I'm thinking of buying this guitar (in person) but I'm slightly unsure about what it is. From the body it looks like a USA American Series Stratocaster. It supposedly has a Z2 serial number and a fender stamped microtilt neckplate. However given that it's a 2002 it should have staggered tuners and one string tree, but from the photo it clearly has 2 string trees. The seller assures me it's a Standard USA Strat (with new pickups and a pickguard) but from the information I have it seems more like a Highway 1 strat neck from 2002 with a standard series body?

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Get the sn# and ask customer relations what it is. I bought 2 strats over the past week and both got back to me within a day with info on the guitar.

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)

+1 on what Jack FFR said, but it does look like someone was trying to cobble together one to mimic the David Gilmore Model. Any more picks, back side might help?


FWIW

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

I can affirm that the headstock is identical to my 2003 Highway One. However, I checked my 2004 Fender Frontline catalog (nothing says Fender nerd like a stock pile of Frontline catalogs lol) and the American Standard headstock looks just about identical except it only has one string tree. It's very hard (if not impossible) to tell them apart other than that. It's possible the owner could have added another string tree, but the placement of it matches where a Highway One's would be. I don't know if Highway Ones were produced in black at that time. It didn't say, and I don't remember. That's something to find out.

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Is the body a high gloss poly finish? Highways old and new are satin finished with a much thinner laquer.. Could be a shined up Highway body from what I see here, but close up, you'll easily tell the distinctive orange peel effect that polishing has.

That could be an older Highway neck - can't remember what logo script the original Highways had.

What does the Sustain block look like? Fat/skinny? Skinny says original Highway..

It's undoubtedly been made into something it wasn't when it came out of the factory, so all bets are off anyway. If you like it, buy it.

Maybe I'm weird, but I've never ever bought a guitar with a thought about future re-sale value..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Look at the bridge. Thats a 2 point bridge with the modern saddles, Highway ones have never had 2 point bridges. Body is definitely an American Standard. I'm guessing its either an older American standard than what the owner says or an American Standard body/ Highway one neck.