I feel like something is off with the headstock shape and the truss rod cap. The bridge posts look odd as well, a two-point trem is only available on USA guitars as far as I am aware and so the serial number should be on the neck plate.
If it was me I'd stay clear
Just adding to your post, the 2 point trem looks like it is from a Squier Affinity model. The Fender headstock logo is not from a Made in Mexico model. There is no string tree at all. A partcaster with all the wrong part.
So a legit Fender doesn’t have to have a string tree. I have an American Deluxe that I put together with an authentic Fender American Deluxe replacement neck and they have no string tree installed from the factory which was fine because I used locking short shaft tuners
I'm referring to Production model Fender, not replacement Fender neck. The only Production model neck that are design without string tree are the John Mayer and Eric Johnson. This neck is not either JM or EJ neck, it looks more like knockoff Fender neck with no serial number and just a fake decal.
But your guitar had a serial number right? This one doesn't. Sure if you replaced the headstock/neck it wouldn't have one but you would still have the serial written down to prove its legit
Some MiM strats have a 2-point trem. For example, the player Strat, which is the flagship mim line, has one. Also the “modified” 50s vintera. Although they also would have a string tree and a black plastic truss rod plug. This seems to be a partscaster or something. But, yeah the 2 bolts look off. They usually have flathead screwdriver heads.
Newer usa models have serials on the back of the neck. This looks like a parts caster as the poles on the pickups look wrong. Probably a Squier some one has moderately modified. Check the neck pocket.
Thats a strange one, every Fender I have come across has a ‘made in’ or ‘crafted in’ somewhere on the neck. Do you have any images of behind the pickguard?
Thats a decent price if it was a mexican strat however all the mexicans I have seen say ‘made in mexico’ on the headstock. See for example. https://www.guitarrepairbench.com/guitar-dating/mexican-fender-serial-number/
His friend ripped him off and now he's looking to recoup the costs. 475 is too much even for a MIM fender used. This definetly looks like a squier that had the neck/head removed, then had a cheap one made and the fender label put on it. It looks way to light and the pickguard looks that way too.
Could be a Squier with a fender neck. The bridge posts look like from a Squier affinity, although the saddles do say fender, but it’s possible the saddles or the bridge was swapped out too. In which case probably not worth the price when you can get a legit fully-stock used mim for close to that.
Also, my wife is a big fan of purple guitars and i spent most of last year and part of this one hunting down a purple fender at a decent price. We ended up with a 2001 Galactic Purple Squier Strat. During my search the only purple sparkles I saw were Custom Shops. Maybe it’s a FSR, but I couldn’t find much on it.
Unless he replaced the neck, there should be a serial number somewhere up there. Most likely on the back. Some have them on the front. Are people really faking Mexican Strats? LOL. The world's a crazy place.
Looks like a partscaster with a fender sticker on the headstock. Still might be a great guitar, I have a tele that is a partscaster and it is on par with fender's american made instruments. Its all about the sum of the parts. Have you had a chance to play it?
Looks like there's no serial number, which would have indicated the country of origin. It's also an indication that it's a replacement neck; possibly to hide the fact that it's really a Squire. That could also account for the lack of string tree(s).
The 22 fret neck w/ modern tuners seems out of sync with the vintage bridge saddles.
Looking at the guts under the pickguard will provide a better idea as to its identity. Full-sized pots vs mini pots for one thing. Cloth-wrapped pickup leads vs plastic insulation for another.
If the owner won't open it up, they may just be lazy, or they may have something to hide. If it's dirt cheap, go for it. But if they want over $300 - $350 (USD) I'd walk unless they are willing to show you top quality electronics under the hood.
And yer gonna have to get either string trees, or Sperzel locking tuners with staggered pole heights (which removes the need for any string trees). Presonally, I love Sperzels.
There is no serial number. I wouldn't buy this or own it.
There are two spots I've seen fender put SN and this one has neither. It's possible the neck was replaced but that is still sus.
