While trolling craigslist the other day I saw an ad posted 'Guitar-$30'. I click on it and I notice it's definately a Strat but the logo has been sanded off and some strange ramblings have been written on the headstock, but it has "F" tuners and a date code at the end of the neck. Does anyone know if there's a way to tell if this is a Fender or a Squier or where it was made? It doesn't really matter It plays and sounds great and it only cost $30 plus an hour drive, but I'm kind of curious.

Hi drunkdawgie, welcome to the Forum.

Very unlikely that any of us here will be in competition with you for this guitar, so why not post a link to the page, we'll take a look at it and see if there's anything we can offer to help you with it?

Other than that, there's ways of finding stuff out about legit Fenders, but they mostly involve having the guitar in your hands, along with a screwdriver...

Cheers - C

Well I already got it so I doubt anyone will beat me to it. The question would be what do I need to look for. What sort of tell-tale signs would there be to determine it's brand or place of origin.

The date is 10 JUL 1999, It's a big headstock. If it is a Squier it's not an Affinity (I can tell but the sealed tuners and no extra mounting holes). I'm pretty sure it's not American (21 frets).

Hi again: so I presume you are finding that date on the butt end of the neck, right? Let us see a photo of that and another of the inside of the neck pocket. A view of the under side of the pickguard will help too.

You could also measure the distance from center to center of the outer most of the six tremolo fixing screws (assuming it's not a two-point one). 52 mm will confirm that it is either a Mexican Fender or a Squier. 56 mm will make it an American model.

A look at the tuners may or may not help tell a Squier from a MIM too. Though they could have been upgraded by a previous owner...

In short, the more photos you feel like showing us the better diagnosis we can make. Over to you...

Cheers - C

I have to find my camera but the screws are 52mm center to center so we've at least narrowed it down to Mexican or Squier. I'm leaning towards the Squier. It doesn't have the micro tilt adjustment like my '89 American Standard or my '80s Contemporary Strat.
As soon as I locate my camera I'll get those pics.
Thanks