I am not too knowledgeable about Strats but recently purchased a Fender Strat that was marketed as a 60s re-issue - Closet Classic. I think that its date of production was listed as 1992. According to various well-established musicians who have played the guitar, it has the authentic 60s Fender Strat sound. I was originally informed that it was from a limited run made only for the USA and Europe. The front of the headstock bears the following - "Fender Stratocaster. Made in USA. With synchronized tremolo. Pat. 2,573,254 2,741,146 2,960,900. Original contour body Pat Pend." There is no writing on the rear of the headstock. It has a more modern D shape neck. It also comes with an authentic 1960's Fender Strat case. The serial number on the rear plate though is 57774 which, when looked up on the guitar dater project, indicated the following:

"Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - Pre CBS Era), USA
in the Year(s): 1960 - 1961

Fender: Fullerton
The Fullerton factory opened in 1946, Fullerton California with the first major electric solid body guitar production began in 1950 with the Broadcaster (later known as the Telecaster). Sold in 1965 to CBS who in 1985 sold Fender to a group of private investors the plant was not included in that sale and was subsequently closed."

I am aware that in some of the limited re-issues, Fender continued with the numbering of the original guitars from those years. Can anyone provide me with any further information in this regard to identify it correctly? It would also be nice to know more about the guitar's pickups as they have quite wonderful sound. I am unable to post photos on other websites, but photos are available and can be e-mailed upon request. Thanks.

You should contact Fender Customer relations and let the tell you what you have. If your info is right you have a very valuable guitar. Find a way to post pics here and peolpe will def be able to help you out.

Thanks for this useful information. However, short of making an international call to the Fender in the USA, it is unlikely that they would be able to assist as there does not appear to be an e-mail address to deal with enquiries of this nature.

Here you go.
http://www.fender.com/support/consumer_relations.php

Much appreciated. E-mail sent with photos.

Have finally been able to post photos - check out http://www.mypicx.com/05102010/Fender_S ... s_reissue/
and click on each for clear and undistorted phtos.

I'm no expert but that appears to be a MIM neck (if it is a real Fender neck) with a bad logo put on. The "MADE IN USA" is wrong.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Bingo! Good eye Voodoo Blues. I agree it is a MIM Standard neck with forged decals. The black ring around the truss rod hole was what gave it away for me. The ring is walnut on American Standards. But neither should be there on a 60's reissue.

Huntly - If this was truly a 60's Reissue model (Custom Shop, AVRI, or MIM) the truss rod access would at the butt of the neck and there wouldn't even be a plug at he headstock end. From first glance, he body looks like a legit MIM 60's Classic Series; mint green pickguard with the period correct location of the screw between the neck and middle pickups.

But ooks like a partscaster to me with different neck and who knows what else just judging by those two pics. A neckplate with a serial number are easy to fake. Detailed pics of under the pickgaurd, hardware, back of headstock, and the neck heel might help figure out the true origins of these components.

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

Thanks for the information.

I purchased the guitar through the Junk Mail website. For more photos and information from the previous owner see:
http://www.junkmail.co.za/v-johannesbur ... EdQX201006