I recently bought a strat off ebay. I gave 200 bucks for thinking it was worth it. The serial number looked different to me so I started doing a little research on it. The SN is 0309236, and I can't find anything on it any where. I thought some of you die hards could tell me something on it. It has Fender Stratocaster with synchronized tremelo written on the head. Any help is greatly appreciated.

post pics

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I have done a few things to the guitar like put a new pick guard on it, and I am in the process of changing the hardware from chrome to gold.

Interesting. I did a check on it over at www.guitardaterproject.org and found nothing. HOWEVER in changing the 0 to a O I find this:

Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1993 - 1994


HOWEVER again, I do not see MIJ or CIJ on that guitar.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Pull the neck and what is written on the heel and what is in the neck pocket.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I just replaced the strings on it so I won't have any pictures for a few days of the neck and neck pocket. I will describe it though. When I took the neck off, to the best of my memory I think it didn't have anything written on the neck. There is also nothing written inside the neck pocket. There is only 4 screw holes and one bigger hole maybe 3/8" diameter. The bigger hole is directly in the center of the other 4 holes. I am not sure if this helps. I will post pics when I change strings next time.

Though not familiar with japanese guitars i dont think they use the 3/8ths hole under the neckplate.

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No no and no

Though this guitar has some features you don't usually see on the fakes (like the round string trees and black plastic around the truss rod hole), I have to conclude that this is not an authentic Fender.

The serial number font (and position) and the shaping of the neck heel (where it attaches to the body) are the dead giveaways.

We'd almost think it to be MIM, except for the 22 frets and that incorrectly shaped back of the neck. And check out how wide the dots at the 12th fret are spaced! Way too wide.

Check out my new thread on Chinese Fakes.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

One thing I did notice is that when I changed the pickguards out, the screw holes didn't line up the same. Some were off by more than a 1/4" or so.

I think it is a fake strat ... I could be wrong though..

You are not wrong. The font on headstock ("Stratocaster" and "With Synchronized Tremolo") is wrong: too thick and bold.

Fender uses a different type of "CE" sticker and puts it on the neck plate!

It seems I'm always the "bad guy" in these kind of posts who first cries "fake." Oh, well, call me the hit man!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

As soon as I saw the writing on the headstock, I said Oh NO! It looks like another boguscaster! Sorry! At least it looks like a nice copy. $200 is not a whole lot to spend on a Strat clone, but it does kinda suck that people try to rip us guitar players off.
Do you have any recourse?? Money back? Cut off his balls? Firing squad?

This is very unfortunate. It is stories like these that makes me very hesitant to even consider a guitar purchase on EBay.

Buying on ebay is ok if you dont rely solely on ebay. Travel to view the guitar or pick it up cash on collection. I couldnt give a stuff about my feedback score, if when i go to get a guitar it doesnt seem right they dont get my money. All the statements of 'you agree'd to buy it' mean nothing to me. My money stays in my pocket until i have the thing in my hands and am satisfied.
Its not too hard to do really, people managed it before the coming of the internet.

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No no and no

The truss rod hole doesnt even line up correctly.