I have a Special Edition Light Ash Stratocaster (8 digit SN, no letters) which I bought used. I love this guitar, but I have a totally ridiculous argument with a friend who recognizes the guitar's intrinsic qualities, but who refuses to believe it's a veritable Strat. says it's "not a real Fender" because of the logo.. He says it's either a copy, that it's not recogognized by Fender...

I know this is a stupid argument and it's best just to enjoy my guitar and not pursue the conversation, but can't help it - a matter of pride and agrivation... So how can I "prove" this is a "real Fender"?

I Have sent links to the countless reveiws and chats that are out there on the subject, but he will only "recognize" an "official Fender page or document or referencing" - which I can't find. I can't find anything other than "product dating" refrence to "korean guitars", but NO other Fender.com-based reference to the Special Edition Light Ash MIK.

Does anybody have a link to such a page? An old catalogue they can scan or a manual ? Ideas as to how to "validate" or "certify" this guitar ? I don't think Fender has the time to answer such a petty requests (haven't as of yet, anyways).

Thanks for the help.

Pictures.

Also you can try emailing consumerrelations@fender.com with the serial number and see what they come up with.

Art

Hey, that's not a bad idea. Simple and to the point, and definitely worth a try.

Thanx

I don't understand the argument . I have a MIK lite ash Strat myself. It is definately Fender, Definately a Strat, and definately a sweet guitar. They also made a lite ash tele. Why would country of origin determine authentic or not? Fender guitars are produced in several countries. I say you have to prove NOTHING!

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

Yes I agree it is a well made Fender Strat, just happens to be made in Korea, and it also has Seymore Duncan pickups made in USA. It use to be listed on the Fender site but was discontinued.

That's the way I feel about it, as I don't think it's a copy or illigitimate in any way. It's a Strat, and far better than any of the MIMs I tried when I was looking. ANd I tried a LOT of them ! This MIK was much closer to the americans in material and feel.

Anyways, said friend is just trying to get my goat, which is annoying, and my quest might seem petty, but still, I'd like to have a solid response to throw back at him.

I think that what really confuses him is the fact that head logo on the the MIK Light ash only reads "Fender" and doesn't say "Stratocater"..... Which is admittedly a bit wierd, given that the MIMexicos definitely read "Stratcaster" on the head. I don't doubt the authenticity myself, but this incomplete lableling on the MIK smells to me like some sort of licensing dispute between the korean shop and the USA head offices.

You might also look here. Catalogues and price lists going back to 2006

http://www.fender.com/support/library/

Art

That's an excellent link and that SHOULD be exactly what I'm looking for (I'll definitely go through the catalogues to see if I can find ANY year version of Special Edition Light Ash.

I'm not sure of the actual date of this guitar, as its serial number, (no letters - 04062955 ) would - according to Fender page linked below - puts it back in the pre-'96 era (which seems odd since I haven't seen anybody else with such old versions of this guitar which is - otherwise, like the rest (ash, birdseye fingerboard & burly maple neck, SD pickups...).

http://www.fender.com/fr-FR/support/art ... uct-dating

yeah, looks like it would be older. I know some of the guys on here collect all of these catalogs. Someone might still chime in with a list of the specs or page number of catalog.

Art

You'll find it in the 2006 catalogue on page 81.

Hey, there it is, on P81 ! Thanks . I'll still look for more info on it, and my particular year, but this is definitely a good start ! THanks

The Lite Ash Series were made in korea and are official Fender products. The first two digits of the serial numbers are the year, in this case 04. The guitars carry either a cbs style fender logo on the early ones and a spaghetti style logo on the later ones. The year of manufacture were if memory serves 2004-2009, lite ash bodies, birds eye maple necks, seymour duncan pickups with black scratchplates.

Heres a link to a full spec

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/1 ... aple.html/

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ukraider
"money cant buy you love but it can buy guitars!!!!!!"

OK, that's very helpful info. What is a "CBS" style logo ?

When CBS bought Fender they introduced a newer bolder style logo as opposed to the spaghetti style logo

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ukraider
"money cant buy you love but it can buy guitars!!!!!!"

There was also the "Transition" logo that Fender used from 1965 through sometime early in 1968 when they switched again to the CBS logo ukraider posted.

Here is a Transition logo:



The "issue" with the Lite Ash series is that they are the real Fenders that look more "fake" than some of the fakes that are out there because they used a unique "Fender" logo this is in-between the Transition logo and the CBS logo but doesn't look quite like either one. It is closest in shape to the CBS logo but uses the colors of the Transition logo. Plus they didn't put the model name on the headstock (they had a Tele model as well). But, it is a real Fender and don't let anyone tell you it isn't.