Hi. I am thinking of buying a Fender guitar with a serial number US101212. I checked their site and I can`t find any serial numbers that start with US. Do you think its a fake.

Not seen that serial no' before but I think it could be a 2010 serial no'.

Don't base your buying solely on that, it's not really based on anything other than a suspicion.

If you could post a picture or link to the guitar sale, that would help a lot.

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No no and no

That is a 2010 Fender serial number - note that Fender hasn't updated the "Product Dating" since 2006. At the start of this year Fender first used a "10" prefix instead of the old letter/number nomenclature (where Z9 stood for "2009"). However, the "10" looked a little to close to the font used for the other 6 digits so circa April or May it was changed to the "US10" prefix.

That being said, this guitar looks like it is at best a heavily modded guitar or at worst a complete parts guitar. The neck looks like it came from an American Special since that does look like a legit Fender serial number. The satin-finished tuners are Fender replacement tuners, and that style tuner hasn't been used on a production Fender since the 1998/1999 Strat Plus or Strat Plus Deluxe models; the bridge is an aftermarket bridge (SuperVee). American Specials only come in Candy Apple Red or sunburst so either the body has been stripped or it is a replacement body. Can't tell about the pickups from these photos. As I said at least the neck is a Fender American Special neck.

Hope this helps.

Could it be a 2010 Highway1 that's been modded? I suspect the body of being aftermarket far more than the neck. The pickups and gut's? Who knows?

If I were offered it, I'd have to turn it down. Too much uncertainty about it at the moment.

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No no and no

I can't tell in the pic of the walnut for the truss rod has an opening or not, but if it has an opening, then it would look like a American Special neck.
But I don't know what kind of body that would be.

Looks like maple to me, Jason. And a nice piece of lumber at that.

I can't tell much from the other visual cues though. And of course, no way to know what's under the hood.

Is it worth the money?

It depends upon what the seller is asking, I reckon.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I have a Highway 1 in that color (with that same headstock, but with a rosewood fingerboard), Amber. If it's not a satin finish on the body, then it is an American Special. Looks pretty stock to me.

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My other guitar is a Strat.

Thanks for the replies. I was offered the Fender as a trade for my ESP/LTD M-1000 guitar. He was going to add His guitar plus $200 in cash.

This seems like a fair deal. Cheers.

Bridge is wrong for a HWY1

I'd be VERY careful with that. take more pics of the back of the headstock, the serial #, etc.

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I was thinking the neck was an American Special because I hadn't seen any 2010 Hiqhway 1s that weren't sunburst with rosewood boards yet this year. Since posting that I have now seen a couple in surfing some reatiler's sites. I'm now joining with those who think it's a modded Highway 1 - the modes being the Fender/Schaller locking tuners and the SuperVee trem which will only help the guitar stay in tune. Sounds like a fair trade for the ESP since you're getting some cash added.

Definitely! Looks like a great axe. Even though not original the upgrades look like quality parts.

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