Hi, I need some help to locate serial number to check if item is Genuine. I bought a Ritchie Blackmore Signature Strat online, with the Serial number MX12109722. When I searched the serial online, it says serial is "Not Recognized". When I check other sites, it said the Prefix MX11 means "made in Mexico" between 2011-2012. But no MX12 prefix was found. The seller told me that Fender just released late 2012-2013 models that will have MX12 on it. Is this true? Please advise. Thank you!

The guitar was made sometime in 2012 hence the MX12 serial number. Since the guitar is somewhat recently built, alot of the on-line serial number daters are not yet up to date with the latest numbers. If you want to know exactly when the guitar was built send your serial number and any information you have to ... consumerrelations@fender.com they will be able to tell you if it is indeed genuine!

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

This is the Fender website Mexican instrument dating page:

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... uct-dating

There is an interesting statement there about the Blackmore Strat:

"The Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster and Duff McKagan P Bass use an “MSZ” serial number prefix."

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Bill

I also noticed this statement as well on that page:

"The Jim Root Telecaster, James Burton Standard Telecaster, Buddy Guy Stratocaster (polka dot model), Robert Cray Stratocaster and Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster use an “MSN” serial number prefix. Note: in October 2010, some artist models switched to the new “MX10” numbering scheme."

It looks like maybe they need to update the site again to state that about the Blackmore and McKagan serial numbers. I suspect that just like the USA instruments Fender is moving to no longer using the special serial numbers on the MIM Artist Signature models.

Assuming that is the case then a recent MIM Blackmore Strat should have the "MX12xxxxxx" serial number on it as they make those changeovers sometime mid-Summer on the MIM models.

Welcome, pawong. It's probably legit, but riddle me this: why do so many people buy guitars, and then check out the serial number? I don't get it.

Website is probably outdated... Just like the new Fender guitars out in the stores not found on this website like the Fender Telecaster Super Deluxe Thinline.

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


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