Hi everybody

I'm looking at buying a used MIA strat 40th anniversary made in 1994 can you give me any advice on what to look out for when I inspect it. The guy selling it has described some of the features on it and I've seen photos of them on another posting on the forum. It's sunburst with maple fretboard. The serial no. is N3+6 digits and is located on the front of the headstock.

It comes with a hard case (curved on the left hand side when viewed from the top) with red plate with fender logo in silver.

Anyone got one similar? ..... as I'm checking if it's a legitimate strat as its being offered to me at a reasonable price.

The guy selling it says he bought it used in 1996 for $600....whats it worth now?

I'm a beginner and any help would be very welcome...as I'm just learning about strats.

I posted this on another strat forum, just repeated it hear just in case anyone else is interested in offering me some advice.....I'm tempted to buy this guitar over the weekend just in case I miss out on a good guitar!!!

Interesting find.

40th anniversary edition models had a placque on the headstock indication a 40th anniversary strat as below.



also, it will have the following on the neckplate... "FENDER STRATOCASTER"
"40 Years ...and still rock'in"


Otherwise, if it doesnt have both of these, stay right away from it

Limited edition strats also had painted matching headstocks, and are hard to come by

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thanks for the reply, i'm told it has both the "40 year logo" on the head stock and the 1994 stamped neck plate....I haven't seen it yet but am gettin' excited about it now!

Jot, every American Standard had the headstock badge and the "40 years.." neckplate that year. I know this because I have one of em.
There was an official 40th anniversary model they only made 1954 (clever hey,) of them. It will be numbered.

If it isn't one of the limited run then it is just an American Standard. Don't end up paying a premium price for the normal Strat.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

thanks twelvebar,
good to know the difference in the special and the standard (i'm sure the price difference is big) but from the guys description it's not one of the 1954 (yea very clever!!) so I think its a standard. I'm goin' to try it out tomorrow.

There's one on my local craigslist for $850. Don't know if anyone will buy it for that price though.

There were also "deluxe" & "deluxe plus" models, with lace sensors, and I've seen a few "ultras" as well. The model limited to 1954 guitars were 1954 reissues.

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SG.
"Walls" video from Zero in the Sun by Villains of Yesterday

thank you everyone for all your advice, it really helped me with buying a great guitar (imo) a standard MIA strat with the 40yr anniversary logo on headstock and 40yr anniversary neck plate maple fingerboard and sunburst body colour.

Just wondering what stuff came in the case with the guitar when new (case candy?) e.g. what type of fender strap, lead, manuals, booklets etc. as i'm looking to get replacement ones to complete the package.

thanks again.

Here is the candy that came with my '93- perhaps it wont be too different:

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An ex girlfriend threw out my case candy years ago, cleaning up.

But what Blertes posted is essentially what came with it, with the exception of the documentation for his pickups, which is probably unique to that model.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

I posted on another thread on this forum a 94 40th Ann. Strat sunburst with a maple neck is worth between $1,400-1,600.You got a good deal.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Blertles love that color. That is one fine looking ax.

Thanks I love it too, it's a true nineties colour. You dont see too many of them around

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Blertles...thanks for the photos...you got a really sweet guitar, haven't seen that colour before.

Twelvebar...it's good to know that thanks.....cleaning has its drawbacks! (hope the guitar wasn't thrown out!!)

guitslinger...I thought that I got a bargain but WOW didn't know that they were valued that highly! Out of curiosity do you still have a link to that thread or can you remember any keywords that would narrow down the search for me?....thanks

Hi Jot the threads I posted 40th Ann. info on were:Any ideas what Strat I have posted Jan 25 by Solents and How much is my 40th Ann. Strat worth posted Jan 27 by tennman 316 both on this forum.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.