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Post subject: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:20 pm
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Hello
I just purchased a vintage strat. I am confused on when it was actually produced the only serial number I can find is stamped on the butt of the neck #2947 with an S written in the middle of it. It also has different pickups than a normal strat of the same era, a double Seymour Duncan humbucker and two singles in a straight line from bridge to neck. And a neck plate that says Corona California on it with the Fender logo. Also it has Grover tuners in place of the stock tuners that came with the original guitars. Any information on what the real story of this guitar might be would be greatly appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:31 pm
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Pics would be a big help but bear in mind, the term "vintage" is most commonly associated with Fender gear built in Fullerton (not Corona).

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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:29 am
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There is no "real " vintage fender Stat with humbucker pickups .

Are you talking about modern Fender Vintage serie ?


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:47 am
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Don't know what's considered "vintage" or "real vintage", those are terms that certainly change with time. Leo's first production Strat sure wasn't vintage when it came fron the factory... :wink:
But on HSS Strats, there was a history topic some time ago: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=97477

To the OP: can't help at all without pics, instructions here: Nutter's Quick Start Guide
That neck stamp most likely isn't a date stamp, nor a serial number - stamps in the neck or neck pocket are usually just factory product line identification marks. "Corona California" plates can be bought cheap on ebay, maybe somebody switched the neck plate while doing those other mods.
There should be a serial number somewhere, examples in a quote from Fender Support:
Quote:
For years, serial numbers have been used in various locations on Fender instruments, such as the top of the neck plate, the front or back of the headstock and the back of the neck near the junction with the body. Serial numbers were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate on early ’50s Stratocaster® guitars, and on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles on some Telecaster® guitars.


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 5:19 am
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Whew!

What a relief!

When I saw “Dating my vintage strat.” I thought he was talking about a relationship! :lol:


8)

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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:43 am
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Conga vince wrote:
Hello
I just purchased a vintage strat. I am confused on when it was actually produced the only serial number I can find is stamped on the butt of the neck #2947 with an S written in the middle of it. It also has different pickups than a normal strat of the same era, a double Seymour Duncan humbucker and two singles in a straight line from bridge to neck. And a neck plate that says Corona California on it with the Fender logo. Also it has Grover tuners in place of the stock tuners that came with the original guitars. Any information on what the real story of this guitar might be would be greatly appreciated.


While I will admit the term "vintage" is a tad relative these days, I also have to ask - how can you begin to tell what era the instrument is regarding a comparison if you don't even know what you have to begin with?

As others have already said, you're going to have to post some pics before anyone can give you a clue as to what you have. If there's no serial number, then from your description, the instrument could easily be a fake or partscaster of some kind...anyone with a decent inkjet printer can fire off their own headstock decals these days and for better or worse, there's A LOT of fakes out there. If it is in fact an older instrument, it's also possible that the instrument could be stolen and the serial number was removed in order to prevent a positive ID on the instrument (i.e. swapping neck plates on a 70's instrument for example). Very simply, ANYTHING is possible here.

For any id purposes, you'll want to get as many CLEAR, detailed pics as you can...front and back of body (make sure we can see the bridge and any hardware), front and back of headstock, a good full length shot of the front and back, a good shot of the neck heal and neck cavity of the body (neck removed), a shot of the body with the pickguard removed, etc., etc.. If it is in fact a genuine vintage instrument, even if it's been modified, such pictures will help people to nail down what it actually is.



There are some folks on these forums who are VERY good at running down a mystery, however without pics, it's nearly impossible to really provide you with any sort of decisive info.


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:42 am
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thanks for the info I am going to upload pics asap so i can get some answers..


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:53 am
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ok here are some pics of the guitar in question. I hope i did this right.

http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Vince ... 5.jpg.html

http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Vince ... s.jpg.html

http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/Vince ... k.jpg.html


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:13 am
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We need more pictures as Lomitus suggested.
However from the first ones I don't think the guitars is "vintage" by any means.
The neck has 22 frets, so it's fairly modern style, the dots spacing at 12th fret is large and suspicious. Reminds me about Chinese Squier.
That body neck heel....is that a Mexican body?
Post more pictures please!


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:30 am
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is there anything specific you would like to see?

Let me know and i will take as many detailed pics as possible? Not with the gutair now so as soon as i can.

thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:52 am
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"Vintage Strat" of course means different things to different people, but has been mentioned, generally it refers to Fenders made during the Leo, or at least CBS eras (30+ years back). From what I can see from pics your instrument appears to be of much more recent manufacture. There should be a serial number on the back of the headstock, or a date on the butt of the neck, possibly a paper label on the bottom interior portion of the neck. None of those pickups are original. Pick guard appears to have the wrong number of screws for an American Strat. Photos of front and back of headstock, and of the entire guitar, front and back could help.


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:05 am
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lomitus wrote:


For any id purposes, you'll want to get as many CLEAR, detailed pics as you can...front and back of body (make sure we can see the bridge and any hardware), front and back of headstock, a good full length shot of the front and back, a good shot of the neck heal and neck cavity of the body (neck removed), a shot of the body with the pickguard removed, etc., etc..


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 11:11 am
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Based on those couple of pictures I'm not feeling it myself.

The skunk strip looks too dark for a MIA (MIM perhaps but then what is with the neck plate?) and the body contours don't seem to flow in the way I would expect them to.

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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 2:00 pm
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Hi there very little on this strat looks vintage ... at this stage it looks like a parts-caster with very little looking typically fender though maybe the body is but certainly not from a guitar that has the standard micro-tilt. Mim possibly?
How about detailed shots of the front and back of the headstock and a shot under the pickguard showing the pickup cavities etc.
You have had the neck offf, was there anything stamped or stuck on the base of the neck? :D


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Post subject: Re: Dating my vintage strat.
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 3:52 am
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guitarman1984 wrote:
We need more pictures as Lomitus suggested.
However from the first ones I don't think the guitars is "vintage" by any means.
!

Can't be a vintage ; this guitar is made in Corona and has humbucker .

Conga Vice ,

This guitar is a Part Caster , made from different parts , neck plate is wrong or / an neck (?) , bridge is wrong .........I hope you don't pay too much


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