I don't mean to be over exaggerated but you are a true guitar hero. What an awesome guy. You were looking for a custom shop Eric Clapton strat then you found this one and you realized it wasn't what you were looking for so you passed on it. Then you turn around and you thought about it and you didn't want some other person to get scammed so you turn around and you buy it. Your a guitar hero dude
Yes, good video; So important to know your instrument before you purchase one, especially through the mail! I've been playing 50 years,, I've never purchased a expensive / good guitar buy mail order!!! Woops Once when I was about 9 years old my mom got one from the JCPenney catalog for My 10th birthday,in 1967.lol😅 this guy's great.
Just found and shut down a scammer in my area with your video as proof! Thank you for this, it made it very easy! How can you scam people out of Thousands of dollars? The worst of the worst type of people.
Well done. You are the first person that actually pointed out the spacing of the 12th fret dot inlays. I look at the dot inlays and if they are too far apart on a “fender” I’m automatically suspicious. Most of the time I’m right in thinking it’s a fake. Great job. Really.
I bought a fender Stratocaster in Pomona California in 1976. It had to string trees on it. I paid $350 for it brand new and I paid another $35 for a nice hard shell case. That shows you how much things have gone up over the years. Thank you so much for your videos. Super cool stuff.👍🏼😁😁😎🎸
I kept waiting for you to mention it but in addition to the areas you mentioned, one of the first things I saw on the fake was shape of the neck heel. Looks like it’s cut squared like a Tele and not a rounded heel like a Strat neck.
also hate to tell you but even the fender is not an accurate replica, it should have a heel adjust and dime tree.. solid walnut plug, its a 57'... not even close, should have patent comma patent..
Son got one off Reverb for Christmas. Subscribed because of your kind act of taking the fake off the market and found the video informative. Keep up the great work!
Always check the last fret (the last woods space only) of the closest pick. The original has the circle form, on the other hand, the fake has the rectangle shape as the generic form.
The square neck, where it meets the pickguard, on the fake one is a dead giveaway, in he beginning his hand was covering the 12th fret so I couldnt see the distance of the dots,along with the two string trees… Great video, thanks for sharing.
That would habe been perfect if we could have a soundwise compare. I bet a LOT of people couldn't tell the difference and may even like the fake one better...
You can also see that the pickup poles are not the same as they do not have the bevel nor are they staggered in height. The end of the fretboard is flat like a Telecaster whereas the Fender is always round. The size of the fretboard markers are also bigger on Fender guitars. The pickguard on the fake Strat has a THREE PLY pickguard - not two. And Fender ALWAYS has a gloss finish on the Eric Clapton model. Also worth mentioning is that the font and size on the back of the fake is too big and Fender NEVER put a serial number for the Eric Clapton model there - it is always on the neck plate. Fender also uses a three spoke design for the volume and tone knobs inside so that you know if they're legitimate or not. The aftermarket ones are always four spoke design no matter WHO makes them! Plus the Eric Clapton guitars always have a 9.5" inch radius and the Chinese copy has a 12" inch radius. That''s plain to see even in the video. I already know my guitars and I've owned I don't know how many Fender guitars and Fender style guitars so I'm not fooled and I know what to look for. Thank you for sharing this with us any way. It helps for those who don't know better. But all the pirates on evilbay selling cheap copies with fake Fender logos does not!
Great info! Thanks for sharing. We can all learn from this! I didn't know about the knob spokes! That's very interesting. Thanks for watching! Have you been playing guitar for a long time?
Does the fake one have the Mid Boost and the TBX preamp circuit in or it's just a plain normal strat style guitar? (Given that the real EC model is popular for these two features)
I'm actually looking to purchase an authentic USA Fender Stratocaster (Hank Marvin Fiesta Red) but have not a clue as to how to get around this. Ask me anything about a Spanish flamenco guitar and I can spend half a day telling you about them 'cos that's what I play for a good part of 20 years. I've always wanted a genuine USA Fender Strat since the mid 1960s but could not afford them. Now I'm able to and is looking to realise my childhood dream. Your video has greatly enlightened me and I'm all that wiser and confident to hit the market for a genuine Fender Strat now.
Just looked at the bullet model to make sure ,the neck and signatures we're legit and i analized every detail seem like a trustworthy website find,but even if it's fake, it's important if it does the job
And I would add a more straight part below the last fret (see 9:46) on the fake model, and a more rounded part going up on each side to meet the last fret, on the real one !!!
