Hey, I'm new here because this is my first time looking to buy a fender... I'm looking at getting this 96 Fender American Standard Strat used off kijiji, and I've been reading up tons about how to spot a fake, or frankenstrat.



The one thing I've been questioning about his guitar is I've never seen a fender strat quite that same color.

Every other detail seems to check out. And I'll be able to tell more when I go check it out.

Can anyone tell me if I'm being paranoid or not?

Thanks,

Keep Your Stick On The Ice

Sure looks legit to me. Obviously the pickguard has been replaced, but unless there's a "too good to be true" factor to the price, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. No two sunburst Strats are going to look exactly the same because of the grain differences, and it also looks like the flash is washing out the colors in that pic a bit.

When you check out the guitar take it appart if you are not sure. This is completely reasonable. I've done it before when I was buying a Strat that is of unknown origins.

If it's an Am. Std. the pickup cavity should be a big rectangul (called a "swimming pool"). If the owner didn't remove the small gold foil sticker on the back of the headstock, it will say something like, "Fender 50." Also if I'm not mistaken the pickup magnets were flush to with pickup covers. Everything from the picture looks about right.

Good luck!

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

It looks perfectly fine to me, and that sunburst is what I would expect to see in a USA Fender (the MIM ones look a tad different). The neck is right and the bridge is right. It just appears someone put on a black pickguard to make the guitar look more like an SRV Strat? If priced under $700, jump on it in a hurry!

Run the serial number that will tell you everything about the guitar.

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I miss the serial number under the Fender logo!
American Standards have their SN on the front of the headstock, just underneath the logo.

There's american strats of certain runs (Vintage, Artist, Custom Shop.....) which have their SN on the back of the headstock or on the neck plate, but then they're no American Standards.

Otherwise: Mexican and Japanese strats have their SN on back of Headstock (Mex) or on the neck joint ($@!).

Serial should be N6xxxxx, if it's American Standard.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!