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Post subject: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:27 pm
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After 35 years of wanting a Strat, I finally got one, but there are a couple of things that don't seem quite right.

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Here's the serial #

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With the Vxxxxxx, I understand you need to look at the neck for the year of manufacture

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Hmmmm........ I think there's something funky there. Faked date? Or wrong neck for that serial #?

here's some more neck pics.

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Decal appears to be under the lacquer (not sure if that's right) and 12th fret dot spacing seems correct. And the neck has a darker color to it.

Here' the body

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If you look close at the neck cavity you can make out 5/55... hmmmm...

Things that got my attention were;

The "2SB" stamp
ground wire route into the tremolo cavity
pencil lines for claw screw holes
The Floyd Rose inserts are probably not original, I don't care about that.

The 2SB stamp and the ground wire route make me wonder if it's an actual fender body. And I suppose the neck could be correct... but somebody "enhanced" the date.

I like the guitar and paid a reasonable price if it's an actual vintage series neck and body, but if it's a partscaster I'll have the renegotiate with the seller.

What do you think?

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:33 pm
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I 'm not sure of those;

1-but decal countour body must be parallele to Fender Stratocaster name.

2- In 57 on the neck ,the informations I have ; Fender don't write the day only month and year

3- wood brown plug on the peg end is too long IMO

I repeat I'm not 100% sure some expert on the forum will tel you. Some chance is a partcaster.

I hope I'm wrong.

Look there a 57 reissue;

www.fenderreissue.com/fender-1982-57-re ... ratocaster


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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:42 pm
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Not sure on body, but neck looks wrong. Plug should be walnut, decals look suspect. 2 point bridge replaced with vintage.

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:38 pm
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A few things jump out at me......

If authentic, the neck is a re-fret. All AVRI's whether '57 or '62 featured vintage fret wire, with a 7.25 radius on the board. The narrow 12th fret dot spacing was characteristic only for the early guitars and was corrected on later releases. The penciled neck date is totally spurious -- no modern production Fender neck was ever marked thus.

There's no "worm route" in the bridge pickup cavity. AFAIK, all of the AVRI's have this detail, even the first editions. As well, all three of the pickup routs look too large for a true Fender re-issue. The "shoulder" in the control cavity does not belong in a '57 AVRI body. Even the MIM '50s Classic Series Strats are correct in that regard.

I think it's a parts-o-caster, and not a particularly well executed one at that.

JMOOC

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:19 pm
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Welp... with your help I've decided it's a fake. I went back to fenderreissue.com and looked at all their '57s and compared.

On the body,
They all had the worm hole.
None had the wacky ground wire route.
None had the shoulder.

The neck,
They all had the walnut plug.
The decal should be on top of the finish.
They all had the narrow spaced 12th fret dots.(I find conflicting info about this)
Mine has the honey colored neck which isn't correct

BUT... what I do have is an authentic neck plate with a vintage serial #!!!!!!

Thanks very much for your help!


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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:29 pm
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Next time ask fist before you buy(if possible) guys around here really have attention to detail, and can save you a ton of grief. I'm sure you paid more than what an authentic neckplate would have cost on it's own...but I appreciate your sarcastic ability in this situation. Don't be too hard on yourself, we've all been took for something somewhere in life.

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:34 pm
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therooster9...You failed to mention one thing...how does it play and sound? Even though it may not be what you thought it was, does it play and sound good? If you can't return it, then hopefully it at least plays and sounds good.

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:28 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
therooster9...You failed to mention one thing...how does it play and sound? Even though it may not be what you thought it was, does it play and sound good? If you can't return it, then hopefully it at least plays and sounds good.


+1000!

If you end up with an Edsel, drop a nitrous-fueled Boss 429 under the hood and make it the fastest friggin' Edsel on the planet.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:26 pm
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Gotta ask what year did the seller say it was and also if you don't mind how much did you pay for it? Whole guitar seems suspect. Bridge appears all wrong from a two point to a vintage style. The neck plate is vintage series maybe late eighties, the body seems like maybe basswood looking at the neck pocket maybe japan. neck if I were a bett'in man does not seem right.
Good Luck 8)


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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 1:40 am
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I 'd like to see electronics under the pickgard what pickups and switch look


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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 1:48 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
therooster9...You failed to mention one thing...how does it play and sound? Even though it may not be what you thought it was, does it play and sound good? If you can't return it, then hopefully it at least plays and sounds good.


+1000!

If you end up with an Edsel, drop a nitrous-fueled Boss 429 under the hood and make it the fastest friggin' Edsel on the planet.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

OK my friend you asked for it :lol: you'll have to translate yourself though :!:
http://www.garaget.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=243096

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 4:10 pm
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Let's see if I can answer your questions,

I bought the guitar because it felt great and sounded great... and it spoke to me. The fact that it was a vintage series (I think he said it was a late 80's) was an added bonus. I bought it from a shop and I played every other Strat he had, at least 10, and it sounded and played the best.

The body and neck were a bit banged up which is fine, I want to play it not hang it on the wall and admire it. When I opened it up the first thing I noticed was someone had done a bit of rewiring, and did a sloppy job, still no problem, I can fix that. And I noticed the pups weren't stock, but they're Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 Pro, perfect for my "vintage" guitar. At this point I was still happy.

BUT... when I realized the body and neck weren't the real thing... and the body might not even be an actual Fender part!!!... well that was too much, So the "Edsel" is going back tomorrow.

Sorry, no pics of the pickguard and electronics, and I don't want to open it up again.

I paid $800 for it, which (correct me if I'm wrong) would be reasonable for a banged up slightly modified actual vintage series Strat that you like. But for a complete partscaster???? Heck NO.

I shouldn't have too much trouble returning it since he claimed it was the real thing and I can prove it isn't, he seems like a good guy and I'm going to assume he thought it was real as well. We'll see. I paid with a credit card so I can mention having the charges reversed if I have to.

Thanks again for your help, and I will do a bit more homework on the next one, including asking questions here.


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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:02 am
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And here's how the story ends...

The store I bought the guitar from is run by honest folks, I took it back and showed them that the guitar they sold me was a fake. They apologized and gave me a full refund.

And even better news... NGD for me!... The same store had another Strat that was a LOT nicer and of course more expensive. The owner was nice enough to offer me a great deal on it... But before I handed over the cash I did my homework!!!!!!! I called Fender with the serial # in hand and had them send me the spec sheet. I did some more research and it all looked good. I went back to the store where the owner and I opened the guitar together to be sure the guitar was legit.... and it was!

I'm now the proud owner of a 2008 FSR Limited Edition American Vintage ‘54 Stratocaster build for Wildwood Guitars, serial # SE0xxxx.

Woo Hoo!!! And it's in great shape, no fret wear and no dents or scratches other than a few on the pickguard. And of course it plays great and sounds great.

I know... I should have had you guys look at as well...

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:02 pm
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This guitar cost more than the other that was supposed to be a real '54? Odd. But it turns out you did well and have a beautiful example from Fender. Congrats!

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Post subject: Re: 57 vintage/reissue Strat with authenticity questions
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:48 pm
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DetroitBlues wrote:
This guitar cost more than the other that was supposed to be a real '54? Congrats!


No, the first guitar was supposed to be a vintage series/reissue from the late eighties according to the serial number, I think someone tried to fake the dates on the neck and body. Sorry if I wasn't clear.


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