It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:10 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Strange Serial Number
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:00 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:52 am
Posts: 2
Hey, everyone.
I play a USA Tele (I am the Worship Pastor at my church), and I have been looking for a backup.
I found one online, but the serial number the guys listed doesn't check out. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me. My first thought is that it's a copy, but the serial # is very close to some of the other odd Serial #'s I have found on various sites.

the serial # he listed is: Z8XXXX

there are some 2008 and 2009 Tele's with a serial beginning with Z, but nothing with an '8', and nothing with only 4 X's.... I'm stumped.

Thanks for any help you may be able to give...
God bless,
Pastor Doug


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:09 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:59 am
Posts: 457
It's common for folks to use Xs instead of the real letters when talking about (or selling) guitars online. I assume this is because they figure no good can come from giving out the whole number - maybe someone could file a police report with that number and claim it was stolen from them or something. It's common practice to say "I have a MZ2XXXX" etc.

Z8 should be a MIA 2008 model, give or take a year or so. The Z stands for zero, so Z8 = '08.

You could ask the seller for the complete number or if you want to be more subtle, ask him for close up pictures of the front and back of the headstock.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:48 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:52 am
Posts: 2
Thanks, George..
I appreciate you helping me out on this one. makes sense now that you mention it. :oops:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:31 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:59 am
Posts: 457
Pastor, I've been snooping. I hope you don't mind.

I googled Z8XXXX and found this ad:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/msg/1633308668.html

This is not a 2008 MIA Tele.

Evidence:

Quote:
Well I took a deposit but buyer had money problems so here it is again , So many fake fenders out there , this one says USA and Serial numer shows usa 2008 Z8XXXX but I'm no pro , make me a cash or trade offer


Hmm. Previous buyer backed out? I wonder why.

Also, the seller says "this one says USA...shows usa 2008 Z8XXXX..."

Notice seller also has no case and doesn't name a price. He's looking for offers or trades.

I think he knows it's a fake and is trying to be non-committal so when someone does buy it and then comes back unhappy after finding out what he bought, the seller can say "I only said what the guitar said on it. I never claimed it was anything specific."

Image

Notice the lack of neck pickup adjustment screws in the pickguard. American Standard Teles have two little screws on each side of the neck pickup. Could that have been changed by a previous owner? Yes, but it's unlikely in my opinion. The color is wrong for recent American Standard Teles also.

Image

Decal is wrong - it's the '70s style "TV logo" and it's at a strange angle. Tuning machines look wrong. Two string trees are wrong. The black plastic surrounding the truss rod hole is wrong - American Standard Teles have walnut wood around the hole.

My guess - it's a Squier Telecaster with a fake Fender decal.

Here's what an American Standard looks like. Study the details and decide for yourself.

Image


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: