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Post subject: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:18 am
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Ok, here we go.
Hello everyone, I'm from Italy and next to buy a strat to get back on track.
I quit playing electric guitar like 10 years ago and now I want sooo bad to feel the strings bending under my fingers again! :D

Anyway, I found this strat which seems suitable to my needs.
I don't know if I can link it because it's a sale link, anyway I'll report the specs and some pictures to let you understand what I'm asking.

The guitar is a 2010 MIM (it's on the back of the headstock, along with the 2010 MIM serial number).
The finish is natural, glossy, with 22 frets maple neck-fingerboard and black pickguard and tone controls. The pickup config is an HSS.

I still have to have a talk with the actual owner, but I don't think it's a blacktop because tone controls are classic and not blacktop's and there's not an HSS config in the blacktop series. Oh, and there's no natural finish in the blacktop series.
The guitar is definitely modded (wilkinson bridge, sperzel locktuners, FRED humb at bridge).

What series could it be? Maybe it was originally a standard? Never heard of 22 frets MIM...

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Image


Thanks everyone!

EDIT: I'm wondering now if it isn't a total fake...


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:19 am
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My guess its a partscaster. Neck is probably a blacktop. Run the serial number by Fender Customer service. You'll know more about it that way.

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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:24 am
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There's more than a possibility that it's a partscaster, and not all the bits are Fender.

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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:35 am
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nice-lookin' piece, though.
No matter original or not.


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:22 am
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blackstratacat wrote:
nice-lookin' piece, though.
No matter original or not.


You have a point sir, but I'd like the owner to be honest. The resale value it's not the same, you can't sell me a thing for what it's not, and I can't try the guitar cause he's not near.
But I guess maybe the owner himself doesn't know the guitar is assembled. Maybe he's the second owner already.

At the same price, I could buy a blacktop Tele with graphtech saddles and nut, duncans pickups (Alnico 2 pro... don't like them but still have a value) and remade electronics (cause, you know, the stock sucks so bad the volume and tone controls don't work).

don't know what to do here, I like both guitars, just want to catch the best bargain :lol:

Anyway the serial numbers matches with what he says... Mexican, 2010.


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:36 am
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macs311 wrote:
...Anyway the serial numbers matches with what he says... Mexican, 2010.


That really only applies to the neck, the bridge looks like a Squier. Check under the pick guard for extra screw holes. It looks like a partscaster to me also. As suggested, send the serial number to Fender and see what specs are listed.

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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:56 am
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So you think it's a mexican neck assembled to a squier body? Couldn't it be the body of a lite ash?

It's turning to a frankencaster :lol:


don't know if it helps but... back of the guitar!
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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:17 am
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There was a finish like that, but I don't think this body is one of those: 521 Natural Link
The neck and its MIM sticker don't fit any MIM Fender I can think of. Those Sperzels aren't stock - although they are nice.
The bridge humbucker hole in the pickguard looks off and odd.
Etc.

This guitar is such a mod mess that the origins of each part are probably impossible to track. That Lite Ash/Korea you mentioned is my guess for the basis - and if it were in stock condition, that would be a nice guitar.

But: When you concider buying it, all comes down to how it feels, how it sounds & how it plays vs the price asked.


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:13 am
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jmattis wrote:
There was a finish like that, but I don't think this body is one of those: 521 Natural Link
The neck and its MIM sticker don't fit any MIM Fender I can think of. Those Sperzels aren't stock - although they are nice.
The bridge humbucker hole in the pickguard looks off and odd.
Etc.

This guitar is such a mod mess that the origins of each part are probably impossible to track. That Lite Ash/Korea you mentioned is my guess for the basis - and if it were in stock condition, that would be a nice guitar.

But: When you concider buying it, all comes down to how it feels, how it sounds & how it plays vs the price asked.


thank you (and everyone else) for your help.
I'm gonna talk to the owner to see if he knows what's up with the different guitar parts.

I have two more questions: do you think the guitar was routed for an HSS config? The pickguard seems to have been cut. Also, what about the bridge itself? He claims it's a Wilkinson (again, of course not stock just like the tuners), is there anything I should ask or observe about it?


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:45 am
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Hiya,

The serial number tracks back to a Blacktop Strat HH Sonic Blue.

Good idea for you to get some clarity........

All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 12:11 pm
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the neck plate not MIM origin, and the micro tilt does not correspond to the neck :cry:

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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 12:26 pm
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isdi wrote:
the neck plate not MIM origin, and the micro tilt does not correspond to the neck :cry:


there's nothing right in this guitar :lol:
It's a shame because the guitar looks gorgeous, but I wouldn't want an instrument that's maybe made of parts that don't even fit properly, coming from who-knows-where.

I have to say, I'm very picky before buying... a normal person could be ripped off easily with things like this. :?

I'll still talk to the owner and let you know what he says to me, but I'm now much more oriented to the candy apple, genuinely modded, blacktop telecaster


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:53 am
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jmattis wrote:
The neck and its MIM sticker don't fit any MIM Fender I can think of.

Thanks, Rob, for putting my foot in my mouth :lol:
So, if I understand correct, it's possible the body and neck are from a HH Blacktop 22 fret MIM, and someone upgraded (or "upgraded") it (with sanding & refinish) to what we see here.
It should have a swimming pool routing, right?

Just comforting myself here:
jmattis wrote:
But: When you concider buying it, all comes down to how it feels, how it sounds & how it plays vs the price asked.


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:44 am
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jmattis wrote:
jmattis wrote:
The neck and its MIM sticker don't fit any MIM Fender I can think of.

Thanks, Rob, for putting my foot in my mouth :lol:
So, if I understand correct, it's possible the body and neck are from a HH Blacktop 22 fret MIM, and someone upgraded (or "upgraded") it (with sanding & refinish) to what we see here.
It should have a swimming pool routing, right?

Just comforting myself here:
jmattis wrote:
But: When you concider buying it, all comes down to how it feels, how it sounds & how it plays vs the price asked.


I'm leaving this guitar, I can't try before buying and I am not that expert to understand if there's something wrong with it.
Moreover, I found some mint condition showmasters in the same price range... gonna open another thread... :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Is this guitar a scam? (MIM 22 frets not blacktop inside
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:13 am
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I think you made the right decision to walk away from that one. If you're not sure if it's legit then hang on to your money, it's better to pass up a bargain than to pay through the nose for a Squier with fake decals.

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