Newest GAS attack w/ pics - Serial Question

Toronado · **Joined:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:05 pm **Posts:** 2333

Hello everyone, it's been a while! I've returned to once again to pique the depths of your Fender knowledge.

Some of you may remember a while back that I had ordered a '57 Hod Rod, probably some time in June. I've finally cancelled the order due to severe impatience, as much as it'll hurt to not have that wonderful neck. I know backlogged orders have been an issue for a lot of people of late.

So here's the new beauty in question:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/96-Fender-Custom-Shop-56-Stratocaster-Shell-Pink-NR-/200535560072?pt=Guitar&hash=item2eb0d9cf88

I'm curious with regards to the 'CN' serial prefix. The Fender site indicates that these guitars are korean-made, though I feel as though they've been used for USA Custom Shop guitars aswell.

This all looks perfectly legit to me, though I thought it might be a good idea to run it by you guys for some additional say in the matter.

By the way, how about that shell pink?

Have a good day everyone

tbazzone · **Posted:** Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:47 pm

That a nice neck

shimmilou · **Posted:** Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:06 pm

Hi Toronado,

It sure looks nice, it all seems in order...but, I'm a skeptic by nature. I wonder about the serial number too, if it is a Custom Shop, why use "N5" for a '96. But, the Korean Strats wouldn't have the SN on the neck plate anyway. And is brown tolex correct for 57? I am thinking it should be tweed. The neck is mounted crooked (could it have been removed?), and it looks like a V neck to me, not a C shape.

But, to be sure, call Fender and give them the eBay item number and they can look at it with you while you're on the phone. I have done this before, they should have all the info for a Custom Shop Strat.

nikininja · **Posted:** Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:19 pm

I'd ask Mike Eldred about it.

All of Shimmilou's observations seem right to me. Also Fiesta red/Shell pink?
Do the CustomShop ever do that colour on non relic guitars as it was never a part of the catalogue. Particularly in 56/57.

Furthermore the control knobs look really out of place compared to the rest of the plastic.
The thing is only up to £830 after 19 bids. On a £2K guitar.

I really think the thing is a wrong'un or something that someone has mucked about with. Swapping parts and such.

Toronado · **Joined:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:05 pm **Posts:** 2333

I just popped Mike a message.

Thanks for the helpful responses, shimmilou & nikininja!

cliff.lee · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:51 am

Hi thats a nice strat shame about the crooked neck. a mate in aus has a srv which had the same thing had to re mount the bridge to fix that one. nice flame neck it does look like its a v shape.Cheers from aus.

Toronado · **Joined:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:05 pm **Posts:** 2333

Sorry - how is the neck mounted crooked? I guess I'm just not seeing it.. or does it look curved to the left?

nikininja · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:11 am

If you follow both E strings along the fretboard you will see that the High E string has a decreasing margin to the edge of the fretboard as you get up the fretboard. The Low E's margin increases as you go up the board.

shimmilou · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:16 am

Look at how close the high E is to the edge of the fretboard, and how far away the low E is. That usually means that the neck is mounted crooked. It can be easily corrected by loosening the neck mounting screws, pulling the neck to the side (towards the low E) and tightening the screws. But, I would expect to see a much better (tighter) neck pocket on a Custom Shop Strat. If it isn't the neck mounting, then something else is wrong, like a poorly cut nut, or the bridge is mounted wrong (not likely on a Custom Shop Strat). I have seen this many times, and it's usually just the neck mounted a little crooked, which would be an indication that it has been removed.

ZZDoc · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:55 am

Toronado wrote:

Some of you may remember a while back that I had ordered a '57 Hod Rod, probably some time in June. I've finally cancelled the order due to severe impatience, as much as it'll hurt to not have that wonderful neck. I know backlogged orders have been an issue for a lot of people of late.

Quote:

Good luck with your new quest. I'm still hanging in there.

Toronado · **Joined:** Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:05 pm **Posts:** 2333

shimmilou & nikinija wrote:

Look at how close the high E is to the edge of the fretboard, and how far away the low E is. That usually means that the neck is mounted crooked. It can be easily corrected by loosening the neck mounting screws, pulling the neck to the side (towards the low E) and tightening the screws. But, I would expect to see a much better (tighter) neck pocket on a Custom Shop Strat. If it isn't the neck mounting, then something else is wrong, like a poorly cut nut, or the bridge is mounted wrong (not likely on a Custom Shop Strat). I have seen this many times, and it's usually just the neck mounted a little crooked, which would be an indication that it has been removed.

If you follow both E strings along the fretboard you will see that the High E string has a decreasing margin to the edge of the fretboard as you get up the fretboard. The Low E's margin increases as you go up the board.

Thanks guys. Would you say this sort of thing is minor or should it deter me from buying the guitar altogether? It's so hard to find a strat with a shell pink body with a maple fingerboard (nevermind one with a neck as nice-looking at that one)..

ORCRiST · **Joined:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:18 am **Posts:** 176

Toronado wrote:

Thanks guys. Would you say this sort of thing is minor or should it deter me from buying the guitar altogether? It's so hard to find a strat with a shell pink body with a maple fingerboard (nevermind one with a neck as nice-looking at that one)..

I think the color alone should deter you from buying it all together. /shudder

ORC

nikininja · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:22 pm

Toronado wrote:

shimmilou & nikinija wrote:

Look at how close the high E is to the edge of the fretboard, and how far away the low E is. That usually means that the neck is mounted crooked. It can be easily corrected by loosening the neck mounting screws, pulling the neck to the side (towards the low E) and tightening the screws. But, I would expect to see a much better (tighter) neck pocket on a Custom Shop Strat. If it isn't the neck mounting, then something else is wrong, like a poorly cut nut, or the bridge is mounted wrong (not likely on a Custom Shop Strat). I have seen this many times, and it's usually just the neck mounted a little crooked, which would be an indication that it has been removed.

If you follow both E strings along the fretboard you will see that the High E string has a decreasing margin to the edge of the fretboard as you get up the fretboard. The Low E's margin increases as you go up the board.

Thanks guys. Would you say this sort of thing is minor or should it deter me from buying the guitar altogether? It's so hard to find a strat with a shell pink body with a maple fingerboard (nevermind one with a neck as nice-looking at that one)..

It would definitely deter me from that guitar. I can undo the neck screws on my CS guitar and still pick the whole thing up by the neck. You should expect a top quality handmade instrument from the best in the business. Not some ropey thing with the strings falling off the fretboard, that even a 1st year apprentice maker knows how to fix.
Like I said mate, I think it's a wrong'un, I really do. Why else was the start price so low? That could well be a squier or whatever body on that guitar. You just don't know and the indication is that the thing wasn't put together well in the first place.

Avoid it like the plague. If you want shell pink that bad, order a masterbuilt.

shimmilou · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:28 pm

Toronado wrote:

... Would you say this sort of thing is minor or should it deter me from buying the guitar altogether? ..

I wouldn't let that alone deter me, it's just a possible clue about the guitar. I am really interested in hearing what ME has to say about it.

nikininja · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:29 pm

If the guitar is legit then he has some explaining to do.

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