Does anyone know of a 2006 MIM strat being made in black with maple neck and 22 frets? This guitar also (apparently) has noiseless pickups which do not have staggered poles. The Fender logo and serial numbers look authentic (MZ5######) and the headstock has the 'original contoured body' logo and another serial number on the reverse of it (Z#######).

I have bought this guitar as being new but i'm having serious doubts about it. It came boxed with all the accessories (strap, tremolo arm etc) sealed in plastic bags and the scratch plate protection and stickers all intact. Basically, in 'as new' condition but after checking i have found that it doesnt have the fender bullet strings fitted as stated on the stickers. I've noticed that the fender logo on the tuning pegs aren't all parallel to each other, they're all over the place. The so-called noiseless pickups also give a slight buzz when you play a note.

I searched the internet and I cant find any MIM strat like it . Infact, I've found it very frustrating to find any real official information regarding strats that are made in mexico.

Hopefully, someone can help me with this







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The american deluxes come stock with noiseless pickups. So if you do indeed have these, its not a new, stock mim strat. On the bright side, those pickups are considered an upgrade from mim pups. However, I think you can put noiseless pup covers on non noiseless pups.
Also, If I understood you correctly, the neck has 2 different s#'s? That is not a good sign either. If you hotlink some pics here, there are some around here who can verify its authenticity quite accurately. Pics of the entire guitar, neckplate, headstalk, and pup covers may prove helpful to identify this thing for you.
Hope this helps, and welcome to the forum.
J

Thanks for the reply. I have pictures but i dont know how to post or hot link them. I've not used forums before.

Create an account with photobucket. Upload desired images there. Then, simply copy and paste the url's for each pic and include them within the text box in your next post!
J

Ok i'm doing that as we speak. Thanks again J

Hi Paul
I am new to this forum and stubled apon your thread on another forum site. I was looking at a Strat very similar to the one you have pictured and after the experts had a look it has been discovered that it is a chinese fake. The particular Strat i was looking at even has the exact same serial number yours has.

http://www.gumtree.com/london/66/51474366.html

Craig

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that guitar is all sorts wrong. I don't even know where to begin...
That's not even a MIA or MIM neck. No MIM's have 22 frets. There is no plug around the truss rod hole. MIA's have walnut, MIM's have black plastic. Someone slapped a "Z" MIA serial number on back of the headstock and then slapped an MIM logo and serial number of the face. MIM Standards don't have the "custom countour decal". It looks like a hodge-podge of decals went onto this assumedly generic after-market neck.

Since the pickguard still had the factory stickers on it, we can assume the only genuine Fender article on this guitar was the pickguard (unless the seller took the time to fake the stickers too). Check out the pickups. Are they really noiseless or did the seller slap noiseless branded pickup colors on some cheap pickups? The bridge looks not right too.

Sorry about the bum deal you got. That makes me mad that there are scum out there ripping people off. Can you send it back for a refund?

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

The pickups aren't noiseless. The font is wrong and the polepieces aren't staggered or beveled.

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No no and no

That guitar is a pretty typical Chinese Counterfeit.

Add the serial number MZ5106862 to the list of faked numbers.

The Chinese maker does counterfeit the pickguard stickers and lots of the "case candy," such as hang tags, bumper stickers, etc. It all adds to the illusion of reality (to the untrained (novice buyer's) eye).

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Sorry to hear you got smoked. Only buy from reputable dealers.

Hear are some words of wisdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKgPY1adc0A

Where was this ordered from?................... Mike

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

Yeah, looks like a total fake ...

- Neck plate is wrong
- Screws in trem back plate are wrong
- Truss rod ring is wrong
- Number of frets are wrong
- The "contour" sticker is wrong
- Two serial numbers on the headstock is definitely wrong
- 22 frets is wrong

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

Kraigeyroxx, I went to that guitar on the Gum Tree site and reported to them that the guitar is counterfeit, with reference to the guitar shown here and the identical serial number. Whether they remove the ad remains to be seen.

Looks like they've removed it from the Gum Tree site.

Sorry dude that sucks. I'd be really pissed!