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Post subject: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:05 am
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Hi,
My friend has a mexican strat which he bought brand new, three years ago. I suspect that it's a fake. I'll post some pics, could anyone verify that if anything is wrong with it.
The serial says it's product date is 2003-2004.
Pictures can be viewed for bigger size.

Image

Image

I Opened input jack, check out the insides. Is it normal to have aluminium foil covers inside? they are also underneath the pickguard too.
Image
Image

Thanks


Last edited by sepul on Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:57 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:13 am
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In general, you don't find many (if any) fake Mexicans.
The costs of producing a fake are going to be similar whether you make a fake MX or US model, with the difference being that you can get much more for the US model.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:17 am
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We are living in Iran, they are not easy imports and even the mexicans are pretty expensive. like 600 dollars for mexicans and 150 dollars for chinese replicas.

EDIT: Actually mexicans are 1000 dollars here


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:00 am
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A few more pics would help...

12th fret markers wide or narrow?

Trem cover screws...middle aligned or offset?

Under the hood...pickups, pots, switch...routing pattern.

The foil in the jack pocket doesn't seem standard, may have been added by a previous owner really concerned about hum pickup...not necessarily an indicator of a fake.

Does it play well? Mechanical fit and finish?

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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:55 am
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I'd also like to see some more pics.
I'm a bit worried about the font used in the serial number and in the "Stratocaster"; compare to this: Image

PS: Some time ago there was talk about an acoustic fake Fender in the forum; asking price was, IIRC, 125$. In some parts of the world just a few dollars more is enough.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:13 am
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go get an apprasail...

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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:13 pm
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Quote:
The foil in the jack pocket doesn't seem standard, may have been added by a previous owner really concerned about hum pickup...not necessarily an indicator of a fake.

He bought it brand new. with all the new stickers, cover and everything!

I'll update you with more pics and info.

Quote:
I'm a bit worried about the font used in the serial number and in the "Stratocaster"; compare to this:

Didn't notice anything particularly wrong with Serial number font...
Did you take a closer look (zoom in) at the "Fender" font ? and the fender stamps on the saddles ?


Last edited by sepul on Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:29 pm
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The fonts used for the word STRATOCASTER are different. The top one has wide T bars, a thicker right-hand line on the A, and a weighted end on the C.
But that does not have to mean anything. Fender has changed fonts before.

A picture of the fretboard, back, and neck joint might be more valuable.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:38 pm
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Yeah, that logo looks faked.

The pick guard screw hole pattern looks like Squier.

The maple capped neck isn't MIM.

It also looks like the saddles are from a wider spaced bridge, and don't belong to this guitar.

All of that screams fake! :(

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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:24 pm
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arth1 wrote:
In general, you don't find many (if any) fake Mexicans.
The costs of producing a fake are going to be similar whether you make a fake MX or US model, with the difference being that you can get much more for the US model.


Actually there are a ton of Fake MIMs out there, Even Squiers and Epiphones. Believe it or not the most counterfeited items cost very little, like there is counterfeit soap and toothpaste. As pointed out a MIM, Squier or Epiphone may be very economically priced here but in other countries you are paying the equivalent of 5-600 for a squier and 6-1200 for a MIM.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:46 am
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Quote:
The fonts used for the word STRATOCASTER are different

Yes. didn't notice that.
Btw, judging by the serial number, the product year of the Strat in your pic must be the same as this one (2003-2004). So the fonts should likely be the same.

Quote:
12th fret markers wide or narrow?

Wide

I'll post other pics that you guys requested, but I have to see my friend and take more pics of his guitar first.

thanks


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:51 pm
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As some of you guys requested, Here are more pictures from the back, saddles and neck :

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:23 pm
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Confirmed fake. :(

As pointed out earlier, the logo is effed up. Besides it logo itself, the MZ is too big, and the "made in mexico" is too big, doesn't lineup as it should with the "stratocaster" part.

The fake logo is on an obvious Squier neck. The volute (the back where the headstock meets the neck) has defined edges, instead of flowing smoothly into the neck. The maple cap is another Squier indication, as well as the twelfth fret dot spacing and the dots being too small.

The pick guard screw hole pattern, the pup pole pieces, the pointy selector switch tip, and the screw hole pattern on the trem cavity cover are all Squier.

There might be other things that I've missed, but this is more than enough to prove a blantant fake.

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Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 9:14 pm
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^^^ What he said...and the 12th fret markers are too wide. Squier material for sure.

Nice paint job, though.

_________________
1967 Epiphone Madrid EC-30
1975 Fender Stratocaster
1981 Rickenbacker 360
2002 BC Rich Bich
2007 Fender Standard Stratocaster
2012 Taylor GA3-12
2012 Squier Telecaster
2017 Les Paul Kit


"Make every song you sing your favorite tune."


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Post subject: Re: Mexican (2003-04) strat: Real or Fake ?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:48 pm
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I agree with two previous posters.

And: the "FENDER - FENDER" stamped in the saddles looks too mushy - even Pings usually have clearer edged letters.
Which makes me take a deeper look to the "Fender" on those tuners... and IMHO they are almost right but somehow not quite.


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