Hi. I am trying to figure if my Strat is all original or not. What bothers me is the blank neck plate. I thought these only come on Mexican, Japanese or "American Special" series strats. Serial number on the back of the head is Z5024599, so it should be made in 2005.

Neck is "C" shaped, plays and looks perfectly fine. Body color is fiesta red.

Is there any other way to check if the body and electronics are original?

Thanks in advance!

Blank neck plates are the norm for most Fender guitars. There are series that have stamped plates like AVRIs and custom shop guitars. Also Mayer's sig has the SN stamped on the neck. I am not aware of any other factory run guitars that have SN stamped on the neck.

Thanks for a quick reply!

I know that most of them don't have serial on the neck plate, but this one doesn't have Fender logo, that's what I'm worried about.

If it is an american series I'd expect fender corona california on the neck plate.
However since there are so many models you'd be best posting some pics. Most of the modern strats have barcodes both in the body cavity and on the back of the neck where it is screwed to the body. There are plenting of images of bodies etc on the trading sites so make a comparison

I just took the neck and pickguard off, and I'm even more suspicious now. Bridge pickup position is routed for humbucker, and "SB" is engraved in the neck pickup routing. I guess it stands for "sunburst", but the guitar is fiesta red.

Anyway, here are the photos:









Now I'm hoping at least the neck is original...

From here looks like a highway one.
The neck barcode is certainly highway and the body with unmarked neck plate seem to fit.
It may have originally been destined for sunburst but fiesta red if that is what it is was a valid highway colour.
Hope this helps

I don't think Fiesta Red was a Highway 1 color - it could be that the body was refinished from sunburst to Fiesta Red.

Everything else looks like first generation Highway 1 to me (neck, bridge, etc.).

Hey with fender who knows but on the service diagram page under support for strats
Highway 1™ Stratocaster® 011-1100/02 08/13/02 you'll see fiesta red is spec'd.
Nothing is cast in stone though!

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Yes, this gives some hope:
http://support.fender.com/service_diagr ... A_SISD.pdf

But the finish should be satin, and this one is shiny.

Is it really possible that guitar was prepared for sunburst, and finished in fiesta red?

As I always say you learn something new every day; I honestly didn't remember that Fiesta Red was available on the Highway 1.

Just seen your pictures and YES it is all American but someone changed the neckplate ,,, should say FENDER Corona California and have a micro-tilt hole in it ,,, if you look at your body you will also see the letters " SB " strat-body means it is USA Made ,,, and should have a micro-tilt hole in the body as well,, hope this info helps you ,,,

NOTE : seen your pictures and i notice your tremolo is a 6 screw and not 2 point so what i believe you have is a 2005 Highway One if there is no micro-tilt and they all had blank neckplates ,,, but it is a USA startocaster complete

The neck is a Hwy 1

Thanks man, I was very worried, and I'd never thought that SB stands for "strat body". Yes, the plate is totaly blank.