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Post subject: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:05 pm
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Hi everyone !

I'm Marko, from Serbia, glad to be the member of this fine community! :)

I'm completely new to this forum and to Fender strat guitars. Always wanted to own one and finally have a chance at it. However, I wouldn't know a fake Fender if it smacked me right in the face, so I would very much appreciate your help with this one !
Namely, I've come across an American standard from 2000-2001 (guitar dater project) for a decent price of 700 euros- a lot of money in my country, where an average monthly salary is around 250 euros- but still cheaper than a new one (1000+ euros)! Now, I know there are a lot of fakes out there and if I could just figure out how to upload photos here, I would like to show you this one and ask for your opinion, guys. Before I figure that one out, could somebody please just tell me some of the features I should look for on 2000/1 American standard series!
Thanks a lot! ...hope I didn't brake any rules of this forum while posting this...

[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x0kgeqis/DSCF7056a.jpg]
[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x1ax0af8/IMG_2477.jpg]
[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x1hj5oec/IMG_2478.jpg]
[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x1t3x3us/IMG_2481.jpg]
[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x21dlubo/IMG_2482.jpg]
[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x2jkinr8/IMG_2483.jpg]
[img=http://s3.postimage.org/x2mvlcqs/IMG_2484.jpg]
[img=http://s1.postimage.org/1km15hwck/IMG_2480.jpg]


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:11 pm
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Hi!

Welcome to the forum!!

Judging from the pictures, there's nothing I can see that would say it's a fake. Every part that has been documented through the pictures is accurate based on the time this guitar was build. It has the flat, off set bridge saddles, as well as a rolling string tree, and the micro tilt adjustment hole in the neck plate.

You should, however, ask the seller about that crack near the neck pocket. Ask if it's a crack in the finish or a crack in the wood. Someone else on this forum may know but i can't say anything because I don't know what either one looks like.

As far as the price of the guitar goes, I personally wouldn't pay that much for that instrument, but again, someone else on this forum might actually know what a guitar like this is worth!

Overall, it's a beautiful guitar and best of luck with your journey towards a STRAT! =)

HAPPY PLAYING!!!


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:33 pm
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Absolutely real ! It is an American Series Strat, not an American Standard ( Fender didn't list them as standards in those years) The crack in the neck pocket is 99% likely just in the finish. Even if it wasn't, there is no way that a crack in the side area of the neck pocket would affect tuning stability or structural stability.....the neck can't even make contact with the side of the pocket hard enough to split the grain without having a ding or chip in the neck where it fell over or hit something ;) Most Fender's will get this finish crack in the neck pocket after a few years.


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:47 pm
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Thank you so much, guys.
I myself was bothered by that crack- in fact it made me think that the neck was from another guitar (seen a couple of sellers around here do that).
The guitar itself plays great, in my humble opinion and that's why I'm ready to give up 700 euros. The tone has a real punch, the neck just feels so smooth and easy to play and the guitar itself is rather light when you hold it...oh, and LOVE the 5-way switch, btw, so much versatility - all in all a REAL strat tone !!!
The thing is, I've tried out a couple of new Fenders in a local music store - standards, de luxes and what not...and didn't like the tone as much as on this baby.
You've put my mind at ease and thank you for that! This girl is mine ! :D


Last edited by marko.novi on Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:48 pm
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Just a little more detail - the American Series replaced the original American Standards circa July 2000. The serial number on the one you're looking at would date it to sometime then in the second half of 2000; you would have to either contact Fender with the serial number or remove the neck and check the date stamps to get an accurate date.


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:53 pm
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@ John C
O.K. now I'm a bit confused...what would that tell me, except the type of model? That the neck was possibly switched from another guitar? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm really a rookie with Fenders..


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:38 pm
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That is one fine looking Strat.
Welcome to the forum if it was my strat I'd play it until my fingers went numb.
Very sweet.

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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:11 pm
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marko.novi wrote:
@ John C
O.K. now I'm a bit confused...what would that tell me, except the type of model? That the neck was possibly switched from another guitar? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm really a rookie with Fenders..


Okay - sorry for any confusion. Here's the history of this model, which is best described as a "modernized" Fender Strat (as opposed to a vintage reissue). The model has changed names twice over the years, and here goes the timeline:

Late 1986 - July 2000: this model was called the "American Standard" Stratocaster, and was designed after the current owners of Fender bought the company from CBS.

July 2000 - December 2007: Fender revised the guitar and released the revised model in early July 2000; at that time they renamed the guitar the "American Series" Stratocaster. The revised models had some new features including only having 1 string tree and having staggered height polepieces on the pickups among other updates. This was also the start of Fender using the neck plate that said "Fender Corona California"; the previous neck plate only said "Fender" with the "Fender" written at an angle.

