Hello one and all. I'm a bit disappointed this is my first post on here but I'm hoping someone can help please...

Background:
A relative of mine has been attending guitar lessons with some bloke, who in my opinion, has a lot of 'tall stories' to tell about his so called past involvement with high profile artists. More worryingly, this said teacher also somehow manages to track down 'antique' guitars from notable artists and makers for re-sale.

My suspicions began when my relative was offered a Fender Stratocaster that had apparently been custom built for Eric Clapton who had subsequently rejected it for reasons unknown. The guitar was passed to my relative to test and mull over the option of making the purchase. When I called round to my relative's house to take a look I was even more suspicious - there was no proper serial number - anywhere on the guitar and there was no provenance to substantiate the seller's claims. The price tag was indeed too good to be true. It was my opinion that such a marque of distinction would fetch considerably more money - even if it had been rejected by Mr Clapton. Needless to say my relative ignored my concerns and bought the guitar for a lot of money!

(Even more frustrating, my relative has now gone and bought another guitar off this teacher - a Supro Resonator guitar! Which, as you've probably guessed is another suspect item.)

In each case these guitars have been hyped up with romantic tales tied in with a few credible facts for good measure and a price tag that's too good to be true. The other problem I have is that my relative thinks the sun shines out of this teacher's rear end!

The query:
Which brings me on to why I'm here. I have provided below a link to some photographs of the Strat in question. I would very much appreciate people's opinion on this as to whether it is the real thing or not please. I need to stop my relative's impulse buying - especially if a third 'guitar' comes along...

Your help will be gratefully received! I look forward to any responses.

Many thanks

Gary

https://picasaweb.google.com/105499511662658888949/FenderStratocasterFake?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLzlkriyptuD3AE&feat=directlink

Hi Gary and welcome to the forum.
I would call that F-F-F-Fakenstrat all the way. Nothing is original.

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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Hi Robin - thank you for the welcome and the reply - it's much appreciated.

All the best

Gary

There's a saying in certain collector's circles,"Buy the _______,and not the story"...you fill in the blank with the item whether it is a guitar or gun or whatever.
Unfortunately,those tall tales sell a lot of fraudulent guitars.

it looks pretty cool, however a partsocaster.
the neck looks like a vintage modern warmoth birdseye neck with a black corian nut and
a fatback, 22 frets, and no truss rod adjustment at the heel. there isnt a hint of v neck to that. which is eric claptons preference.
i hope he got a good deal.

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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

... but still, it's a very beautiful guitar. What's going on with the G-string saddle?

Cheers

David

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"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."

The body could be from a Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton strat. If not, the maker made a very good job of copying the battery compartment cut out.

The neck however is not a Fender. The headstock shape is wrong, the logo is wrong. The letter E looks to be too sharp on the upper line to be a post CBS Fender.
Then there is the lack of walnut plug on the headstock and skunkstripe. If the guitar has a truss rod, that means the fretboard is a maple cap. Clapton is not noted for wanting maple cap fretboards.
Also if you look at the back of the neck, where the neck shapes into the headstock. The point of the V shape is quite off center. Meaning the neck shape is asymmetrical. Something that I've never seen on any other Fender guitar.
Finally the shape of the fretboard at the body end is the wrong shape.

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No no and no

You have got a good eye. Ever consider being a private detective? I'm not joking. Your attention to detail is superb.

I probably would have been able to figure out that the neck is not Fender but I never would've been able to specifically pinpoint six discrepancies.

Catching that e on the logo is amazing. And I didn't see a thing wrong with the headstock shape till you mentioned it. I still had to compare it side by side with one of my guitars to see the differences. Then it was obvious.

I may never buy another guitar without first getting your analysis.

Cheers

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

Honestly, it's not that I'm attentive to detail. Just that I'm really anal about Strats.

But thanks for the compliment. And yes it's been a secret ambition of mine to be a private detective. Basically because I'm very nosey and suspicious of everything. Plus I've a liking for pulling my hat brim down with my raincoat collar turned up. And usually have a half empty bottle of cheapo gutrot scotch handy.

MHowell, did you ever consider becoming an analyst or psychiatrist cos you've summed me up with two paragraphs to work with.

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No no and no

You would make a perfect private dick in a film noir movie.

Yep thats my goal.
Maltese Falcon all the way.
Though I look a bit silly wandering around Selly Oak dressed like Humphrey Bogart.

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No no and no

Thank you all for the comments - it really is appreciated. It is my intention to point out all the issues raised in this thread to my relative - just got to find the right time...

All the best

Gary

Sooner better than later in my experience Gal.

You may want to find your relative another teacher too. Someone with a shred of decency about them would be a good place to start.
You'll get good results asking around the local instrument shops.

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No no and no

@nikininja - thank you for the detailed analysis and the advice about getting a new teacher. I'm actually thinking of visiting some of the local shops to see if they've heard of this guy.

Anyway, about the guitar - after some investigations I thought the body could've been a japanese fender... I did have reservations about the neck, headstock and tuning pegs. Other factors which don't seem right to me include the dated signature on the neck, there's also a number stamp - '138' which seems tacky. The welding in the back compartment seems a little unprofessional. I too have reservations about the logo on the headstock - the 'original contour body' sticker isn't straight in comparison to real Strats that feature that logo on the headstock.

Gary

Make sure that you say it as a doubt, not a certainty. You don't want your relative to get too defensive and protective. It's going to shake up his belief system.

Cheers

David

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"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."