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Post subject: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:48 pm
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Hi!

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place or if these kind-of posts are not allowed, I joined this forum just to ask you guys about a Fender MIJ Stratocaster I have been eyeing up - you will know what to look for way more than I do, and I am scared of spending money on something that isn't legit!

I've been wanting a Strat for ages after playing my dad's knock-off for a while, and I found a beautiful Made In Japan 2013 Fender Stratocaster on the local Gumtree. I am going to ask for the serial number tomorrow - will anyone be able to help me/give any tips on how to use it to find out if the guitar is the real deal/whether the date matches up? This is all very new to me, haha.

The listing says that it is a Japanese Strat, limited edition 2013 '58 re-issue in 3-tone sunburst with a maple neck. Pickups upgraded to Dimazio area 58 noisless pickups, & the scratchplate changed to a single ply parchment inc. control knobs and the springs have been upgraded to raw vintage.

Here are some photos:
Image
Image
Image
Image

Apologies if the photos are stupidly huge, I would just like some opinions on if this guitar seems legit from the looks of it! Any help would be super appreciated, I would love to be the owner of this guitar if it is real but don't want to dive right in and get end up dropping money on a fake. Thanks in advance :)


EDIT: I think a few of those photographs may be stock photos of some sort, not sure. I'll ask about it.


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:56 pm
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All appears as it should be, with the exception of the 3-ply pickguard which has been previously mentioned. Hard to say about what's under the hood though -- any chance you might convince the seller to open it up and shoot a few pics?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:10 pm
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Thank you so much for the quick reply! The seller is offering the original pickups & pickguard, etc. for an additional £50, but as a broke student I'm not sure if I'd buy them too. I doubt I'd ever switch back to the original stuff so I might give it a miss - but I'm glad that they have photos of the original stuff on the listing too, makes me feel like it's a lot more legitimate honestly. I'm going to shoot them a message tomorrow, and ask them about pics as well as a serial number. The price seems pretty great & I'm so nervous about missing out on a good deal so I want to try and raise enough money for it as soon as I can!

I honestly haven't a clue how to decipher any meaning from the serial number, but I think that him giving it ot me would be a good sign too (nothing to hide, right?) haha. Thanks so much again! :D

The listing also has this at the bottom, I tried looking up about whether these see right for the guitar & couldn't really find anything online. Does it all look right? I'm sorry for all the stupid questions, just making sure & you know a hell of a lot more that me! :lol:

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple, Slim Oval C-profile
• Fingerboard: Maple, 184 mm (7.25 ") radius
• Frets: 21 Vintage
• Nut: 42 mm
• Bridge: Cast, S5D Vintage Tremolo
• Tuners: Gotoh MHG-SD91 NI

Abi


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:34 pm
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The specifications seem correct for a MIJ/CIJ re-issue Strat made by Fuji-Gen. I would ask for the original parts as part of the sale or at the very least, the single-ply pickguard. That change is the only visual clue that the instrument is not in stock (ie: historically-correct) condition.

It's a nice guitar -- I hope you can strike a bargain with the seller.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:41 pm
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Thankyou so much for all the help, I really appreciate it :)

Going to get in touch with the seller tomorrow, the price seems reasonable enough to me at £400 inc. hard case and such, but may be a tad cheeky and try to get the original stuff thrown in with it too. I'm just excited to potentially be acquiring my first Fender, honestly. If my dad's knock-off strat feels decent to play, I can't even imagine how great the real deal is! :D


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:54 pm
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The pictures are of at least three different guitars.


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:00 pm
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The original parts should be included with the guitar, it is the upgrades that cost more.. Ask for the original parts to be reinstalled for that price, or if not negotiate with him at 1/3rd of the price he wants for the parts with aim to max at 50%... If he doesn't budge then your choice is to negotiate a bit more 60% or to walk away.
Keep in mind that the guitar has to have the original parts or it is worth less then he is asking. That is the way it works on reissues and limited edition guitars... If in the future you would sell it, the potential buyer will ask for the original parts or you will have to come down quite a bit on the ask....