January 2008 - present day: Fender again revised the guitar and released the revised model in January 2008; at that time they brought back the name "American Standard" Stratocaster.

Since the guitar you are looking at carries a 2000 serial number and has the updated features of the model Fender released in July 2000, it is most properly called an "American Series Stratocaster". It does not look like the neck was swapped or anything like that; it looks like a legit American Series Strat made sometime between July 2000 and early 2001.

Fender serial numbers are not an exact way to date the guitar; Fender typically uses them up before switching over to the next year's serial numbers. The "Z0" equals "2000". the only way to really tell if the guitar is a 2000 or a 2001 is to check the date stamps or email Fender to see when that guitar was originally sold to a dealer.


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:15 am
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@ Oskar555
Hahaha, thanks a lot, man !

@John C
Thanks for the timeline! I was looking for that kind of information earlier on the Internet, but couldn't find it (guess I didn't look hard enough). I will contact guys from Fender, just so that I find out what model this is exactly.

Anyway, called the guy today and confirmed the transaction! Yeah, and he said that those pickups are fender custom shop, didn't know which model, said they cost him a fair amount of money... Anybody got any experience on custom shop pickups?

Thank all of you guys, you've helped me a lot in making up my mind! Obviously, people on this forum know a great deal about strats and are willing to help, guess I'll be here a lot being that this is unfamiliar territory for me. :)
Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:50 pm
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Hi Marko, I bought an older Strat recently that someone had put Custom Shop pickups in, and they sounds great! My first experience with CS stuff, too.


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:10 pm
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Hi Guys,

I'm in the process of buying a 2007 American Series Strat and this thread was a massive help! Was a bit concerned over the authenticity of the guitar as I'm buying it from an exchange/pawn type place. I'm hoping to do a straight swap for the guitar with my Gibson Les Paul Studio (ebony with chrome hardware). I've finally accepted I'm a Fender guy through and through, and it feels GOOD!

My question was, what are the pickups like in the American Series Strats? I play in a pretty loud band (http://www.cleftband.co.uk) and use an overdriven sound quite a lot and was wondering how noisy the single coils are likely to be. I know with all single coil pickups there will always be some 60 cycle hum, but if these are vintage output pickups they are probably likely to be worse than more modern style ones right? Will I have to do a full blown shielding job, lining the guitar's cavity with foil etc to clean up it's output?

Does anyone have the full specs for the guitar? I found the bridge a real joy to play, I like the big flat saddles, very comfy for palm muting.

Thanks for your help in advance.


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:23 am
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Well, the pictures show nothing which would me make worry, except the price!
I know, in Europe white strats are popular and get high prices but unless there's a Fender Tweed Case included I would not pay 700 Euros!!

I bought a 1986/87 American Standard for 595 Euros including tweed case, I payed 665, 680 and 585 for three other olympic white strats, all with tweed cases.

Usually you exceed 700 Euros only if it says 62 re-issue, 54 re-issue or custom shop of course.

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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:31 am
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Dan_Cleft wrote:
My question was, what are the pickups like in the American Series Strats? I play in a pretty loud band (http://www.cleftband.co.uk) and use an overdriven sound quite a lot


Well, I like overdriven sounds, too.
I play 8 USA Fender Strats.
Single coils are generally noisier than humbuckers unless they're Lace Sensors or any of the new Fender noiseless pckups (I have the new Somarium Cobalt Noiseless in my Am. Deluxe, they sound like having a blanket over the guitar! :( )

In the intermediate positions (2 and 4 on the 5-way switch) standard single coils pretty quiet.

In other positions you gotta use the volume knob on your guitar. Turn it off whenever you don't play a note and you'll be fine!
It also depends on the location though. Some stages are bad (lots of disturbing electrical fields), some are fine.

If you like the strat sound, I wouldn't worry about it.

As far as LOUD goes: that's a matter of the amp! Good amp, no probs! Strats can be loud as hell to keep up with a loud band. :wink:

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STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:05 pm
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Smokin' Frets wrote:
Dan_Cleft wrote:

As far as LOUD goes: that's a matter of the amp! Good amp, no probs! Strats can be loud as hell to keep up with a loud band. :wink:


So true, the Malmsteen way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK_xNQPxQ_4

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Post subject: Re: HELP - fake or real ?!
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:20 pm
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Welcome to the forum. My good friend Sasa is also from Serbia, I know things can be very expensive. Strat looks authentic to me, if you are comfortable with the price, ok. I can only go by USA prices. Example..I just found a strat SN# puts it at 1984/88, and seller is asking $600 US, i offered $500, and still waiting for reply.
Dobra sreća s tvoj stratocaster , pa dobrodošli u određeni član forum

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