I'm not familiar with a MX serial no'. It doesn't bode well for the guitar being a legitimate fender.

There is probably no battery under the guard. The sticker is just there because of the electronics components under there.

Put the pickup selector switch where you want. It was made to be used.

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No no and no

Hi no-talent, welcome to the Forum.

Where are you getting the 1992 date from, please? Like you, I can't find a match for that serial number on The Guitar Dater Project or on Google either. But that doesn't mean anything in itself: that Dater Project is not infalible. There's folks here who will likely know more about that s/n, so I'll leave that part of it to them.

The sure way to date your guitar is to look at the stamp on the heel of neck - and of course you have to take the neck off to do that.

Regarding the CE sticker: that stands for conformité européenne and means the item passes safety regulations in the European Union. These are the most stringent such regulations in the world and so have become the international standard. So these are the ones to which companies submit their product for approval: if it's good in Europe it's good anywhere. You will find that mark on all manner of other electrical items too - ooo look, here it is on my Canon camera, and another etched into the back of my iPod, for example.

The "don't throw in the trash" sign is also on the back of the iPod - for the same reason. Apparently the world is full of people who buy iPods and Stratocasters and then chuck them in the garbage, so they need to be told not to.

Regarding switch positions: untill the '70s Strats only came with a three position switch, to select any one of the pickups on its own. Players liked to jam the switch between positions to obtain the "quacky" sound of two pickups on simultaneously - something Leo Fender apparently didn't want us to do. However, since the mid-late '70s Fender have permitted us to do that by using positions two and four on a five-way switch.

I'm fascinated that you like putting your switch between four and five. I can't see how that achieves anything different than position four - and having just tried it on a Strat of mine it indeed doesn't seem to. But if it is doing something for you then... carry on.

Cheers - C

i just tryed that number on another site in all three catagorys

its unrecognised.

Could it be a Mexican 2010 model, possibly a customer return? I think it is usually the 1st digit after the letters that indicate year, not the last digits? Are you thinking 1992 because those are the last digits?

Any chance you could you post pics? All new Strats have those stickers (CE & don't throw away ) on them.

What does the Strat logo look like, is it dark black? Is the serial number on the back of the headstock?

Made in Mexico Strats had the serial number on the front of the headstock in 1992.

Does it look like the guitar in the link below? It is a new Strat off the "products" page.

http://www.fender.com/themes/products/i ... 375_xl.jpg

Anyway if it is from Musician's Friend, I'm thinking it it legit. Also not worried that the dater websites don't recognize the serial number. I don't believe a lot of people are trying to determine the date of their brand new Strat.

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Sounds like it was a 2010 originally purchased new then was returned. MF sells their returns as "Used" models now (they used to sell them as "Blem" models) so you will find returns that are essentially unused in MF's "Used" inventory.

Under the new Fender serial number format they are using "US10" for USA 2010 models and "MX10" for MIM 2010 models. These haven't hit the "Dating Your Fender" pages under "Support" on this site - which hasn't been updated since 2005.

For the USA intstruments Fender did use just a "10" for a couple of months earlier this year; I believe the "US10" prefix started with instruments that started shipping in May. The MIM serial numbers run from about mid-year to mid-year (for example the "MN9" numbers were used from say July 2009 until say June 2010) so I don't believe there would be any MIM guitars with "10" or an "M10"; Fender just moved on to the "MX10" prefix.

Thanks for all the helpful replies!
Yes, my Strat looks exactly like the image suggested. I'm certain it is authentic. I agree that it's most likely a new/returned instrument with a new "MX" s/n not yet making its way onto the code tracker pages.

Absolutely right about the 5-pos switch too!

No more questions. The guitar sounds great now that I am used to the difference, especially in the between-fret lengths somewhat longer than my "Chet Atkins" Gretsch. Which is odd because the Gretsch is a longer/larger instrument. The extra length is in the Atkins' massive Bigsby trem that is superb to use. No offense here - the Gretch is the easiest-fingering, smoothest-playing guitar I have ever picked. But in a week or so of working with it, I'll have that Strat producing some nerve grinding, and honey-dripping sounds... and if I had some musical talent... I could be good

1) 2010 Made in Mexico.
2) That is called the neck plate, and it is to back the four screws that hold the neck onto the body, just leave it be. The stickers are there to show it meets the ISO 9000 standards and can be sold in Europe.
3) Leave the 5 way anywhere it plays the tone you like, there is no wrong setting.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.