Since you are the buyer, you have more leverage.. Always believe that the seller needs the sale more than you need the guitar... So negotiate to your profit not his.. Which also doesn't mean to lowball and insult but there is always room to move in a private sale...

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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:02 pm
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stratmangler wrote:
The pictures are of at least three different guitars.


You are correct pic 1 and 2 do not match grain wise....
Pass on the sale .... Not legit
Hopefully the seller is not in Kuala Lumpur :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:05 pm
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stratmangler wrote:
The pictures are of at least three different guitars.


He's right, the grain in the body on the first two pictures does not match. I also think the first picture is a two piece body and the second one looks like a three piece. :(

8)

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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:12 pm
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Thanks for the advice!
I'll try and get the original parts for at least a little cheaper than he is asking, I don't want to seem cheeky but honestly I think if a seller has the chance to have cash in hand, they won't always mind as much if they lose out a little on the asking price.
I was wondering why the white background photos looked very different to the others (not the guitar itself so much, rather the quality of the photo?) so I'll ask about that too. I'll try to get more photos, to check the guitar in the other photos is actually the one he is selling. I have a feeling he may have used some pics from online as well as his own, I'm not sure.

I really appreciate all this help, I am so scared of getting screwed over but all I can do is ask plenty of questions before I buy it I suppose. I'm glad I came here to get some advice before I emailed him!


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:19 pm
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omar59 wrote:
stratmangler wrote:
The pictures are of at least three different guitars.


He's right, the grain in the body on the first two pictures does not match. I also think the first picture is a two piece body and the second one looks like a three piece. :(

8)


No all 3 photos are of a 3 piece body... But smart phone pictures can be deceiving also.
Take your own pics of all sides especially the serial number, also the parts, post them here and ask him to hold for a day until you get a response from one of us on the serial number and the new clear pics..
BTW on a Stratocaster either a MIM, MIA or MIJ or even a MIC . All the body contours and curves and all look correctly sized. Fakes often get the head or body offline..

Until the serial number and clear pics are taken, you cannot be completely sure. Go meet with the seller somewhere public and if possible bring along a friend who knows Strats.

As far as using pics from other guitars. No... Unless he states that those are to represent the model he is selling, but that is a red flag to begin.... Offer him the ask price with original parts and explain that the value is less without the original, regardless of upgrades.

Good Luck...

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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:23 pm
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Three of the four pictures show 3 tone sunbursts.
One shows a 2 tone sunburst.

Tread carefully on this one.
The guitar might be one of the ones pictured, but equally it might not.
If it were me I'd give this one a wide berth.


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:31 pm
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Thankyou 53magnatone, I'll try my best to do that. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get there in person to photograph (not good, I know. It's a fair way to travel for me) but I'll ask for more photos via email tomorrow. This is the photo he has on the listing of the parts...

Image

If the photos he sends of the serial number, body etc. don't look clear or I don't trust 'em, I'll go with my gut. I'll definitely post whatever I get back here for you guys to look at, as you know better than me. If it checks out, I'll have to take my mom with me to view it (I don't know any people with knowledge on guitars sadly! Not many people my age round here into music) and look it over & see if the serial number etc. match. I'm incline to trust the seller as the listing seems pretty convincing, it's just the photos throwing me off. :/

I'll get back to you tomorrow when I've spoken to the seller!


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:58 pm
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Tholomew wrote:
I'm incline to trust the seller as the listing seems pretty convincing, it's just the photos throwing me off. :/

I'll get back to you tomorrow when I've spoken to the seller!


Do you know the seller personally?
From just the photographic evidence alone I wouldn't trust them.
There are a lot of con artists out there looking for their latest victim, and they're always convincing.

Do yourself a favour and go to a proper music store and look at getting a brand new Mexican Strat.
http://www.dawsons.co.uk/fender-standar ... tAodtp4DSA


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Post subject: Re: Newbie here - does this look legit?
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:24 pm
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If you have serious doubts then trust your second thoughts. You can always walk away until you know for sure. Better that than realizing later it was not a fair buy..

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