It can't be that the decal is going to make or break this purchase. I would rather have learned that you had done some serious price comparisons and found that you could acquire one from a dealer for the same price or better. Thus you would have been an original owner and your warranty advantage would have been assured. The guitar is offered @ $3499 on the Guitar Center website. So that's three

It's your move.

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"Another day in paradise!"

How on earth did he get it direct from the factory. Is he eric clapton or does he have his own sponsorship deal? Dunno about america but to stock fender guitars in the uk you have to jump through hoops, perform david blaine like miracles and work towards ending world poverty. Even then they come from the warehouse.

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No no and no

Methinks that in this world of semantic gymnastics he is attempting to assure the inquirer that he has had prior experience with the factory shipping product in said condition. If he felt the deal was logo-worthy rightly, he should have had the vendor return the guitar to have the neck finished properly. However, for him it was likely a no-nevermind and the deal was sacrosanct sufficient for him to receive it.

In this case, as well, he is taking a pass. Personally, I'd to contact the CS and say: "I received this guitar as a gift from a well intentioned family member. I find myself between a rock and a hard place because the headstock has not been properly adorned with the CS logo and people on your Forum are advising a potential buyer to stay away. The guitar has never been touched, and I am having the dickens of a time selling it due to this deficiency. Kindly remedy, ASAP. Thanks."

Perhaps our colleague should post this to Eldred ask as HIM if he thinks the deal is something to feel comfortable about.

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"Another day in paradise!"

There are more out there. And that will be the route I will take. The 2 shops I saw were about the same price. So I get the warranty and peace-of-mind.

The response was:

Thanks for writing in. The Eric Clapton Stratocaster should have a signature on the headstock. It is one of the unique features of that guitar. It is possible the logo was left off, or it may have come off somehow. That serial number comes up as an Eric Clapton Stratocaster from 7/25/2008 in Midnight Blue. I hope this will help you out.


Case closed

It's your move

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"Another day in paradise!"

I'm going to pass. Plus an '07 just came up. It appears the guitar is legit. But in the extremely rare instance I would sell ( I still have my 44 year-old Epi), I think this minor issue could hurt the resale.

I'm going to pass. Plus an '07 just came up. It appears the guitar is legit. But in the extremely rare instance I would sell ( I still have my 44 year-old Epi), I think this minor issue could hurt the resale.[/quote]

Logical rationale. The seller was foolish not to have made it his business to rectify the deficiency, particularly with an instrument that high on the Fender food chain.

Keep us posted.

Doc.

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"Another day in paradise!"