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Post subject: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 10:34 am
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Hi there, I'm from Brazil and here we don't have many options for used guitars, everything is overpriced, the new, the used and all.

Btw, I found a guitar that visualy takes my sleep away, but since I can't go there and play I need your help to figure if it's real or fake, here is the link to the anounce in "our" ebay.

The serial is E950319 and the fender email consumer support just said:

"I am unable to retrieve any information on the serial number provided. Our serial number database only dates back to 1993. This serial number would correspond to an instrument manufactured in the late 80's very early 90's. When the company was acquired from CBS, they did not provide us with any of their specific manufacturing or serial number data."


Can any one check pics and please give me a feedback? I asked for photos of the date in the neck and body, ut I think it will take along time to get done...

Link:
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-683595985-fender-japan-st54-ls-eric-clapton-raridade-total-_JM


Thank you all,

Gabriel Rosa


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:52 am
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The guitar *seems* to be a MIJ re-issue (possibly a '54) that been refinished in pewter and to which active electronics have been added. It is not a Clapton signature Strat regardless of what the seller may tell you. Here in "El Norte" such an instrument would be valued at around $650 to $725 if a HSC were included.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:57 am
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Nice guitar though, too bad for the butchering in the back.


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 1:35 pm
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An "ST-54-95 LS", they claim. So, it's this one: 1995 Brochure at Yokochou
One of the color options is PTR (= Pewter).

But, the "com serial E+6 digitos (1984-1987)!!!" in the ad can't IMHO be right - I believe these models should come from the later half of the 1990's.

The 3800R$ equals about 1100USD - seems a bit over the limit, but I understand the guitar price level in Brazil is high.


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:54 pm
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Those pewter ST54-85LSes recreate the Clapton prototypes in their original form (before the switch to the 22-fret necks in the late 1980s).

Image

(photo credit: Gene Shaw)


Last edited by chromeface on Sat Aug 15, 2015 8:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:51 am
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jmattis wrote:
An "ST-54-95 LS", they claim. So, it's this one: 1995 Brochure at Yokochou
One of the color options is PTR (= Pewter).

But, the "com serial E+6 digitos (1984-1987)!!!" in the ad can't IMHO be right - I believe these models should come from the later half of the 1990's.

The 3800R$ equals about 1100USD - seems a bit over the limit, but I understand the guitar price level in Brazil is high.


Brazil's import taxes are very high!

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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:35 am
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It's difficult to tell from the pics if the guitar is all original and authentic as far as being a "Fender Strat" goes...looks like a decent instrument, however it could just as easily be a partscaster as well or something else as well. That said, I do agree with Arjay that this is certainly NOT a Clapton sig series...I can't read the text to see if that's what the seller is actually suggesting (I can barely read English and it's my native tongue, LOL), however that the seller seems to be trying to associate this instrument with Clapton in one way or another throws up a BIG red flag in my book.

-If- it is in fact an all original MIJ Strat, the going price here in the states might be anywhere from $300 - $500 (US Dollars), however considering how questionable this instrument could be and that the seller appears to be trying to associate this instrument with something that it's not, I just wouldn't go a dime over $200 for this guitar. It -could- be a very decent instrument, but based on the pics alone, it could equally be little more than firewood as well...I'd use a lot of caution on this one.

Just my $.02 worth...hope it helps.


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 9:32 am
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lomitus wrote:
That said, I do agree with Arjay that this is certainly NOT a Clapton sig series...I can't read the text to see if that's what the seller is actually suggesting (I can barely read English and it's my native tongue, LOL), however that the seller seems to be trying to associate this instrument with Clapton in one way or another throws up a BIG red flag in my book.


+1

I've read rumours saying the ST54-95LS is a Clapton signature but these claims are false. This guitar indeed shares many of the features from the Claptons - such as the Gold Laces, Elite circuitry and a 22-fret neck with vintage-style fretwire - but the differences end there.

While the Clapton has the battery located in the tremolo cavity the ST54-95LS sports a battery compartment on the lower bout from the back. Standard butterfly string tree on the former, round string tree on the latter. Additionally the ST54-95LS uses a die-cast S5D bridge assembly. Available in Black, Vintage White, Torino Red and Gun Metal Blue.


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 11:01 am
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I'll revise my previous post: had some time to check out the earlier Yokochou brochures. Here's an ST54-85LS from 1989

Don't get hung on that "signature" term. The ad doesn't claim the guitar to be a MIJ Clapton signature model, only that it's an ST-54 LS, with "Eric Clapton" in brackets - and that, in fact, is a pretty good way to describe that model...

The pics are not enough to be absolutely sure, but the features of the guitar seem to fit the description. So I'm sorta inclined to believe it's real.
On the Brazil price, I can't comment - as you all know, "Nos foruns gringos, normalmente os instrumentos tem estimativa de valor mais barato mesmo."

Oh, by the way: a fun fact on Japanese model numbers; the numbers tell the original price level; ST54-85LS for ¥85000, ST54-95LS for ¥95000 etc. The guitar in the ad was 85 big ones.
And: if it would sell for that $200 lomitus suggested, I'd probably break some fingers trying to type fast enough to buy it. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 8:48 pm
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Just an info: the ST-85 mirrors the Clapton prototypes in their original form while the ST-95 reflects the final touches Eric did in his guitars in the late 1980s (circa mid 1987/ late 1988).

Of course none of these models is a Clapton signature though they exhibit many of the features from the former.


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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 4:55 am
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Too many unaswered questions to take the risk. Hang on to your money and look for something else.

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Post subject: Re: need help to see if its fake or real.
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 12:14 am
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Seems to comply with this other ST54 from 1989

I've been ogling on and on those ad pics (from general looks to pup labels to pickguard to neck pocket stamps to whatever) and yet: can't point out anything that would seem blatantly false.
I'd say that's either a real MIJ ST-54, or there's a really good guitarfeiter somewhere in Rio.
On the price; a good 80's original "standard" MIJ Strat would easily go for over €700 in my 'hood. So Brazil..?

So (as I try to learn something every day); exactly what are those unanswered questions..?


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