By the neck and the nut it’s a fake. But can’t tell about the body unless the neck is off and pickguard is open. I don’t take anyone’s word on what something is if it smells fishy immediately.
this screams fake. The fretboard wood looks almost like a cheap composite, the pick guard looks like cheap knock off strat plastic, the tuners are very obviously crooked, there’s no serial numbers on the back OR the front of the headstock, unless it’s $50 run away fast
It’s fake for sure. Headstock is slightly off. Tuners aren’t aligned at all. Waterslide seems a little too clean. That sparkle purple is also not in the strats catalog for that waterslide.
I feel like something is off with the headstock shape and the truss rod cap. The bridge posts look odd as well, a two-point trem is only available on USA guitars as far as I am aware and so the serial number should be on the neck plate. If it was me I'd stay clear
Just adding to your post, the 2 point trem looks like it is from a Squier Affinity model. The Fender headstock logo is not from a Made in Mexico model. There is no string tree at all. A partcaster with all the wrong part.
So a legit Fender doesn’t have to have a string tree. I have an American Deluxe that I put together with an authentic Fender American Deluxe replacement neck and they have no string tree installed from the factory which was fine because I used locking short shaft tuners
I'm referring to Production model Fender, not replacement Fender neck. The only Production model neck that are design without string tree are the John Mayer and Eric Johnson. This neck is not either JM or EJ neck, it looks more like knockoff Fender neck with no serial number and just a fake decal.
Yeah this one looks like a fake.
I have a strat with locking tuners and an LSR nut. No string tree. Definitely a legit strat
Also Jeff Beck Strat has no string trees.
But your guitar had a serial number right? This one doesn't. Sure if you replaced the headstock/neck it wouldn't have one but you would still have the serial written down to prove its legit
Fender replacement necks have serial numbers and I think the bodies have them too but I could be wrong.
Some MiM strats have a 2-point trem. For example, the player Strat, which is the flagship mim line, has one. Also the “modified” 50s vintera. Although they also would have a string tree and a black plastic truss rod plug. This seems to be a partscaster or something. But, yeah the 2 bolts look off. They usually have flathead screwdriver heads.
Newer usa models have serials on the back of the neck. This looks like a parts caster as the poles on the pickups look wrong. Probably a Squier some one has moderately modified. Check the neck pocket.
Good to know, thanks :)
Wonder why the serial number was left out.
That’s fake man
Definitely a telecaster
This guitar is giving me a ton of nostalgia for some reason.
Doesn’t look the tuners are all lined up? Maybe just parallax. Few mim strats had 22 frets before the recent player series. Nice paint though.
Kinda looks fake to me, especially the way the tuners are misaligned. Plus no number on the back of the headstock.
Thats a strange one, every Fender I have come across has a ‘made in’ or ‘crafted in’ somewhere on the neck. Do you have any images of behind the pickguard?
I dont think the seller would open it up
It’s fake.
How much is it being sold for and what are they selling it as?
Its $475 he told me this one is from his friend as a pledge he is selling it for what he had given for it
Thats a decent price if it was a mexican strat however all the mexicans I have seen say ‘made in mexico’ on the headstock. See for example. https://www.guitarrepairbench.com/guitar-dating/mexican-fender-serial-number/
His friend ripped him off and now he's looking to recoup the costs. 475 is too much even for a MIM fender used. This definetly looks like a squier that had the neck/head removed, then had a cheap one made and the fender label put on it. It looks way to light and the pickguard looks that way too.
>475 is too much even for a MIM fender used. In the great before time yes. Now, it's a decent price for a MIM
That being said it doesn't look right and has no visable serial so it is more than likely not what the OP is lead to think it is rasing red flags
For sure. That's some kind of partscaster, but I was mostly focusing on the current going rates for MIM Fenders
Too high of a price imo. If it’s Mexican it’s overpriced
In pristine condition and a rare colour?
