Im going friday to purchase a used strat, and the guy said that the guitar is american made, and he had it checked out by the local guitar shop in his town. The thing is, he knows nothing about guitars, and i dont know enough to authenticate an American made strat from the outside.. Help guys?

pics?

First off, welcome aboard.

It sounds as if you know that he knows nothing about guitars, but you're going
to purchase this anyway. I'd try to get a bill of sale and have the seller write down
something to the affect of "pending upon inspection and if not as advertised and MIA, full refund will be made".

It's not as easy as it used to be to protect yourself from fraud!

Good luck!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I'd be careful...

The old " This guitar is MIA, but I don't know anything about guitars line" has been used many a time to dupe an unsuspecting buyer. Obviously if you have to ask how to tell the differences you are walking into a situation that could get ugly on your half if all you have to go on is the sellers words. Unless its a killer deal I'd walk away, unless you can get pics to us first. There are many models of both MIM and MIA strats, without pics or specs it would be really hard to tell you what it is.

The guitar should have the couutry of manufacture on the front or rear of the headstock. If this info was removed I'd be very,very suspicious.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Would the seller agree to meet you at a music store of your choosing?

Or do you have a buddy/classmate/relative who'd help you check it out?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Ask the seller to give you the guitar's SN#, then call Fender Support and they can tell you everything about it. If the seller says it doesn't have a SN# then I would do what the others say and either walk away or ask him to meet you at a guitar shop.

I agree with everyone else's advice.
there is also a very useful post by Iomitus - how to spot a fake...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=35431

Post subject: How to spot a fake...Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:20 am


It will hopefully give you some good idea of what to look out for......

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"When words fail, the guitar speaks."

Without pics or a serial number to trace it will be difficult for anyone out here to help you out.
If he wants to sell it and has nothing to hide he should have no problems allowing you to take some pictures to post on here and to provide you with the serial number in order to trace it's history.
If he's unwilling to that or at the very least meet you at a music store where third party can weigh in on the matter and lend a professional opinion.
Don't let yourself believe something that's too good to be true.

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He who dies with the most Strats wins.

when i buy i dont take the sellers word for nothing.
i dont think hes a liar i just go in assuming that he doesnt know what hes talking about.
you dont want to get to comfortable with the seller. its business.
i check everything out first. if i dont know we take it to the shop and have it looked at.
if i get the opportunity to do a few deals with him and feel him out then i take more of his word on things. i have a few that i do business with on the regular. they know more than i do and ive learned a lot from them not to mention made pretty good friends too.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."