Hello all. I currently am thinking about purchasing a strat from a person who does not want it (They claim is was a relatives). They say it was modded, but do not know how or what the mod is. From the pictures they sent me it seems like the tremolo cover was taken off (which i prefer) and more springs were added. The main thing that worries me is on the tip of the headstock, there is no original countour printing. I know some models of fender do this such as the american deluxe, but there is also nothing on the back of the headstock. There is a serial number which i will try to track down tomorrow since it is to late tonight. I am posting pictures of the guitar so please, if anyone can tell me if this may or may not be a fake, i would be most thankful. Oh and also, they are not willing to take the neck off of the guitar since they are not guitar savy, i would do it myself but the person selling it is in the next state over.

Hoping the pictures work!

According to the serial number, it's mexican 1994-95. The decal on the head stock was only in contour shape on the 70's strat's and the reissues of course. Don't pay too much though... it's only a mexican strat.

+1

Mexican Standard Strat to be exact.
Only mods I can see are the pickguard was changed to a black one and a new string tree was swapped for the original. And yes two trem springs were added.

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

Where are the words "Made in Mexico"? They should be on the headstock like all the other MIM Strats. Kinda weird, huh?

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A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

^ Good catch! hmm..I don't see any evidence of it being sanded off. Still has the other tell-tale signs of a MIM Std though that all the fakers seem to get wrong; tuners, black plug around the truss rod access hole, decal looks legit. A mystery.

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

Ah thank you guys! The price they are asking for is pretty fair then i think. 250$ so i am going to jump on this one =D Thank you again!

Hi Limbless K9,

Looks like it has had the bridge block updated also (maybe the whole bridge?). Looks like a nice Strat, good price too, I'd snap it up. Sometimes people do remove the "Made in Mexico" from the front of the headstock (it should be below "Stratocaster", see pic below). Not sure exactly why, they shouldn't be ashamed. Even Fender started putting the MIM on the back though, so.... More Mojo that way?

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

It's been Gilmour'ed!

I'd offer $25 less than that, but probably would go up to the asking price if it was a nicely resonant body. I'm guessing they're the original pickups - ceramic bar magnet. They will do in a crisis, but the guitar will come alive with some decent Alnicos. That would make it a project guitar - fine for me and many others, but some would want it right first time.

One other thought, the headstock has string on it. Obviously from a label or price tag. That suggests to me that it's a trader sale rather than private. Which would make the "relative's guitar" story questionnable at least..

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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!

mine is made in mexico the same mn designation and it never had a made in mexico sticker. thats not a bad price . i bought mine new in 95 for 350.

Now that you mention it, wasn't there some problem with the Mex plant about that time, and some Mex Strats actually got Am necks/parts, but were still designated with the MN serial? I know that some of the best necks that I've ever had on a Mex Strat have been on the ones from '94-'95. Anyone else remember this?

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.