Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

[Evan]

Hello, i'm looking into trading for a strat like the one pictured. The problem is that I dont know much about this guitar and the guy with it doesnt know much about it either. So have any of you seen one like this, or own one? I dont know if its american, or mexican, or if its even a fender. Just looking for any info at all.icture:

 

[Diego]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

That decal isn't legit.

Also I have no idea what wood is that.

And somebody was too lazy to route a battery compartment under the pickguard.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

its not like any fender ive ever seen, headstock doesnt look right and never seen any fender with that top wood.

 

[andrizzle]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Never seen one like that before... I'm sure I'll be corrected but I'm pretty sure it generally says somewhere on the headstock either Made in Mexico or Made in U.S.A. ... Maybe this has been sanded off to cover the fact it's a MIM ... or SOMETHING along those lines. Also, the Fender Logo for some reason looks a bit off to me

I've also never seen a 2 colored (front/back) fender before... I'm sure it's possible, or it could be a re-finish. There's a mini-switch between the volume and 1st tone knobs so I'd assume it's been modded, and I highly doubt Fender would put that pickguard on there stock... and there are active pickups (or some sort of weird doo-hickey) with apparently no place to put the battery except OUTSIDE THE GUITAR?!?!

So, I'm gonna guess fake, or heavily modded partscaster (maybe MIM)

THEN AGAIN... maybe my eyes are deceiving me but it looks like there might be some birds-eye in that maple... looks like it's probably a mutt.. any way you can get your hands on it to play it?

 

[Evan]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

yea i know that the pick guard is not stock, and its been modded with a boost circuit, I think maybe I will stay away from it. The fender decal seems to be in the wrong place on the headstock, its moved up a bit and right. The guy says that he had someone professionaly paint it like that and he doesnt know if its american or not. Now i'm starting to wonder if maybe its just a warmoth strat with a fender decal on the headstock. Either way I think i'll stay away from it.

 

[Diego]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

The Fender logo is too translucent, it looks a bit off-set and the Stratocaster bit gives it away too. That was put afterwards.
And yeah, the neck looks like it has some birds-eye maple.

To be honest, it could be a gem or it could be a turd. The tuners look like the cheapest stuff there was, and the shoddy job in the circuit/routing department don't help me trust that guitar at all.

Also, the rosewood fretboard is either super dry or just cheap. Doesn't look like the nicer stuff from those pictures at least, IMO.

 

[dominus]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Ash body stained green, the neck is 3rd party (the fretboard overhang isn't shaped correctly) with a fake sticker.

As a partscaster, it's probably worth up to $300, depending on the electronics.

 

[Evan]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Thanks for the info, its really appreciated, now I know what i'm dealing with

 

[Curt]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

body looks like something i've seen pre-finished from warmoth, so that's an idea as for the body, neck, might be the same ordeal, dunno about that.

and yea, i'd say probably around 250-300

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

I was also thinking ash for the body.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

that thing's definitely some sort of parts guitar. personally i like the wood grain, but that pickguard's gotta go.

 

[B2D]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Well aside from the fact that it's ugly as hell... :laugh2:

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

I sorta like the green stained body . . . but I wouldn't pay too much for the guitar, seeing as it's been knocked together in someone's basement.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Love the ash body- that would look awesome with a white or creme pickguard/pups.

But yeah..."partsocaster", worth is low based on that, though it may very well be an awesome playing &/or toneful strat- my partsocaster is.

 

[rts99]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Some things look fishy, some things don't. Some things are impressive.

If you like the guitar and are trying to establish value I would do 2 things. 1st take the neck off the body & examine the neck cavity & neck joint for logos/serial numbers. Photograph them if you can. 2nd contact Fender and find out if they can help you determine the legitimacy of the product. If they can't, or won't help locate your local Fender dealer & ask how to contact the local Fender sales rep. Find out when he'll be around next so you can discuss it with him.

Lastly, & I suspect you've already tried this, research websites & library books regarding Fender models through the years. The headstock for that model appears to be a "CBS" headstock (early 70s - give or take), but the Fender waterslide decal has no patent dates. That indicates the 50s. So it appears to be inconsistent. I can't see the back of the tuning pegs so I can't determine if there's the expected Fender "F" marking on the back. Or if they are marked Gotoh or Grover. On a Fender would expect to see this, it will help date the guitar.

The tremelo cut-out for the battery is a downer but you can replace the cover. They're readily available & cheap.

Good Luck

 

[dominus]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Some things look fishy, some things don't. Some things are impressive.

If you like the guitar and are trying to establish value I would do 2 things. 1st take the neck off the body & examine the neck cavity & neck joint for logos/serial numbers. Photograph them if you can. 2nd contact Fender and find out if they can help you determine the legitimacy of the product. If they can't, or won't help locate your local Fender dealer & ask how to contact the local Fender sales rep. Find out when he'll be around next so you can discuss it with him.

Lastly, & I suspect you've already tried this, research websites & library books regarding Fender models through the years. The headstock for that model appears to be a "CBS" headstock (early 70s - give or take), but the Fender waterslide decal has no patent dates. That indicates the 50s. So it appears to be inconsistent. I can't see the back of the tuning pegs so I can't determine if there's the expected Fender "F" marking on the back. Or if they are marked Gotoh or Grover. On a Fender would expect to see this, it will help date the guitar.

The tremelo cut-out for the battery is a downer but you can replace the cover. They're readily available & cheap.

Good Luck

The neck is NOT Fender.

It's a 22 fret neck with an overhang, and it's got too much overhang wood to be Fender.

Look at the fretboard end here:

Also, the 22 Fret USA Strat would have a rosewood plug at the trussrod. A Squier neck/MIM neck would have a plastic plug. The one pictured has no plug, and is shaped differently.

The CBS headstock is the fatter one:

 

[Kam]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Yeah, what everyone else said.

I quite like the look of the body but that scratchplate and the gold hardware would have to go. Is it just my eyes or are the tuning pegs a little crooked...?

If you like it and it sounds good then I don't see a reason not to trade for something of comparable value, there are thousands of mutts and parts-casters out there that sound and play as good as if not better than 'real' Fenders. The mystery surrounding it is just mojo in my eyes. Play it first and make your decision based on its merits. At least it doesn't sound like the guy is trying to con you so you should get a reasonable trade.

What is it that you are/were going to trade for it anyway?

 

[sosomething]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

That's a home-finish job if I've ever seen one. The camera flash betrays some serious orange peel and the clear has sunk into the grain.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

Any new model Strat will have the serial number on the headstock. This; I believe is a fake. Not necessarily a bad guitar, but it is not a Fender. Probably a Warmoth Body and neck or maybe a USACG. They both make good products, but it is not Fender. The Battery on the back could have been a mod..... some pickups are active & if the body doesn't have room for the battery it creates some concern as to where to put it. I have a Clapton Strat & the battery is tucked into a small little cavity under the back plate.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Has anyone ever seen a strat like this?

that thing's definitely some sort of parts guitar. personally i like the wood grain, but that pickguard's gotta go.

+1. Definately a parts'oStrat with a fugly pickguard.

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