You also forgot to mention the shape of the fingerboard at the neck pickup. It is a bit rounded on the edges in the original fender and pretty squared in the replica. Also the ink on the serial number is lighter in hue and with low contrast compared with the original stray.
I just found your channel, I recently bought a cheap Squire Strat,to bang around on, and was looking to find our more about it. That tri-layer pick guard, the bridge, and neck on your fake is identical to the ones on my cheap squire. Perhaps someone is buying the Squire and altering the graphics on it.
The tell is the truss rod insert. With exception of the Mini, all Squiers and Fenders have either a black plastic or the walnut insert. Only a couple of the top of the line Squiers have the walnut insert which is sign of a dual action truss rod. None of the necks with the black plastic insert are dual action. If neither the walnut nor the black plastic is seen it is a fake. If either is present then remove the neck to see if it is a Squier or a Fender and remove the pickguard to see if it is a Fender body....
I noticed straight away by the missing walnut in the truss rod access and the wrong screw positions on the pickguard, plus the colour of the pickguard is a cheap pure white, and the body seems to be a matt black colour
Good info! The squared off fretboard at the bottom jumped out at me. Real deal Strats are rounded. Real Telecasters are square at the bottom. Thanks for the vid!
ITS GOOD TO KNOW THE SIGNS ,I HAVE 4 FENDER STRATOCASTERS USA. BUT I ALSO HAVE 3 PART CASTERS I MADE UP WITH ALL FENDER PARTS, AND A TOP LUTHIER PUT THEM TOGETHER . AND ONE OF THE PART CASTERS IS THE BEST SOUNDING FOR ME OF THEM ALL, AND THE OTHER 2 SOUND JUST AS GOOD AS MY USA STRATS . BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE ONE PARTCASTER IS THE BEST FOR ME , SO WHAT EVER THE SOUND IS FOR YOU MEANS YOU DONT REALLY HAVE TO PAY TOP DOLLAR TO ACHIEVE THAT
I have a Fender Telecaster neck on a Strat body with a Strat serial number, obviously can't be both. I bought it cheap so not a GREAT loss but still I was looking for a tele, already have several Strat's. Need to work on the neck as it is very rough on the hands. Anybody else with a similar experience?
The rounding on the fake headstock was also off. Particularly near the b string there's this weird wiggle and a sharp edge going into the ball at the top of the headstock. The edges behind the nut also aren't rounded off.
What is real hard is to see what the pre- 1965 Stratocasters are worth and if original. I have a 64 that is mostly original except for a refinish job and some rewiring. Cuts the value in about half. But I know the history since about 1972. That is when I bought it and stored it under my bed for the next 40 years. A new set up this year and I'm back playing it and oh my! Does it play great and sound great!
That's fantastic! A '64 would be amazing to own. Why was it unplayed since '72?. I'd love to see a picture of it. You could share it on our Facebook page or Instagram if you have those.
Even the best get, HAD! Admitting it and educating us not to get scammed is PRICELESS and Accountable!! TY... I am too new at guitar, I did get scammed!! But i gutted it and made a Partscaster I love it whoever made it lol!!
The Clapton Strat you have is a 50s Style with a modern truss rod access. I can't honestly believe you paid more than $250 for the copy. Did you get a case with the copy?
The one I found has everything correct about the neck, but the body isn’t correct at all. The pickups don’t even say noiseless on the one I found. And the neck plate only has the fender logo without a serial number. Is it fake?
When buying guitars that expensive it's best to buy them new from an authorized Fender instrument dealer. There's some knock offs that are a lot closer to the Fender brand than that. Chinese copy guitars are definitely a bargain for obtaining a playable guitar but I wouldn't pay more than $500 for any of them new or used. That way you'll probably get what you paid for when buying online. Majority of sales people are honest but the scammers are among them for sure.
@@Studio33guitar Since 1960. Got my first Fender guitar in 1967. It was a Fender Malibu acoustic. Got my first Fender electric in 1971. A telecaster. A million guitars since then. Lol I'm seriously addicted. I spent many years selling and trading Fender and Gibson guitars new and used in music stores.
