I got this guitar about 10 years ago on a trip to L.A.
It was used hanging in the pawn shop.
The seller claimed it to be US made Strat Special Edition.
I liked the feel and bought it.
Have replaced pickguard, pickups (now YJM set), electronics (Bourns, plus kill switch and colil split), tuners (now locking), bridge (high density roller) and block (large and heavy steel).
The sticker on the back of the headstock is made by myself - so disregardi it.
The headstock logo is genuine. Gold color, excellent quality.

Now is the time to sell it and just want to make sure that it is the real thing.
It is an excellent guitar, but one of 18 I own and just sitting in the box.
There are no numbers anywhere.

Is it MIA, MIM, MIM?

What is it worth?

Check the pictures here:

Hello Arekkoz: could you take better focused photos of the front and back of the headstock, please? Particularly so we can see the CS decal clearly.

I'm curious that the peghead has a black plastic lined entry hole, like a Mexican or Korean Strat, but MIA type string trees and a MIA Deluxe style metallic foil logo. The Custom Shop marking on the back either means that's what it is - or that fake logos have been put on a Mexican or Mighty Mite neck. But I've never seen those metal foil logos faked, so that would be a first. It's all rather confusing.

And the nicely figured maple of the neck adds to the confusion.

A photo of the markings on the heel end of the neck might help...? Those with knowledge of CS guitars might make something of any pencil marks in particular.

Cheers - C

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The Sage Green Metallic finish *suggests* a MIM Standard body......

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

What do you think about the headstock and decals, Arjay? I have several questions and no answers.

Cheers - C

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If my hypothesis is correct, the neck is certainly not original to the body. Which opens up a whole 'nother can of worms. Custom Shop decals can be faked (and routinely are) but that metallic Fender appliqué would be tough to counterfeit.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Exactly. Interesting...

Cheers - C

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He said in his post that be put the decal on the back of the headstock, so take that out of it.

I'm not sure what it is, but maybe MIM if he's lucky.

+1

Disemboweling the body would likely yield more answers.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

D'oh! I missed that - thanks!

Still confused by that metal logo... but I wonder if I have a hazy memory of seeing those occasionally on FSR Strats? Even Mexican ones? Wouldn't swear to it, but I think maybe...

Cheers - C

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I don't think I've ever seen a MIM Strat of any type that featured the 22-fret neck. I could be wrong though......

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Impressive knowledge!
Thanks for the answers.

The back logo is made by myself with my signature on it.
Just a sticker that I can peel off easily.

The front Fender logo is original. Absolutelly perfect quality and placement - no question about it.

Also the dots are pearloid and the fretboard either dark rosewood or light ebony.
It does not look like rosewood unless stained, also seems harder and denser.
Or maybe it is just me....

I hate to take it apart for heel inspection. Always affraid to screw things up when reassembling. To the best of my knowledge - there are no markings on it at all.

I paid $1000 for it with OHSC. Impulse shopping
I was just amazed with the neck. Looks and feel.
It is an excellent axe with all the upgrades.

Will list it on Kijiji and see what happens.

WHAT SHOULD I ASK FOR IT?

The bridge looks odd. Six screws, block saddles and no offset intonation screws. I've never seen a US made bridge like that.

The bridge is aftermarket upgrade from GFS with large steel block.

Original was a standard Fender bridge with Fender "pressed" on the saddles.
I don't have the picture of it and don't know the difference between MIA and MI(?)

Apologies Arekkoz, I didn't read your original post fully and see that you'd replaced the bridge

If I recall there were some "made in Korea Strats" about that time that had that Logo on the neck.