Yesterday in a local web auction, I purchased a Fender Strat, it was advertise as a Deluxe series strat, made in USA, the color the seller said is some how between grey and pink (I thinK it´s shoreline gold), Serial number DN 117523, which matches 1998-1999 american deluxe strats.

I already pay for the guitar, but the auction site offers complete refund in case it´s a counterfeit or a scam.

Here´s the problem:

1) I got it for $300.00, including hardshell case, a fender cable and a strap.

2) The guitar has a gold fender logo on the headstock.

3) It says made in USA below the STRATOCASTER name in front of the headstock.

4) It has a rosewood fretboard and 21 frets???!!! and the bridge is a vintage 6 screw, instead of the american 2 bolt bridge.

5) I also noticed that the string tree looks standard

6) The acces to the truss rod in the headstock doesn´t have the rosewood covering that I have seen in other american strats.

7) On the back of the guitar, the neck plate says FENDER and then Deluxe Series

I haven´t received the guitar yet, but I have my doubt´s for all of the above, also it looks it has some years on it, I need help to know if this is a fake

2 point fulcrum tremelo and 22 frets are mainstays of the USA Strat, unless I am mistaken.

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A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

Thas what I think..., but I checked the serial number and it matches!!! Also what do you think about the maple neck with no skunk stripe... I´m thinking it can be a squier and the relabel it... but with the guitar´s finish I don´t know... I haven´t since squiers in this color yet...

Hi Jorge...welcome to the Forum.From what you have describe the strat sounds dodgy and i cant paint a picture of how exactly it looks like especially the color.Do you happen to have a picture of the strat or the eBay link to it?
It does help us to scrutinize more with the picture as some of our members here have a sharp eye for details and can spot a fake fender....

Hey thanks, can I send the pictures through your Messenger?

Best you post it here in the Forum....

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My Guitars :: My Rig

doesnt DN1 denote a 90/91 deluxe. wouldnt a 99 be DN9. I'd email customer services about spec for that particular year, 2 point trems havent always been the mainstay of american guitars. there have been several types used through the years. Fenders 59-66 or 67 strats had no skunk stripes on rosewood board guitars. Well some did and some didnt.

Any chance of a link to the auction or pictures of the guitar?

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No no and no

This is the guitar..., I have my doubts, specially because of the headstock...

Thanks for email of the pictures Jorge....honestly i have never seen a strat like that and from the neck it does look fake......there's a topic similar to this in the Forum.Like niki pointed out in the topic there's no "walnut" at the entry point to adjust the truss rod.And not to mention the Fender wording and the string tree not inline........

I suggest you contact the seller and warn him of the consequences selling a fake item.See the topic i mention and do what the OP did......did you pay via PayPal?

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My Guitars :: My Rig

I sent an email to Mr. Rene Martinez _( SRV tech) website and they replied right away...
According to them (or Mr. Martinez himself who knows...-??), the headstock is definitly NOT REAL.

So watch out!!! fakes come in custom colors also....

Dead giveaway to being a fake.

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http://twitter.com/cu_jarrett

This proves nothing, but we were discussing these kinds of trussrod entry holes with no rosewood a few months ago. At that time the only Fender made guitar any of us could come up with like that was an Affinity Strat, like this one:



Don't know if that one has a skunk stripe or not, but I also have a Squier neck from the '80 that has the same rod hole and no stripe.

This sounds very unlike an Am Deluxe (as does $300), unless they did things with that model I don't know about...

Cheers - C

I was researching the same, my guess is that is a re painted squier, with a fake decal...

As for the price, I live in Guatemala City, Central America, and it can be vintage guitar heaven if you look carefully... My cousin got a 60s ES-175D for around $100.00, original case included.

It´s easy to find this nice old gear hanging in the shops or at auctions...
people don´t know the market value of vintage instruments...

Anyway, I´m un the process of a refund... Thanx

Think im going on holiday to Guatemala.

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No no and no

Looks fake, hope you didn't get sc****d

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2000 American Standard Stratocaster
2009 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
1996 Hot Rod Deluxe
Various other stuff