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Post subject: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:20 am
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First of all this is my first post here and I've read a lot of stuff about spotting fakes.
But I'm still confused so I decided I needed help.

Here are the pictures of the Strat I'm considering to buy.

Image

Image

Image

Image

everything seems to check out but the slightly off "Caster" print...
He's selling it for about 480$ is that a fair price?
Is it a fake?


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:49 am
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I agree the "CASTER" part of STRATOCASTER does look a little weird, like the decal is bent a little. I don't see anything that says "I'm a fake", though even if real, anything is a potential partscaster. Other than color, it looks exactly like the 2007 MIM in my closet - it's only 1800 difference in the serial# .

Assuming it's a MiM standard, which it looks like, $480 is way too high. You can buy a brand new one for that.
Just an example, here's a near-duplicate for sale near me for 300.00, only difference is the humbucker http://hartford.craigslist.org/msg/3490123658.html


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:32 am
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thanks for the reply! This one's only 390$

Image

But I think the saddles are fishy, what do you guys think?


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:45 am
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It's got an American Standard style 2 point bridge plus the block steel saddles like older American Standards (and/or American Series)

It might be a Classic Player 50's - Which does have an american style 2 point bridge (but bent saddles, not the block steel ones). Hard to tell if that's a 50's style solid truss rod plug at the headstock or a traditional MiM truss adjustment hole. Also the wrong pickguard for a CP 50's (should be 8 hole single ply)

EDIT - oops - sorry, the 12th fret dots and the Fender logo are wrong for a CP 50's neck. I have to assume that's partscaster, unless it's an FSR that I've never seen (which is very possible - I don't know anything about those) or maybe an older artist series I'm not familiar with (also possible)


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:44 pm
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CT Sean wrote:
It's got an American Standard style 2 point bridge plus the block steel saddles like older American Standards (and/or American Series)

It might be a Classic Player 50's - Which does have an american style 2 point bridge (but bent saddles, not the block steel ones). Hard to tell if that's a 50's style solid truss rod plug at the headstock or a traditional MiM truss adjustment hole. Also the wrong pickguard for a CP 50's (should be 8 hole single ply)

EDIT - oops - sorry, the 12th fret dots and the Fender logo are wrong for a CP 50's neck. I have to assume that's partscaster, unless it's an FSR that I've never seen (which is very possible - I don't know anything about those) or maybe an older artist series I'm not familiar with (also possible)


Seems like a partsacaster to me too. It's either an American Standard body (and bridge) with an MIM Standard neck or possibly even a Squier Standard body with US hardware and Mexican neck. Or even still; an MIM Standard that has been modified to accept an American Standard bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:08 pm
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Just as a rule of thumb, nobody really troubles with faking Fenders. It's usually Les Pauls that are fakes - since they sell based on headstock logo.

A MIM can be had on craigslist for $150 at the lowest to $350 at the highest. Do not pay more than $300 IMO.

I wouldn't bother with a MIM strat for more than $250 myself.

Good luck and the most important thing is, does it play good! :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:35 pm
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ya 480 is too much for a MIM strat


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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:46 pm
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Don't buy it unless "you" are sure.

$480.00 ---you can buy a new one at your dealer for just a spot more and get the lifetime guarantee and none of the doubt.

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Post subject: Re: Need help buying my first MIM Strat.
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:00 pm
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Quantum wrote:
Just as a rule of thumb, nobody really troubles with faking Fenders. It's usually Les Pauls that are fakes - since they sell based on headstock logo.


Wow...just wow. Sorry dude but if you actually read thru these forums, A LOT of people fake Fenders, if for no other reason because it's a hell of a lot easier than faking a Gibson. Gibson headstock logos are often inlays and many, if not most Gibby's are set necks...takes some serious skills to fake all of that, where as any yubba with an inkjet can print off a decent Fender logo and slap it on a Squier, Mighty Mite or Warmoth neck.


That said, to the OP...

As already stated, that first one looks genuine (the off logo doesn't surprise me a bit), but is WAY over-priced. With both of my MIM's, even as modded as both are (Duncan pickups on both, Calliham bridge block and LSR roller on the '96, brass block on the '03...) I wouldn't ask more than $400 for either (well, I might ask more but I wouldn't expect to get it). A fully stock MIM...I wouldn't go over $300 depending on the specific instrument.


Now the second instrument...I'd put money down that the body is a Squier Standard (I have an '08 Crafted in China and had an '03 Indo...same bridge). I suspect she probably plays well enough but I wouldn't pay a dime over $180, even with the MIM neck (and I'd want a CLOSE look at that headstock) unless she had some SERIOUS pickups in her or something.

Peace,
Jim


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