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Post subject: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 9:26 am
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Hi there!

I bought a Fender stratocaster Ultra from 1991 online, it´s very clean on the varnish but the pickguard seems more used than the rest of the guitar. Same goes for the the pickups: the wrintings "Lace Sensor" are almost not visible anymore.
The neck is as new.

Here is the original advert and the photos from the body, pickups, pickguard and neck. It all looks as shown:
https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.html ... =155498574

The serial number matches the production year.

Attached some photos from the inner guitar as well as the seller´s photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dkyyifwuchq3 ... BQzDa?dl=0

Here is the advert: https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.html ... =155498574

Your idea?
Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 11:54 pm
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What makes you suspicious?
The 15500NOK (1570€, 1728$, 1402£) seems low for an Ultra, especially with Scandinavian price levels, but otherwise to my ignorant eyes that looks as an Ultra should. Besides, Norway isn't among the first regions one would expect as a source of fake Fenders.

Naturally, the expert on Pluses, Plus Deluxes, Ultras (etc.) on the forum is Xhefri, but he hasn't been active lately - his Ultra page is here: http://xhefriguitars.com/page4.html


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:17 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Look original to me, great guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:52 am
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That's one very clean looking guitar.

The pickguard looks more used?
Plastics age, and colours can change slightly over time.
This one looks fine.

I'm not sure about this mess though.
It's a proper dog's breakfast!

Image

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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:05 am
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Yes it is a mess I never saw on all Fender guitar I fix.
It could be original from Fender a beginner worker ? Or a mod ; picture close-up on solder may tell more.


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:23 am
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The only thing that bothers me, aside from the mess, is the middle pickup is from a different year from the neck and bridge.
I think it is newer.

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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:05 am
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Agree w/ Rich mid pup changed. Would be nice if the owner still had the original and included it in the sale.
Looks like a very nice Ultra to me! Not a fake, IMO.


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:59 am
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Now here I need some educating; what tells you gentlemen the mid pickup is newer?


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:56 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Now here I need some educating; what tells you gentlemen the mid pickup is newer?

The green wire was added somewhere late 93' early 94' you'll notice it on the mid pup. The others have the early pup ground-lacing wire w/o a green wire.


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:59 pm
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The guy you want to ask no longer comes by here very often.
He's more of a facebook guy now.

Here is his email address:

xhefri@gmail.com

His name is Jeff.
He lives in Idaho.
He could quite possibly be the foremost authority on those guitars to be found anywhere.

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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:33 pm
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OK, I was a little off on the dates.
http://xhefriguitars.com/page2.html#C6


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:00 pm
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That guitar looks so nice, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that it really is all original.

(My line of thinking goes something like:
I can't make out a date from the pics, but an N1 could be from 2001 or just as well from 2002.
The green wire was added "around late 1992 - early 1993".
And "some early Ultras came with a Gold Lace in the middle position".
And we all know there are surprises with Fender instruments; expect the unexpected etc.)
Edit: Just a personal opinion with no expert status, of course.


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:37 pm
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Isn't "N1" a 1991?

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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:02 am
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Oh yes, a brain fart on my part - apologies to all involved.
I of course meant to write "N1 could be from 1991 or just as well from 1992."
And with that, the rest I wrote makes at least some sense... :oops:


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Post subject: Re: Fake Strat Ultra?
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:11 pm
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Which would be consistent with the bridge and neck pickups... The middle pickup was likely replaced later. Given the rat's nest, I would say that is not a factory installation.

WHY the middle (and only the middle) Lace would have been changed is a very good question.
My buddy had one with three Gold Laces (S-S-S), he bought the Red/Silver/Blue set, and gave me the Gold set as payment for installing the new ones.
I ended up putting those into a Partscaster that became my #1 for many years. I sold it to my boss a few years ago and he loves it.

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