So I keep hearing about fake MIMs. I don't have the cash to spend on a brand new one so I'm going used. Anyone want to tell me if this thing looks legit?










Thanks in advance. I also apologize in advance if this is against any forum rules.

Legit MIM Standard Fat Strat. Go for it if the price is good.

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

Agree! It looks like a 2005 or 2006 model. Beautiful!

And when it's yours, sort out those damn bridge saddles! Some ham-fisted buffoons shouldn't be allowed near guitars..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

+1 on saddles and beautiful strat.
Probably selling it cause he thinks it sounds crappie,
all it needs is a good setup and probably sounds great

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Concur, looks very legit. I don't know of anyone who would fake a MIM..normally they use MIM or where ever else parts and fake those to look like a MIA.

Going by the first few of the serial number it seems to be a 2005 model. M is mex...Z is 2000...5 is 2005..and 11XXX.. is the rest of the serial number.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Looks totally legit to me, bag it!!

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You dig?

The trem cover on the back is single ply, it looks like what comes on a Squier.

My 2007 MIM has a 3 ply plate.

The serial number is not straight. The digits on the end droup. I have never seen Fender with numbers that were not straight on the mark.

I would leave it alone

Be patient save some more money and buy your guitar form a reputable music store! With this one you will always have some doubt and that takes away from the satisfaction.

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I remember when we were free!

Nonsense, I'd have to disagree with the last post...many mexican strats have the serial number decal numbers a little off, it is not unusual or suspect when everything else on this ax appears so legit..and the trem cover could have been replaced...but other 2005 mexis have the EXACT IDENTICAL same cover, I say again..it is correct.

Just make sure the neck heel pocket is thick like a USA. I have no doubts this one is the real McCoy, I would bet my first born on it if I ever have one. DO NOT pass on this one if it is a good deal!!!!!!!!!!

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

don't listen to these paranoid haters. Here are pics of any random Mexi Strat you can find..notice...all the headstock numbers are a bit off...and notice the trem cover. I do not care if you buy this guitar or not, i have nothing to gain or lose either way...but I am giving you sound advice, others seem to have NO clue and hence should NOT be giving advice as to how to spend your money...what is better PROOF then a pic..as they say "pics or it didn't happen". well someone post any pics to back up that this Strat is not a real mexi...I await..I do not mind being proven wrong, but to give the wrong advice to someone ready to make a purchase is not cool...

Not to mention..who the heck would need to make a fake MIM??? That is like trying to fake a Toyota into being a Nissan..what the heck would be the purpose?

[img][img]http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo133/rongold5/mexi1.jpg[/img]
[img][img]http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo133/rongold5/mexi3.jpg[/img]
[/img]

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

And to add...as far as I know..if this was an older mexi squier and for some reason someone wanted to make it look like a non squier...they would have fun hiding the second string tree hole in the head stock..as non squier mexis only use one.

I just can't see any justification to go through this much work to make a mexi seem so legit...the preponderance of the evidence points in all logic and reason, that this ax is legit. Anyone with the skill to forge a mexi to this degree..would certainly have the skill and brains to have forged a USA strat...make sense?

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

+1 for all of the above. The last few digits usually droop on MIM Standards because of the way the consecutive numbers are printed. I see it all the time in the priting insustry when registration is off.

The 1-ply backplate is correct for 2005 and before. Wasn't it with the 2006 MIM Std upgrade that they went to 3-ply? I'll have to compare my 2005 and 2006 Frontline catalogs.

I used to work in a guitar store for a couple of years and have played and inspected hundreds of Fenders new and vintage. This one looks exactly like all the other MIM's I've seen.

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

Is it because of the color? You are not fond of Sage Green Metallic? What else could it be, right?

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

Losblancos,

On this forum you will run into all types of people, and when you ask for opinions sometimes you will get differences based on varied experience. But generally folks are helpful and sincere.

Ultimately, it's going to be up to you to decide. Faking guitars is an art form in China and the Pacific Rim. Taking $50.00 worth of parts and turning it into something you can get several hundered dollars for is a good profit margin and motivation no matter what brand or level they are trying to counterfit.

http://www.vintagerock.com/fakeguitars.aspx

If you have the least doubt in your heart about it, see if you can find a friend or someone who you trust that can look at it for you in the flesh. Do not be in too much a hurry. Honest up front people will work with you when they are trying to sell something. If someone is stiff and hard about it they may just be that way as a matter of personality or they may have something to hide. (selling stolen goods).

Buying form a dealer eliminates the doubt. You get the guarantee!
Nothings worse that buying and then regreting. It's you money, and you will have to live with the decision, not a bunch of us clowns on a forum.

Good luck to you in this matter, and let us all know what you decide.

OL

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I remember when we were free!

Thanks for the replies guys.

This listing comes with a pretty legit amp and a whole bunch of other stuff, so I guess that helps somewhat. So far the seller hasn't given me a bad vibe at all.

I was more worried about something like an MIM neck put on to a Squier body/hardware than an out and out MIM fake.

I'm going to go check it out today, and barring anything strange happening I will probably buy it.


You guys said something about adjusting the saddles... Forgive my total n00bness, anyone got a good link as to how that's done?