Hi all,

I have the option to buy a standard USA strat for an interesting price. The guy says the guitar is only 3 months old and showed me some pictures, but they weren't of great quality (looked like they were made with a phone). The serial number he gave me starts with US10XXXXXX and the story 'looks' pretty authentic to me. He says he has the proof of payment.

1. Where can I check that serial number? Can I call fender?
2. When you buy an American standard Strat, do you get any proof of authenticity? If so, he should have it right

Just wondering...I find it just weird someone is selling a 3 months old guitar for 400 dollar less.

I know what you mean about the price. Fake decal/serial numbers are made and sold everyday. You can tell more by looking at the inside of the guitar. Post a picture here and I'm sure some of our experts can help you authenticate the model/year of the guitar.

BTW, Welcome to the forum!!

Post some pics.

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Probably stolen.

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Serial Number Lists are here:

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/u-s-instruments-product-dating

Do not put too much faith in to serial numbers on guitars that can be bolted together as easily as a Fender! The only way to know for sure is to be researched, and experienced with Fenders. That way, you will know quickly when something is not right. to ease your mind, most guitars ARE legit. When you are getting ready to spend real money (over a grand) for used or vintage instruments, or if the price is too good to be true, that's when you will have to be cautious. There are many "partscasters" out there, and almost every guitarist will make one at some point These parts guitars may be real fender parts, but not an actual production spec instrument. Also, dating a Fender by the serial number will only get you so close, like within a year or two on older guitars. Sometimes the neck will be dated different than the body.

$600 sounds like a killer deal on an American Standard; guitars are like cars; they depreciate the minute you take them home. I've typically seen used American Standard going for $650-$750 on the used market.

Fender's "Product Dating" website is now 6 years out of date; 2005 is the last year on their list. Fender changed their serial numbers in 2010 and dropped the "Letter+Number" prefixs. The early 2010 guitars just had a "10" followed by 6 digits; unfortunately the "10" looked almost exactly like the other 6 digits so Fender changed to a "US10" prefix and made that prefix much bolder than the other six digits.

You can contact Fender's Consumer Relations with the serial number and they can verify model, color, and the store it was originally shipped to. However, Fender does not issue any certificates with most production models; for a while they put one in with the '52 Reissue Teles but I'm not sure they still do that.

Thanks John and others.

I contacted fender, and they verified it's an American Standard US Strat, made in august, 3 tone sunburst.

However, the guy is asking more now because of a higher bid: around 800 dollars. Would it still be a good deal?

Up to you because for a little over a hundred more and you can get a brand new one with all of the warranty, etc. If it were me I'd go buy a new one that I picked out , felt good, and the color I wanted!

Hmm not sure what you mean. The US standard strats are around 1600 dollar here (Holland).

Sorry, I see! They go for $999.00 over here in US. So, it probably is a deal for you!

Wow you guys are lucky there! Looks like a deal yeah

Yeah, looks like a deal ,but I still wonder why he is selling a 3 month old guitar for half the price. Can you post pictures so some of our experts can inspect it for you? Better safe than sorry my friend. I hope all works out good for you!!

Like I said, not the best pictures you can imagine. I'm lefthanded btw

http://img141.imageshack.us/f/59996133.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/f/29897680.png

Can't ell much from those pics. The bridge is right, that's all I can see good enough. But it could have been changed. Like fhopkins said, I too wonder why he's selling the guitar for half price if it's only three months old. Could be stolen maybe. Good luck with it. You really need some better photos to look at.

_________________
"Damn Right I Got the Blues"