Where’s the string tree? Where’s the “made in”?
I know ,i think the owner probably replace the neck or something its does not look like he sand it out
Could be a Squier with a fender neck. The bridge posts look like from a Squier affinity, although the saddles do say fender, but it’s possible the saddles or the bridge was swapped out too. In which case probably not worth the price when you can get a legit fully-stock used mim for close to that.
Also, my wife is a big fan of purple guitars and i spent most of last year and part of this one hunting down a purple fender at a decent price. We ended up with a 2001 Galactic Purple Squier Strat. During my search the only purple sparkles I saw were Custom Shops. Maybe it’s a FSR, but I couldn’t find much on it.
That is what i wonder it can be a squier, im gonna try to get him open this thing up
Unless he replaced the neck, there should be a serial number somewhere up there. Most likely on the back. Some have them on the front. Are people really faking Mexican Strats? LOL. The world's a crazy place.
Looks like a partscaster with a fender sticker on the headstock. Still might be a great guitar, I have a tele that is a partscaster and it is on par with fender's american made instruments. Its all about the sum of the parts. Have you had a chance to play it?
Looks like there's no serial number, which would have indicated the country of origin. It's also an indication that it's a replacement neck; possibly to hide the fact that it's really a Squire. That could also account for the lack of string tree(s). The 22 fret neck w/ modern tuners seems out of sync with the vintage bridge saddles. Looking at the guts under the pickguard will provide a better idea as to its identity. Full-sized pots vs mini pots for one thing. Cloth-wrapped pickup leads vs plastic insulation for another. If the owner won't open it up, they may just be lazy, or they may have something to hide. If it's dirt cheap, go for it. But if they want over $300 - $350 (USD) I'd walk unless they are willing to show you top quality electronics under the hood. And yer gonna have to get either string trees, or Sperzel locking tuners with staggered pole heights (which removes the need for any string trees). Presonally, I love Sperzels.
No serial#???
Pile of parts.
The screw by the pickup selector is not in the right spot
no clue that color is sweet tho
It’s a guitar for sure. A genuine Fender… not so much.
Kate moss
Fender Stratocaster.
Color is awesome but the lack of serial number and "crafted in" stamp is concerning
But if I had to put a model name on it, it looks like a standard strat
It’s frustrating to nail down because of the lack of serial numbers, I think it’s a Mexican personally, if you want it, buy it.
Something doesn’t seem right. It’s super easy to replace a neck and not having the “made in” on it is a red flag for me. I would exercise caution.
There is no serial number. I wouldn't buy this or own it. There are two spots I've seen fender put SN and this one has neither. It's possible the neck was replaced but that is still sus.
Something is off. The headstock is wrong.
purple
I think that's one of Eric Clapton's guitars he sold
Fake af
By the neck and the nut it’s a fake. But can’t tell about the body unless the neck is off and pickguard is open. I don’t take anyone’s word on what something is if it smells fishy immediately.
Looks fake to me man, stay clear
Why does everyone on here not keep strings on their guitars? I am extremely puzzled by the amount of pictures on here with guitars without strings.
Purple
Please tell me you didn't buy this, their is no serial number to identify it so it would be hard to tell making it perfect for catching a begginer
I did not buy this even know the neck look pretty haha
this screams fake. The fretboard wood looks almost like a cheap composite, the pick guard looks like cheap knock off strat plastic, the tuners are very obviously crooked, there’s no serial numbers on the back OR the front of the headstock, unless it’s $50 run away fast
It's definitely broken it has no strings
Headstock looks a little wonky
That is a Fender Stratocaster with triple single coil pickups and a whammy bar
Fake AF. The angle just after the nut where the neck morphs into the headstock is not right at all.
It’s fake for sure. Headstock is slightly off. Tuners aren’t aligned at all. Waterslide seems a little too clean. That sparkle purple is also not in the strats catalog for that waterslide.