I came across this add and, well, let's just say that there are a number of inaccuracies here.

* First of all, it's not "mint condition" - the guitar has been moded (bridge pick up replaced).

* Secondly, the following statement shows that the seller has no idea what it is he or she is selling: Being a 50 year centenary this is an absolutely faithful reissue of the early fifties strats and features solid maple neck and fretboard, fifties style 8 screw pickguard.

* Thirdly, they are asking for too much money. I'm sure it's a nice guitar and all, but you can go to Guitar Center and get a brand new American Standard for about $100.00 more and probably get an even better deal on a use one.

Also, where is Fenders "Coronado" factory?

Correct if I'm wrong but I don't see anywhere that the add says it in in "Mint condition". It says that it is "mint colored" which I suppose the blue finish could be interpreted as. The "Mint" in the title probably refers to this as well. It still shows a lack of knowledge on the sellers part.

Again if I simply missed it, my apologies.

_________________

You are right...I took the word "mint" in the heading as a reference to the condition of guitar.

I think it's near Colorado?

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

Don't leave home without it!

Actually, you're BOTH correct ... since the Ad author states "perfect condition" (which is the definition of "mint condition")

Coronado, derived from the word corona,
like the beer.
so it has to be a guitar that's chillin
like a villain.
with a nasty hangover !

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

I own the exact same guitar, but in candy apple red. I bought mine used for $625. This is just a USA Standard Strat that was made in 1996, and in fact nearly all 1996 model Fenders have this same 50th anniversary sticker

Yea, It looks like a basic MIA Standard, not some reissue. So the description is not accurate, whether they're being deliberately deceptive or not.

Isn't the internet fascinating...here we are ripping this guys craigslist ad apart, and he probably has no idea his ad is the subject of a very popular forum.

I wonder how many times i've been the subject of a forum and didn't know about it.

Ha ha. I was just on Ebay looking at Carvin guitars. There's an ad on there for a Carvin 127 that the seller claims is made from a single piece of wood

Wutta dope. The 127 is a neck-through design, but one piece of wood?...nope.

There isn't anything special about this guitar. I bought the same guitar, only without the mini HB neck pickup for under $700. It's a run of the mill 96 or 97 Strat. Every Fender instrument in 1996 received the same little gold foil badge. Fender did the same thing in 2006 with a little metal badge on the back of the headstock.

Fender did come out with a 1994 40th anniversary Strat, but it just has a little 40 year pin on the front of the headstock.

In '04 they also came out with the 50th Anniversary Am. Series in two color sunburst, a Deluxe Strat and MIM in sort of Pearly gray color.

In '06 they also made a 60th Anniversary Model Strat and Tele with man a made diamond in headstock.

In 1979 they did a 25th Anniversary Strat that have the word, "Anniversary" across the upper horn.

I'm sooooo tired of people trying to make a big deal out of these factory made '94 and '96 Fender instruments. Some poor guy is going buy a nice guitar for more than it's worth because of bad labeling.

Lastly, just because the S/N is N5XXXXX doesn't mean it was built in '95. The only way to truly know the real date of Fender instrument is to take it appart and look at the neck joint. It will havev the date the neck was made and the date the body was made.

My EC Strat that I ordered from the factory was put together and shipped in Feb '01, but the neck and body were made in late '00.

Good luck!

Yea, that's the nature of the internet axeman. For better or for worse. But I tell you, a lot guys come w/questions about adds like this & are given more accurate info most if not all of the time on guitars & are steered clear of those that are misrepresented as vintage or reissues etc. Usually it takes better pics, but a lot of guys here can take just a glance @ these pics & can see this guitar is not a reissue. I guess someone here could send the seller a link to this post & see what his/her response would be if any. It's possible that he/she really believes everything he/she put down there. But the truth is, there are inaccuracies in the description. cheers

I'm glad when someone asks the questions before they purchase an instrument.

I kind of feel bad for the guys who buy what they think is a CS guitar only to find out that it's onw of two things, a copy or misrepresentation on the part of a seller lacking knowledge.

On the other hand I don't mind copies if I know they are a copy. A good guitar is a good guitar no matter what its pedigree.

Um, I have to disagree here. "Mint condition" would be in an original un-modified state, whereas "Perfect condition" is not necessarily so.

I don't know what a "fifty year centenary" is though