I also just discovered a date stamp on the neck, 16 Aug 96 in exactly the same type cast as the one on the neck pocket, I think this guitar was manufactured like this, at least the body and neck, the pick guard I'm still unsure on, but I don't even have a decent amp to put this guitar through, I've just moved to England from South Africa and sold all my gear when I left there.

Okay you'll have to forgive my ignorance, guitars aren't my area of expertise, I had a beautiful DW drum kit with a full set of Zildjian K customs etc .. So, now that you know you're dealing with a drummer you may be more sympathetic or laughing even harder.. lol Do Strats come in Poplar?

Some of them yes. If it plays nice, and you like it, that's what really matters. I just hope you didn't get ripped off on it.

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-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.

The routes are obviously wrong, as is the neck stamp. I'd guess from what little you can see of it that the wood is basswood (it sometimes has those short, dark streaks in it). Probably Asian origin.

The electronics are not Fender. That pickup selector switch is a dead give-away.

I have my doubts about the neck, too. The position dots look kind of funky, and I think the decal is placed too close to the edge of the peg head.

In short, I'm afraid you got burned all around. Sorry, man.

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Everybody who installs a "nifty peghead accessory" (as one self-absorbed clown I knew at another forum insisted on referring to his illegal decals) and says, it's their right / they'll never try fool anybody / it's just for show / blah blah blah:

By purchasing these fake decals, you're increasing their availability and supporting this kind of crud.

I haven't even been able to play it yet.. The intonation is horribly out, I don't even have a tuner anymore?? I don't have an amp, I've been saving to move to where my girlfriend is (app 350 miles away) saw this guitar at an auction whilst looking at a classical Martin N-20 and got it for £175.. all my savings, and I was hoping to resell it at a profit, cause that really seemed a bargain, but being a curious muso, it wasn't a simple case of just shifting it on, I like to know more about the instruments I buy.. Maybe I shouldn't gone digging in this one.. oh well

I also have doubts about the neck. The script on Fender looks like older style scripts and I thought there would be a registered trademark "R" with the circle around it. And Made in the USA.
Would this year also have the "anniversary" sticker on the back?

I'd have to say that the guitar was pieced together from All Parts and Ebay special parts.

The Body is almost exactly the one from all parts posted on the first page, The pickup routes are not fender style, not to mention the butchered screw recesses in the pickup routes, shows it was done carelessly. The neck pocket is just ackward, I see no reason at all to route it like that.

As mentioned before the switch is a dead give away, the fender switches have 4 connections per side not 8 in line. the wiring seems low grade to say the least.

As for the neck I can't put much in for that but like it has been said before could be a purchased neck with a decal placed on afterwards.

As for selling at a profit, still could be done, get it playing and setup right, market it as a "strat Style" you could at least make your money back. Or keep it.

The neck is definately not fender, no truss access surround. The serial number beggining with N6 isnt mexican either. Those selector switches were used on fender squire series, the pickguards have never been shielded like that on mexican strats to my knowledge though.

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No no and no

Thats sad ... I hope you didnt pay a lot for it I would hate to be scammed

It's got a real nice headstock decal.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

It is accurate isnt it. More proof that fender need to start using some kind of watermark or hologram in their logo's.

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No no and no

A hologram would be NICE!

Wouldnt it be classy and just look great under bright lights. I ought to sell the idea to fmic. they could even have a nice picture of george and leo in their youth in the hologram.

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No no and no