I was looking at ebay for the find of a century on a used Fender. I noticed a fair amount of Fender bodies.

So if you buy the body, slap on a Warmoth neck, pups, and pickguard is it an official Fender? Are the serial numbers assigned to a body or an assembled guitar?

I'm sure someone's added up all the pieces parts and maybe its cheaper than buying out of the box. Especially if you're handy with the tools.

Just asking.

Hi jmr986: it is usually more expensive to buy the parts than an off-the-shelf Fender. Buying like for like, that is.

Fender's serial number has gone on the neck for several decades. Clearly in their own minds that is therefore the part that defines it as a Fender and is why you can't buy an aftermarket neck from Fender themselves.

Though of course they'd tell us it is a real Fender if it was made and assembled in its entirety by them.

But if you put a Warmoth body on a Fender neck nobody will be able to tell, at least not without looking inside...

Cheers - C

For sure it is more expensive to buy pieces, but that way you can get exactly what you want. I would say if you get lisc. fender parts it's as much a fender as a fender. To me a Fender is as much about the look of the guitar as anything. i just bought a Fender body from eBay myself, i promise you when I get done it will look, feel, and play like any top shelf Fender.

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66 TELE
CUSTOM TELE (PIECED TOGETHER)
CUSTOM STRAT (REALLY PIECED TOGETHER)
FENDER TWO TONE AMP

Just make sure you post the pics when she's done, and let us know what the final tally is for the parts.

Yeah dont forget the pics !

i would argue that a Fender can only be a Fender in its original state, changing the pick ups is fine but when you take away either the neck or body you dont have a Fender anymore, rather a guitar with Fender parts or a no name strat o various !

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12 guitars 2 hands not fair!

I agree that a Fender needs to have both the body and neck Fender made at a minimum. Change one or the other you still have a Strat, just a "Frankenstein" which I define as a guitar pieced together from various parts.

Warmoth make some really good parts so I do not knock anyone who has them.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I'll also agree that I (and a lot of people) would only consider a guitar an "official Fender" if the neck an body are both Fender.

Tuners, pickguards, pickups, knobs - those are all accessories in a way.

Doesn't mean a mixed neck/body guitar isn't "good" for some people, but I certainly would not consider it and "offical" Fender. In fact, I doubt anyone really would.