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Post subject: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:31 pm
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Hello there!

I've found this nice '95 American strat that I really like so I got a bit curious about the serial number and decided to look it up to see if it really is a '95. From what I understand (reading this http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... ct-dating/), it seems that N stands for 1990s and Z for 2000s. And the number on this headstock begins with a Z, which makes it a 2000s headstock? :? Why would someone do that?

Link (in Swedish): http://www.blocket.se/stockholm/Fender_ ... 963023.htm


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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:56 pm
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The body seems to be hand-dated to 1994 and I'm betting that the Z3XXXXX serial correlates to a neck made in '93. Thus, a model-year 1995 instrument is entirely possible. Others will doubtlessly know more but I'm betting that the guitar is authentic and likely all-original.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:04 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
The body seems to be hand-dated to 1994 and I'm betting that the Z3XXXXX serial correlates to a neck made in '93. Thus, a model-year 1995 instrument is entirely possible. Others will doubtlessly know more but I'm betting that the guitar is authentic and likely all-original.
Arjay
Hi Arjay.

The handwritten date is upside down but it appears to be 10/19/95 and the date stamped in red is Oct 23, 1995. According to the Fender site, the serial number Z3+6 digits is consistent with a 2003 American Strat. Unless I'm missing something here, my guess would be a 1995 body with a 2003 neck.

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:12 pm
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Thanks for the replies! I'll ask the seller too but I wanted to get some info here first.

So, a 1995 body with a 2003 neck... Does that combination make it worth less? :P


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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:18 pm
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Didn't 95s have dual string trees as well?

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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:31 pm
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donnycraven wrote:
Didn't 95s have dual string trees as well?
I believe you're right, donnycraven. According to "The Stratocaster Guitar Book", the American Standard Stratocaster "first version" 1986-2000 had two string-guides. In 2000 the 2nd tree was dropped.

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:36 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
In 2000 the 2nd tree was dropped.


+1

Staggered tuners eliminated the need for a second string guide, making it redundant.


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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:44 pm
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I havent bought any used guitars before, is it a common thing to swap necks like this? Should I still go for it?


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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:50 pm
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Original neck could have had a problem so he replaced it. It's note much of an issue but the price should reflect that it's not original. Fenders were made to swap parts as needed.


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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:44 pm
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Shouldn't be asking a price equal to that of an unaltered guitar. Should represent the guitar 'as is'...as a hybrid.

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Post subject: Re: The S/N of the strat I wanna buy doesn't match?
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:39 pm
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melloncollie wrote:
And the number on this headstock begins with a Z, which makes it a 2000s headstock? :? Why would someone do that?


Maybe that neck isn't so good. Stick it on this older body and sell it to get rid of it.

I hope you have a chance to play before you buy.

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