I am watching a Strat guitar on Ebay. Says its brand new but when I try to find the year made on this website, the serial numbers only go to MZ5 and the series number in one of the pictures on Ebay show MZ6211153. My question is" Is this a real Fender guitar or a fake?". I really like the guitar but have never owned one and dont want to spend all my hard-earned cash on something bad. Please advise?

according to guitar dater project:


Your guitar was made at the
Ensenada Plant (Fender), Mexico
in the Year(s): 2006 - 2007

pictures would help.

Thanks for the quick update.

Fender is way behind in updating their product dating page; it hasn't been touched since 2005. As badvibes says the one you're watching sounds like a legit 2006/2007 MIM Strat. Fender MIM serial numbers change over mid-year.

This is very problematic because Fender changed their serial number system as of 2010. From January 2010 unitl about April 2010 USA Fender serial numbers start with a "10"; after about May 2010 they start with a "US10". Plus Fender has stopped using a "D" as the first letter of American Deluxe serial numbers and an "S" as the first letter on Artist Signature serial numbers.

Since MIM serial numbers change over mid-year Fender went from using "MZ9" serial numbers (mid-2009 through mid-2010) to using "MX10" serial numbers about July of last year.

Post some pics if you can.

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He who dies with the most Strats wins.

John C - thanks for the info. I bought a Baja about two months ago with an MX10 serial #. Now I know it was recently built.

i would NEVER buy a guitar sight unseen. i work to hard for my cash to be ripped off.
to many things can go wrong and be wrong with the guitar.

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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."