Im going to purchase a MIJ 2010 candy apple red standard strat tomorrow. The last time i checked it out i saw the Made in Japan stamp on the headstock together with the stringed leaflet that also says made in japan. But i did not see any serial number on it. Where else can i check to tell if its real?

No one seriously? Im sure many of you out there have bought MIJs before. Can someone fill me in?

Mate, it's a little difficult judging authenticity with what you've given us. Generally, the serial numbers are on the heel of the neck. Where are you buying from? pictures are worth a thousand words.

Im buying it from this place downtown with plenty of guitar shops, so im guessing it should be the real deal. But I'll post up pics of it soon once i got it.

Unless i'm way off, on the back of the neck almost at the body it should say "Crafted in Japan" on a 2010 model.

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Alright the serial was at the end of the neck, near the heel. The serial is T084625.

That makes it
(MIJ) T + 6 DIGITS

1994-1995

Nice year for MIJs

Really? Strange, cos the guys at the shop told me its a 2010 MIJ strat, and it looks to be true because the guitar looks very very new like it just got taken out of the box not too long ago. Everything from the finish, the neck, frets, they all look very much alive. Only the metal parts like the saddles look muddy and tarnished. But its not too bad.

Perhaps I should contact fender for a more accurate date?

If that is the serial number....

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

Its 94/95.... you are better off with one is this era in excellent condition than a new one... IMHO... The 80's and 90's were a great time for Japanese Quality in general... that goes for guitars/cars etc...

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In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

It could be a 2010 as the seller says because

1) Fender Japan are using the "Made in Japan" term again, and

2) Fender Japan are reusing serial numbers that were used in the past.

That won't be too confusing, will it?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Yeah that makes a lot more sense. I had no idea they were reusing the old serial numbers. And i couldnt find anything about the 2010 MIJs on google. Thanks for the tip. For a moment there i thought i had an extremely well preserved 1994-95 strat hehe

And as we all know, Fender-Japan's serial coding system has been oh-so-easily-decipherable in the past......



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY