Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I was reading through a number of threads and came across one about getting ripped off by a fake. One of the replies said to come here "before" you buy a Strat instead of after to avoid getting ripped off. So that Is why I joined the forums.

So my 1st question is this - How can I be relatively sure that I am buying a genuine American Strat? What should I be looking for?

my 2nd question is - what is the difference in quality between the MIA, Mex, or Japanese made strats?

I currently play an older Squire Strat and want to get a real Strat. So I figured this would be the best place to get my Strat education!

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

Partial answer, buy from a reputable dealer. If you must buy used, post some pics here and the gang will take a good look. All three MIA,MIM, MIJ are all guality products. Depends on your budget, what kind of music do you play, all kinds of factors. Let us know and welcome to the forum. Mike

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

Buying from a reputable authorized fender dealer is absolutely the best way to go when making a purchase of a fender instrument. After all if you want to take it back for any reason its better to have some precedent with a authorized repair shop, which authorized dealers have to have. You'll get the guitar setup before you take it home and by rights should be due a free complete setup within a year of purchase (maybe thats just a british thing though). You can find a list of them here.

http://www.fender.com/dealerfinder/

As for MIA, MIM, or MIJ choose whichever you like the best and think offers you the best value. If in a year your playing a guitar you think you paid too much for you wont be happy. The same is also true if you buy a guitar and think i should have sprung extra for blahblahblah...
Its a decision that only you can make. Take heart though, there are no duffers in the brand but you pay for wha you get.

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No no and no

I hate to say this, but if it doesn't have factory tags, I do not buy it. There is just too many fakes out there. And the more we spot and point them out, the better the next one is. My friend ended up with a All Parts body with a MIM neck on it. He did not realize it until he took the neck off.

If you are going to buy on-line or from a second-hand store look for these tell tell signs (but these are not all inclusive):

1. on the 12th fret the 2 dots should be close together, at about 2/3 of an inch (1.2 cm).

2. All new American Strats will have the registered (circle R) just past the r in Fender.

From there it really goes by year what is specific on the for that model guitar. Also there are "how to spot a fake" postings all over this Forum. Really watch the curves and contours of the neck and body.

I wish you all the luck in the world in getting a Fender Stratocaster. I recommend saving your money for a new one, but I know times are tough and everyone is looking for deals. There are real deals out there too.

And for the record, a Squier is also a real Stratocaster, never let anyone tell you your guitar is anything less. I have said this before and I stand by it: I will put my Stock Squier CV 60 (SSS) against any Stock MIM Fender Standard (SSS).

RK

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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

Here's another thing: do your homework.

Study the catalogs (Musician's Friend, et al) and the Products section of this web site ... look at the pictures of the current models.

Learn some history from books and at various web sites:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html,
www.stratcollector.com, www.strat-central.com
The history is important because reissue models are made to look like the originals from the dark ages.

If you find something for sale, do some research on what it is claimed to be. For example, does it look like other pictures of 1982 Strats?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Check these threads too, there are others:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=26109

and

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=26319

rk

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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

Lots of good advice here. Take it.

Also, it's never a bad idea to bring along someone who knows a fair bit about Fender guitars and, for that matter, guitars in general. If you can't find someone who will be able to spot a fake when you're looking at used guitars, there are a few things you can do. Take the neck off and see what it says on the heel -- this will at least tell you if it's a genuine Fender neck; replacements will probably have their manufacturer's label there. Read up on the exact specs of the model you're going to look at. If they don't jive with what you see, walk away. Take photos and post them here. People better educated than me will tell you exactly what you're dealing with.

The only absolutely guaranteed way to buy a real Strat, however, is to buy from a reputable, authorized dealer. Used guitars can be had for a great bargain -- it's really all I buy -- but you have to make sure you know what you're getting into.

could some one help me with this please!!


I was wanting to buy this gat,related to the topic in a way!!


Hey everyone! If been wondering if i should buy this guitar,it could be a fake for all i know seeing that the guy repaced the neck and theres no sign that its a USA make..Heres the link,so please check it and tell me if its a bargin or not! Ive also posted another link of the old seller..

thanks!

link to the seller now...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =236436213


old seller link...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =199132526

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Sorry cannot open the links.

RK

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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

should work now in my old post!!

thanks!

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Lennontv,

As I do not know the current USD/NZD exchange rate I do not know if that is a good deal. If I remotely thought that was a true MIA Toronado I may spend $200 for the body. As the orginal neck was sold by the first owner, and the second owner wants to get rid of it (something smells fishy), I would vear away from this particular guitar.

If you really want that guitar, ask the seller if they can remove the current neck to check the stamps in the neck pocket. If they get overly upset, that just means you caught them in a scam. If they do it, you may have a legit body. As always, do your homework and see what Fender Stamps truely look like.

RK

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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

sweet thanks! 275 nz would be about 140us...if that helps

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Thanks for the tips. As for what music I play I tend to lean more towards blues/rock/classic type rock. I'm fairly new to guitar in general. I played a bit over 20 years ago and just picked it up again. I lean more towards Clapton/Hendrix/SRV styles.

I don't really care what the guitar looks like for now. My only real concern is how it sounds. The squire just doesn't seem to have the warmth I'm looking for.

I was planning on doing some pawn shop surfing (that's where the Squire came from) I wouldn't care what the new guitar looked like if it sounded the way I wanted. I don't mind buying used at all. I would rather play a guitar that is not all perfect and new looking. I always feel like I have to be careful of it and to be gentle to keep it looking new. So I'd actually prefer used for that reason alone. Not to mention the cost savings (usually)

I don't want to buy a Strat over the net because I want hear it before I buy it.

Are the Squire bodies the same as what is what is used on the mim or mia Strats? Or are they somehing else entirely?

I buy all my guitars over the web. Most if not all reputable online dealers have very generous return policies going from 30 to 45 days. That's pretty good. I live in an extremely small area so there is nothing up here. That's why I use the power of the web to do my shopping.

There are the Road Worn Strats too that are made to look old and banged up and they can be had on Ebay for good prices.

Just a suggestion though. Good luck in your quest.

I forgot to ask about this. I found a Mex Strat (that sounds pretty good) and I like it because it has a flat finish instead of a gloss finish (so I wouldn't have to worry about messing it up)

Basically it is a satin or matte black finish with a rosewood neck and an aluminum looking pick guard. I don't remember much else about it because I dismissed it after I saw it was a mim strat. Now I don't really mind if its not a mia anymore. So I will actually consider this one. It is at a local Guitar Center. The guy said that he thought it might be a California special. But he wasn't sure. Anyone know about the California special?

Does this guitar sound familiar at all? I know I probably have not given enough info to ID it but I thought I'd ask just in case.

any ideas what this guitar might be?

it was selling for $299. Sound like a good deal? Or not worth the money?