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Post subject: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:54 pm
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Hey guys,

I'm new to the forums here, and I'm also pretty new to fender as a company. I was looking around online and this strat jumped out at me. I'm a sucker for cool artwork. I don't trust myself from just what I've read so far, and I was wondering if any of you guys could tell if this is a real mim strat, aside from maybe the pickguard, from these pictures. If no one is sure, maybe you could give me some tips on what to check if I decided to go look at it in person. Somethings look a little wonky, like the one tuning peg, but for me personally as long as it's real and plays well the artwork is cool enough to make up for that

Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:14 pm
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The extra mounting holes for the back plate suggest that the instrument may in fact be a Squier, or at least the body.

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 1:39 am
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From what can be seen, the neck looks pretty authentic. And if you were producing a fake it is unlikely you would fake a MIM over a MIA.

So it has a MIM neck but the previous owner obviously wasn't averse to taking things off and screwing other things on. He might have screwed a MIM neck to another guitar.

On the plus side, you have a serial number so you could email Fender Customer Services to get a run down on the guitar the serial number relates to and see how that compares.

Personally, if you like the pickguard, I'd offer to buy the pick guard. The guitar it is screwed to has too many issues for my comfort unless it was no more expensive than a MIM neck.

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:18 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
The extra mounting holes for the back plate suggest that the instrument may in fact be a Squier, or at least the body.

Arjay


+1

8)

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 4:47 am
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Well...we can rule Squire Bullet body out, because they are made with Basswood, and that is definitely Alder, based on wood grain and spring cavity.

Problem is both MIM Standard and Squire Affinity are made with Alder.

HOWEVER...the MIM Standard has a much more "uniform" look to it...meaning better cuts are pieced together to form the body (matching grains); and the Squire Affinity SEEMS to get what's left---mismatched pieces of different grains and shades.

Unless that is a 'freak' Affinity body that has been fitted with decent wood, I would say you are looking at an MIM body (as well as 2006 MIM neck).
IF the body is indeed Squire Affinity...they have also change bridge saddles to the bent steel currently on it as well.

Wish we could see the electronics.


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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 5:06 am
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The spring claw has the same logo and punched solder lug as my '08 MiM so small details are at least suggesting some consistency.

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:35 am
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Dunno man, I've seen Squier use basswood, poplar, alder or ash. They use what comes about. I don't think there's much mileage identifying it by the grain. As they use a veneer for their burst finished guitars too. When they were Japanese produced they mostly used poplar. It's more of an availability to the region at the time thing. Than a cost thing. Shipping poplar can prove less cost effective than using domestic alder.

The extra holes could be from a backplate that matched the scratchplate maybe? That scratchplate is gorgeous by the way. I'm not one for grandiose things but that's really nice.

The neck looks sound. The only way to properly identify the body is to take the neck off and have a look at the pocket, maybe the routing too.
The saddles look MIM. Too shiny for AVRI, not the right shape for Squier.

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:30 am
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Okay thanks for the tips so far. I'm on the fence about going to check it out.

The guy's listing says that he bought it the way it is. The only thing that's noted that he claims to have done himself is put a piece of wood in it to block the tremolo, that comes right out, and to go get it set up recently. He suppsoedly has all the original parts/gig bag that it came with and he's including that all with it for $300. I was going to try and haggle him down a bit if I go through with it. I'll definitely ask what's up with the extra drill holes if I do


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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:23 am
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SM93 wrote:
......and he's including that all with it for $300.


That's $50 or $75 more than it's worth (and that's assuming it is in fact a MIM Strat).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 1:48 pm
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Yeah I was hoping to get it down to around that price if I could, assuming it's real. But like most of you guys said, can't be sure


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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:21 pm
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If the bonafides are suspect, walk away.

There are plenty of other deals out there that don't have such suspicious baggage attached.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 4:38 pm
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$300 is steep. I think of prices across the water being pretty much the same on guitars. Just the symbol changes.
£300 I'd be looking at classic player spec

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Post subject: Re: Looking at this MIM Strat - is it real?
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 12:58 pm
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why not find a reasonably priced MIM that you are more sure is real, than take the pickguard to an artist for paint.

many tattoo shops will paint graphics like that. the local one here even loves to do guitars.


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