Hey everyone, I'm in the market for a secondhand Strat and I've come across a partscaster which the seller is advertising as "assembled with genuine USA components". I was hoping I could get some help in determining if this thing is actually made out of genuine Fender parts.

You can check out some pictures of the guitar here:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kardinya ... 1004714547

As you can see, the guy is charging $900 Australian for it, which would be about the same in USD give or take. I know it's pretty beat up-looking, but I'm into that.

I quizzed him about it and here's what he told me:

"I initially bought the fender off a guy who put it together using USA fender strat parts, hence no serial number for the guitar. The pickups are definitely the standard strat pickups found in a USA strat. Not 100% sure on the wood, i think it is alder.

As for the age of the guitar, since its made of parts it doesnt have a true age. I remember the pickups to be early 2000s (ie 2003?!) and the body to be later 2000s (2007/2008?). There are serial numbers stamped in the neck join of the neck and body that give you more info, but I don't want to take the neck off just in case it will throw off the set up. It has been set up and shielded by Trevor Foley - he's one of the licensed Fender repairers in Perth. The hard case is not a Fender case."

So yeah, any help would be greatly appreciated!

I don,t think the tuners or the bridge saddles are fender parts plus theres a girls name scratched into the back of the guitar. I wouldn't pay more than 250 US for it.

+1 tbazzone

The neck doesn't look like USA either, and the lack of detail in the pictures is suspect, ie no closeup of headstock or bridge. The trem claw and bridge block also don't look like USA, and the trem claw is mounted off to one side. A RW fretboard with a V-neck? It also looks like an amateur paint job. There is also a number stamped on the neck plate, wrong location, and not a RI number, so that part is for sure fake. Possibly the pups, pick guard and electronics are USA, but I wouldn't bet on it. I would pass on this one myself.

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Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

OK, thanks a lot for the advice guys. I haven't actually played the guitar but now I don't think I'll bother.

As a follow up query; I'm a big Billy Corgan/early Smashing Pumpkins fan (hence me digging the beat up look of the thing), and I'm trying to decide what the best bet would be for me to start getting a bit closer to that kind of tone (I'm currently playing a Squier Affinity HSS with a 59' Trembucker in the bridge).

I know he used a 70's hardtail and a few 57 AVRI's with Lace Sensors back in the day (bat strat etc), but I'm a realist and there's no way I can afford or justify a 57 reissue, especially considering I'll be using it for heavy gigging, often in a house party environment where it'll be getting…well…thrashed for lack of a better term.

I'd say my realistic budget would be about $1200, plus the cost of the lace sensors, though the lower the better.

Once again, I'm not looking for the exact Corgan Siamese Dream tone (good luck finding it), just a serviceable alternative that'll serve me well. Which Strat is for me?

Mate,
If you have upto $1200 the world's your oyster. Don't be scared of buying from a reputable US guitar shop. I have three strat's and every one has been bought from US. It's unfortunate but here in OZ the prices are excessive. You have all the money in the world to find a killa strat.

There's no where near enough Picts or info on that guitar to buy it sight unseen....And there's non fender parts on it too....It's a mongrel and even here only worth $500 if it's US neck and body...And what Pup's are in it.....Naaaa No way..... With $1200 you'll have change left if you build your own US Partscaster so why buy someone else's you know nothing about.....

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Cheers for the advice ozrv, it's good to hear you've had some good experiences buying online! I've always thought it was a bit of a risk, not being able to play the thing first and stuff, what's your opinion on that? Can you point me in the direction of some sites that I should consider buying from/you have bought from with good results?

Also, my first question stands: which model of Strat is most appropriate for what I'm going to be using it for?

Playing as many as you can here unless you live in Melbourne or Sydney is going to present a problem. As to buying on line Pay Pal's close to fool proof these days and no large retailer would ever try and rip you off intentionally they don't need the headache for a small amount of money, Try Music Zoo or Guitar Center. I suppose you have to know what you are looking for and most importantly what it should look like my last 4 strats were bought off private people or small shops on Flea Bay from over the pond, If you get the right guitar a luthier can make sure its set up right and plays well short of it having a Major issue then revert back to Pay Pal. If it be your still at the thinking about what model stage in thinking about strat's then you wont go wrong with a US standard if US it has to be....

Ps. I just saw your other question sorry.... I'm the wrong person to ask about strats with other Pup's set ups.....

Hope it helps....

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There is nothing legit about that guitar being USA made. It's made from aftermarket hardware as is the body and neck are Mexican or worse...

American Strats (sans Highway 1 and AM Special) have a Fullerton CA stamped neck plate with a micro tilt adjustment hole. Am Strats have a two point tremolo system as well as the necks have 22 frets, not 21. Fender does not use black nuts, black tuners, or black saddles (Sans a couple artist models).

The paint is a relic job that has a lot of orange peel to it (not smooth, but a bumpy texture). Even their roadworn guitars do not have the orange peel effect.

In my opinion, you have a relic'd mexican strat. Nothing more.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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If you want a great playing guitar that is very close the 57 reissue, I suggest the Classic Series Strat. This is made in Mexico, but has true vintage specs down to the vintage ping tuners, six point tremolo, 7.25" radius, soft V neck, and comes in the right color finishes from that era. Those are by far the most affordable yet best playing strats Fender makes without a doubt.

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yeah I seen that one myself but thought the same as everyone here. Not worth the asking price, I reckoned maybe $550-600 aud.
BUT.. if you are looking for a modded Tele or Strat there is a bloke selling one of each in the Joondalup area. Each a decent price.
Another thing, if you keep looking, you will start to notice there are always the same few people selling different things. Make of that what you will...

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kingsley ... 1004871736
here's a link to it.
Maybe you can beat the price down on this or the Strat he has..

Thanks again for your help everyone.

Detroitblues, I checked out the Classic Series 50's and it may very well be exactly what I'm after, so thanks for the recommendation. I love the range of colours aswell. I'll go try find one and give it a play when I get a chance.

mt ed, thanks for the heads up on gumtreee, i'd seen that strat before, unfortunately I'm not a big fan of that super bright sunburst finish. To be honest burst finishes arent really my thing, I'm more of a solid colour kind of guy, I'm probably going to try and go for a daphne blue or seafoam green. That's kind of what attracted me to the beat up partscaster in the first place.

Also, I just though I'd mention that a guy over at strat-talk has said that a MIJ strat might be a good match for my situation. I'm not sure how common they are here in AUS, a cursory glance didn't reveal a truckload of them. Would there be a lot of difference between a MIJ strat and a MIM Classic Series?

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The old MIJ series are vintage spec'd as well. When they stopped being made in Japan, the models resurfaced as the Classic Series. Now there is a difference between the Classic Series and Classic Player...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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I have two like this. Fender parts claimed, but hard to prove.
Also, the Strat could have "Fender Authorized" parts from resellers.
Therefore it all could be "Fender".

Typically, you probably got a great deal and will probably never be able to identify
parts' date codes or proof of what the seller says.

Personally, IMHO, once a Fender Stratocaster is modified, who really cares too much?
If you ever sell it, most buyers will consider it a partscaster. Right?
Guessing Fender wood is most important.
Then the Fretboard & electronics are pretty important.

I have at least two Strats that are claimed to be "Fender" wood.
But, I have them so highly modified, it really does not matter.
Just gotta make them into players.

Also, the guitars that I cannot prove date codes or it's history,
are my fun axes to play with the wiring, pickups, switches, etc.

Hope you enjoy your Strat. Toppscore [/quote]


Top Fender Authorized parts are NOT Fender parts. And Fender would not ever use these parts. They are only parts Authorized by Fender to use there design.