I bought a new Mexican strat from a music store yesterday. I looked up my serial number which is, MZ4xxxxxx, and learned that my new guitar is actually a 2004 model. I was expecting it would be a 2009 since I just bought it new in the box. Another thing, the box that it came in has a label with serial number on it which does not match the serial number on the guitar. I did a lookup for the serial number on the box and it's for a 2007 Telecaster. Now I'm getting very suspicious. Is it unusual to receive a 2004 model if you are buying it new? Any ideas what going on?

Thanks,

Pete

It is called New Old Stock (NOS), It is common for a guitar store to buy 15 of each guitar and not sell all of them for a few years. As far as it being in a telecaster box, you got me there, but I wouldn't fret about it too much if it was a sealed box. If it bugs you that much, see if you can exchange it for a 2008-09 model. The serial will start with MZ8 or MZ9.

If you paid 09 price for the guitar I'd definitely take it back. No, I don't think there is anything normal about it. I sure would not want to buy a "new" guitar only to find out it's 5 years old. If they did that and did not tell me about it I would be wary of buying anything from that store. But. that's just me. Good luck in whatever you decide.
Also, Welcome to the forum!

Hi pistolpete9, welcome to the Forum.

Tricky one. If they didn't tell you it was a 2009 model then they might argue that you've not been mislead. You chose a guitar you liked and bought it. They may even claim you got a deal on old stock - how far off the current list price did you pay?

Some people want their guitars to be as old as possible. Yours is five years nearer to qualifying for "vintage" status, if that's something you give a tinker's cuss about.

On the other hand, the Mexican Standard went through some "upgrades" recently, which you obviously don't have. You might have a case there for taking the guitar back and exchanging it for a current one on those grounds - who knows if you'd be asked for more money in that instance?

Far as the box is concerned: it means nothing. In shops guitars come out of boxes and go back into them all the time. Not necessarily the same box. I wouldn't worry about that - are you likely to want to keep the packaging?

Do tell us where you go with this - if you feel like it...

Cheers - C

With the upgrades done to MIMs in 2006 and beyond, unless you got an incredible deal on that one, I'd demand a new one.

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You dig?

Thank you for your replies. I'm also thinking that even if it is new old stock it might hurt the resale value of the guitar if I were to sell it a couple years from now. The buyer will assume I've had it for 7 years. If I was certain it was brand new 2004 never used I might let it go, but as I mentioned it didn't come in the original box. The box has the serial number of a 2007 Telecaster, which would leave one to believe the original box is long gone and this guitar may have been hanging on a store wall for the past 5 years.

I bought an acoustic from these guys last year with no issues at all so I figured I'd buy another one from them. I'll give them a call tomorrow and hear what they have to say about it. One other thing. They have a price guarantee where they match any competitors price. I got them to match the lower price of another retailer who was selling it about $100 less. I'm thinking maybe they agreed to the lower price and then scerwed me by selling me an old guitar.

Pete

It's like Martian said, in 06 they made some upgrades on the MIM. If you paid for the upgrades you should get them. Now if they gave you a great deal it's up to you.

Another thing too, unless it is literally one hundred years down the road or so, that guitar is NEVER going to have any collector's value. Rather, it is going to depreciate more rapidly than the 2006 and beyond models.

In hind sight, even if you did get a phenomenal deal, you could argue the point that you would have never agreed to it nor presumed they would unload a 5 year old guitar on you, new old stock or otherwise, especially since part of your reason for purchasing a 'new' MIM was because you knew about the 2006 and beyond upgrades.

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You dig?

I think I would probably ask the shop about it. Like Martian and fhopkins said, there are lots of upgrades that you missed out on.

There were upgrades you missed out on, but I am not sure I would say "lots"...
- Larger tremblock: This is the most significant, IMO. An 06+ block will fit on your '04 model. I got one for my '04 for $12 off of eBay.
- Gig bag: Use this as a leverage point for an inexpensive hardshell case. I don't like or use gig bags, personally.
- Med Jumbo frets: This is not a biggie in my book, as I like the '04's smaller vinatge frets just as well.
- Fully shielded cavity: This is fairly easy to do. I was going to do this to my '04, but I never felt the need. Mine is very quiet.
- Rolled edges and neck tint: I believe these were upgrades added in 2008. For me, my '04 had great fretwork, and I love the way the neck is wearing in.

Either way. If they are giving you an '04, just make sure you are geting you a deal on it AND have them include a gig bag (or better yet a HSC) and a larger tremblock. That is only fair, considering those are inclkuded in 06+ guitars.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I did get a deal but the deal was suppose to be on a new model not a 2004. Anyhow, I'll call them tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

On a final note. Is there any way to determine if a fender strat is brand new by examining it after it's removed from the box? Is there any special packaging or plastic film protecting the guitar body or pick guard? Mine didn't have anything on it other than it was in a white bag made of some type of foam material.

Pete

If there was no plastic on the pickguard or the trem cover, it's probably been returned by someone before you. Make em fix it. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Ah, this really is beginning to sound not right. Years old but never taken out the shop is one thing: used and returned by a previous customer is another.

As cherokee747 says, there should be a clear plastic film on the pickguard as well as some stickers. (MIM owners will have to remind me what stickers are to be expected on a new Standard.)

The only probable way those have been removed is by someone taking this guitar home, using it and then returning it to the shop. That definitely is not what you thought you were buying.

Still a matter of your own feelings about it - but personally I don't care for it...

Cheers - C

having been the owner of two mim strats in the space of 2 days (one was faulty) both had a clear film stuck over the pickguard, but no stickers like the mia's, or my squier, on the front, and a sticker on the trem spring cavity with the type of strings used.

What year are they? Is the serial number MZ9XXXXX or MZ8xxxxx? I have no sticker on the trem spring cavity and I don't even see a spring inside the cavity. I guess it fell out. I do have a sticker on the back trem cover which states what strings are used.