Who Knows All Things MIM?

shupe13 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:25 am

Here's why I ask. I am tempted to make an offer on two MIM Strats at a local guitar shop. The two geets are used and priced fair I think ($300-$350) but I'm just curious. I've googled and searched a ton with no real results. I forgot to get the serial numbers. :oops:

Here is a quick description of the two:

Black body, gold hardware, SSS config, white pearloid pick guard, maple neck/fret board, (the neck has a darker tint), small head stock with the ser# on the front.

Natural ash body, chrome hardware, SSS config, white pearloid pick guard, maple neck/fret board (light tint), large 70s headstock with the ser# on the back (I think) and I believe it had a 3 bolt with a micro adjust.

I'm sure they both have bullet truss'

I know this describes a million models but I though I'd try anyway. :roll:

lomitus · **Joined:** Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm **Posts:** 1598

shupe13 wrote:

Here's why I ask. I am tempted to make an offer on two MIM Strats at a local guitar shop. The two geets are used and priced fair I think ($300-$350) but I'm just curious. I've googled and searched a ton with no real results. I forgot to get the serial numbers. :oops:

Here is a quick description of the two:

Black body, gold hardware, SSS config, white pearloid pick guard, maple neck/fret board, (the neck has a darker tint), small head stock with the ser# on the front.

Natural ash body, chrome hardware, SSS config, white pearloid pick guard, maple neck/fret board (light tint), large 70s headstock with the ser# on the back (I think) and I believe it had a 3 bolt with a micro adjust.

I'm sure they both have bullet truss'

I know this describes a million models but I though I'd try anyway. :roll:

Well, you're right...that pretty much describes about a million different Strats there. Running serial numbers past Fender is a start, getting some pictures and posting them here would be even better...we just really can't do too much with descriptions like those.

I will say that the second guitar does sound like it may be a 70's reissue...the three bolt neck with the bullet truss rod is usually a give away there and I understand that there are some MIM 70's reissues out there. That said, there's no way to know whether it's real or not without decent pictures or without looking at it. The first guitar you mention though...if it does have a bullet truss rod with the small headstock and 4 bolt neck...I've -never- heard of a real Strat like that. Even the Squier Standards come with a large headstock and 4 bolt neck but they don't have a bullet truss rod.

BTW...just because they're at a guitar shop, do NOT assume that either instrument is actually "genuine". A few months back I had a kid at a local Fender authorized music store try to sell me a mid 80's Fender MIJ which turned out to be a complete fake. Granted the guitar wasn't actually hanging in the store....it was the kid's own personal guitar but he didn't even realize it was a fake until the store owner and I started pointing things out to him. Never assume a guitar is legit, prove it!

Either way, while I'm really not trying to be rude at all, I don't think most folks are going to be able to help you much here based on what you've described. From what you've said, the one guitar -could- be a MIM 70's reissue but the other, I have no clue at all. If it were me, I'd get some pictures of the guitars and get those serial number to run past the folks at Fender.

Good Luck,
Jim

Miami Mike · **Posted:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:39 am

Pictures are better than words, but serial numbers might help too.

BastardN · **Joined:** Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:00 pm **Posts:** 1218

Miami Mike wrote:

Pictures are better than words, but serial numbers might help too.

+1

shupe13 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:30 pm

lomitus wrote:

shupe13 wrote:

Here's why I ask. I am tempted to make an offer on two MIM Strats at a local guitar shop. The two geets are used and priced fair I think ($300-$350) but I'm just curious. I've googled and searched a ton with no real results. I forgot to get the serial numbers. :oops:

Here is a quick description of the two:

Black body, gold hardware, SSS config, white pearloid pick guard, maple neck/fret board, (the neck has a darker tint), small head stock with the ser# on the front.

Natural ash body, chrome hardware, SSS config, white pearloid pick guard, maple neck/fret board (light tint), large 70s headstock with the ser# on the back (I think) and I believe it had a 3 bolt with a micro adjust.

I'm sure they both have bullet truss'

I know this describes a million models but I though I'd try anyway. :roll:

Well, you're right...that pretty much describes about a million different Strats there. Running serial numbers past Fender is a start, getting some pictures and posting them here would be even better...we just really can't do too much with descriptions like those.

I will say that the second guitar does sound like it may be a 70's reissue...the three bolt neck with the bullet truss rod is usually a give away there and I understand that there are some MIM 70's reissues out there. That said, there's no way to know whether it's real or not without decent pictures or without looking at it. The first guitar you mention though...if it does have a bullet truss rod with the small headstock and 4 bolt neck...I've -never- heard of a real Strat like that. Even the Squier Standards come with a large headstock and 4 bolt neck but they don't have a bullet truss rod.

BTW...just because they're at a guitar shop, do NOT assume that either instrument is actually "genuine". A few months back I had a kid at a local Fender authorized music store try to sell me a mid 80's Fender MIJ which turned out to be a complete fake. Granted the guitar wasn't actually hanging in the store....it was the kid's own personal guitar but he didn't even realize it was a fake until the store owner and I started pointing things out to him. Never assume a guitar is legit, prove it!

Either way, while I'm really not trying to be rude at all, I don't think most folks are going to be able to help you much here based on what you've described. From what you've said, the one guitar -could- be a MIM 70's reissue but the other, I have no clue at all. If it were me, I'd get some pictures of the guitars and get those serial number to run past the folks at Fender.

Good Luck,
Jim

Thanks guys. I went back to the store to get all the info and pics so you all could help me but here's what happened.
I started looking at the pickups closely and noticed that the neck and bridge pups were cream and the middle was bright white. Further inspection revealed heavy screwdriver wear on about all the screws. It was an 11 hole pguard verses the 8 I expected. I pulled her down and she had this rattle in the micro adjust or behind the neck plate anyway. No thanks. The trem plate was black just like every pic I googled showed. No partscaster for this guy.
So I got a new '72 Tele Deluxe!
Thanks again.

shupe13 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:57 pm

jeffo46 wrote:

At least with a new 72 Tele deluxe, you know that it's a real legit Fender and besides that, it's brand new and it'll last you a lifetime. Enjoy it!

Right on. Right on.

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