I saw this ebay posting and the seller says its from an estate sale and is a 63 strat...

and just a glance tells me this guitar is not even made by fender.. I was thinking it could be one of those vietnam era forgeries or more contemporary. either way its a scam.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Fender-Str ... 500wt_1413

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Totally gratuitous gear list
2011 Mustang Special LPB (pawn shop series)
2011 Les Paul 50s Tribute series
2010 Highway one Strat Satin black with maple neck
1999 Fender Toronado
1959 Strat slab neck on a 1969 Strat body
1967 Gretsch Double Anniversary

It is easy to see that electronic are fake, or non original . Neck truss rod hole look strange.

Looks like the worm making the worm hole got a bit out of control, eh.

Looks 0% Fender to me. Probably worth the $385 that's currently bid for someone to hang on their wall.

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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)

May I ask for a little education for the un-trained eye?

What can you see in these pictures that tell you it's a fake?
I'm looking at it, thinking it looks legit to me. I guess if I was buying, I'd be hosed.
Thanks,
david

well just going from memory..

The decal has no patent numbers under it.. if memory serves a 63 strat should have 3 or maybe four patent numbers on the logo. The truss rod nut would have a mfg'd hole in the center. the neck markings are wrong. the worm route between the bridge pickup route and the control cavity is nothing like ive seen on an american made vintage strat ever!! compare that strat to these photos of proper strats.. also the electronics are wrong.

This is what a 63 strat looks like under the hood for the most part.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Pre-CBS-Fe ... 983wt_1155

pay attention to the stamp on the end of the neck.. the head stock logo. the worm route from the bridge pickup to the control cavity etc... not to mention the bridge saddles should say fender pat pend.. not fender fender. cheers!

_________________
Totally gratuitous gear list
2011 Mustang Special LPB (pawn shop series)
2011 Les Paul 50s Tribute series
2010 Highway one Strat Satin black with maple neck
1999 Fender Toronado
1959 Strat slab neck on a 1969 Strat body
1967 Gretsch Double Anniversary

at a quick glance I couldn't see anything that said the guitar was not fender, but even if it was, the pickguard and the neck and bridge pickups were not original. The white was not aged at all on these parts.

At the very least, I assumed either not a '62/'63 or parts had been swapped. Either way, that thing would not be worth as much.

Guess there's a reason I bought my strat from an authorized dealer.

It could very well be an asian built fender but nothing about the body or neck is correct for what the seller claims it is: a 1963 Original fender strat, and none of the markings or routes correspond to ANY american made fender strat from 54 to 2011.

cheers

_________________
Totally gratuitous gear list
2011 Mustang Special LPB (pawn shop series)
2011 Les Paul 50s Tribute series
2010 Highway one Strat Satin black with maple neck
1999 Fender Toronado
1959 Strat slab neck on a 1969 Strat body
1967 Gretsch Double Anniversary

Fascinating.
Learn something new every day.
Cool, thanks.