairs some years ago.

The California series is clearly designated by a different numbering scheme so it doesn't fit the bill at all. These are just at least two series from the late 90's I know of, that you wouldn't call an ordinary US-issue Strat. I am not saying that California series has anything to do with Traditional series or having poor electronics and hardware, as the Trads do. Thought it might only help mentioning these two.

This has nothing to do with true MIM or true MIA Strats.


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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 10:20 am
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As easy as it is to switch componentry on Fender Strats, which was Leo's original intent, I'm skeptical of any 90's period guitars being an unintentionally limited series...
Of all the guitars I have looked at in the last 30+ years so many have been modified as to be highly questionable as to how they originally exited the plant... Not to mention that Fenders record keeping in detail is not that precise...

To be fair when it comes to needing to get a product out the door, so many of these guitars are really assembled from a large inventory of parts and sometimes when temporarily short of a few specific items, They receive off spec parts. Sometimes it's a plus other times not really...
Have to look as to what my 98 has internally. I photographedit when I first bought it a couple years ago, but if I recall it's not the really cheap crappy internals. although the block is thin, the different 6 point spacing has made it difficult to find a replacement..

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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 2:44 pm
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I would be very wary.
I would like to see better photos and pics of the interior of the guitar.
Any markings on the neck and body interior etc
You could try fender with the serial.
Does the vendor have any explanations.
The other guitars discussed have features that are well documented .. This one does not. :D


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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 8:45 am
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This is just my own opinion, however I have to agree with Jimmy_James there - I'd be VERY wary of that instrument and would certainly want to see more/better pics, particularly of the neck pocket of the body and the heel of the neck.

I can't speak to any specific/select series and I would certainly agree that there's very likely been some sharing of parts and such between Corona and Baja from time to time over the years, however what's catching my attention there is the headstock...specifically the tuners and the truss rod inlay. Granted, the tuners could have been changed, however for a late 90's MIA or MIM Strat, I believe those tuners should be Schallers if I'm not terribly mistaken. And while it's difficult to tell from the pics, the truss rod inlay looks black to me...as far as I know, all MIA's, regardless of series have walnut. You'll also want to notice the logo...the word "Fender" is missing the registered trademark symbol, ®. Likewise, the 12th fret dots look way to far apart to be either American or Mexican. Seems like quite a few red flags there...

Again this is just my own personal opinion, however unless someone could prove otherwise, based on the pics there alone, yea...I'd have to call that one a fake.


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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 2:41 pm
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I don't know that I've ever seen a back plate with the 2 middle screws being even. They're usually slanted to the angle of the single coil bridge pickup whether it's a single coil or humbucker. I'm not saying Fender didn't make them, it's just unusual (vintage or otherwise).


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Post subject: Re: The late 90s MIA/MIM Traditional Strat and California se
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:14 pm
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Yep the more I look finally seeing all the pics it appears to be a rebadged squier.
:D


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