Hi, A mate of mine has asked me to look at his "strat" to see if I know what its worth but I am not sure if it a realy old genuine strat or a copy and hope someone might be able to help.
For starters its cream coloured, Laquered maple neck, Well worn, narrow c shape, The rear of the tuners are pointed, like a diamond pyrimid. there is a fender lable with a small number 856038. The trem bridge has no fender stamped on it, Has single ply scratchplate.
Any help most welcome.
bart.

Hi bart tat: do the tuners look like this (picture from Axesrus)?



If so, those are known as "diamond back" tuners and are a budget model found commonly on Chinese Squier Strats and similar.

That immediately gives us a clue as to what your friend's guitar might be - the word "Squier" on the headstock will be another such clue...

A small oval metallic gold sticker with Fender in red somewhere on the back of the headstock will also be a strong signal that this is a Chinese Squier, probably from the '90s. If the "Squier" logo seems to be black ink printed on to the headstock that will corroborate my diagnosis, which also fits the one-ply (eight fixing screw?) pickguard. The neck probably has no skunk stripe on the back and no dark wood or black plastic surround to the trussrod entry hole.

I seem to know more about '90s Squiers than I ought...

Post some decent quality pictures if you want folks to help more. It's usually not too easy to go further just on a vague description.

Cheers - C

Hi, There is a skunk stripe, nothing printed on back of head, 21 frets. I dont think it is a squire as nothing to indicate this. The neck plate is blank. The tuners are similar to the pickture except the wings are should I say V shapish.
Thanks anyway,
bart.

Uh-hu? OK, well if it doesn't say Squier on the headstock what does it say?

If the headstock is blank then I bet it's a Squier that someone has sanded the logo off.

More info needed for accurate analysis - and preferably pictures.

Cheers - C