It's strange that my 6 years old Squire VM70's Strat (discontinued) has the same offset screw holes on the back plate, and fender stamped bent steel saddles, that Fenders have. Why would they put Fender parts on a Squire made in the Cort factory in Indonesia?
Thank u sir for showing me that my guitar is a fake.but I need help on my neck repair.the truss rod nut is rounded and it won't remove.pls what can I do
Lets not forget that even if some guitars are copies or fakes they can still be good buys. Just make sure you dont spend thousands on something that is only worth hundreds.
Wonderful video and supuer super useful. I'm looking to own one of used fender lately, but still quite reluctant because of these issues. Thanks so much.
Believe it or not Fender had some how made a few Squire Bullet Strat HSS HT that was actually a Fender and I had one because they released serial numbers and I not knowing had one and it also had a Fender Headstock and it got stolen with four other guitars I had that were Squire Bullet Tele, Glarry thin line semihollow and I had a generation 1 Epiphone Hummingbird pro! I still get depressed because they were sold to pawn shops for a one-time fix for drugs according to the cops!
This is a really good video - and all your calls are good. But - I have to agree with the others - that square heel on the fake is the most obvious tell. That was the first thing that caught my eye.
Oh! IF the fake sounded / played better. Interesting question. The sound and playability of a guitar is the most important thing, so I guess I’d choose the fake! Great question. Thanks for asking!
First thing I noticed was the 22 fret was slightly squared off. Spacing with pickguard was off. I really love this video .Amazing details to learn from. I’ve read Duchasoir ? book back and front
@@Studio33guitar I may misspelled the name of the book.A.R Duchasoirr Im 61 been at it since 15. I bought a fake Stratocaster when I was 17. It was made in the Philippines. I swore Id never be taken again. In the 70s a huge amount of knock offs were being produced. Id go to local guitar shop and compare notes . I still have my 74 Hardtail and 94 American Standard.Thanks
I looked up the book and found it through Google. It looks like a great resource! Yes, there are many many fakes out there. Hopefully more people realize that and take steps to avoid getting scammed. Thanks again for watching!
Do I call my reconstructed 72 Strat Part Genuine or Part Fake.. Body, Neck Tuners and neckplate all genuine. Scratch plate and pickups cheaper bits replacements
A little late to the party but, I noticed the fake right away from the way the lower horn body didn't faithfully follow the contour of the pickguard, and the body there kinda needs more sanding work. Looks alot like a "Pinewood Derby" model in the way that it is not contoured enough. As far as buying that fake to save others from a scam? LOL, I'll try that on my girlfriend the next time I buy a cheap obvious fake. Thanks!
Was it a 1970 re-issue cos up till 71 they were still like 60s ones apart from the larger headstock. Did it have a maple fretboard on a maple neck, the one Hendrix would have used?
Very interesting, I was looking at some yoyo's Fender Strat he was trying to sell me for 450$. After careful exam, I could tell that it was a Chinese copy. As you said in the video, it is little things that kind of got my attention.
The location of the string trees alone says its fake. How do you not know this? Fender lines theirs up with the A tuner. Those aren't lined up with anything. Versus the Fender that's exactly in line with the A tuner. That's just 1 thing. I've only been playing for 2 years. Come on man. It's ridiculous when I know more than people who have been doing this their entire lives. Then there's the lack of walnut truss rod plug. There's the fake custom shop logo and the serial number that's all over the internet. How did you not know this was fake immediately upon seeing it?
I paid $240 for mine delivered I knew it was a fake but for me playing in the living room of my single wide through a line 6 I can’t pay $3,500 for any guitar my truck cost me $2,500 🤦🏻♂️
So? I've been trying to figure out? Is my fender nineties strat a fake? Or is it a 1991? Or a 1993; hence the code: 039647? What is MN1? Isn't it just supposed to say MN? Alone?
I just started Facebook marketplace and so many fake guitars on there. Those are obvious fakes, this video brings in so much more depth, and just because FB scammers cant fool me doesnt mean someone else cant. Im going to be even more careful and skilled now.
@@Studio33guitar 22 years techincally but I just got my first strat in December. I dropped guitar for production and now am reversing. Im in a personal struggle with what I want to do with my life, I like playing guitar but the prices are through the rough to me so now im focusing on builing pedals and saving up to make my own guitars. In a few years id like to release a trip hopish album with my experimental guitar in it more or less just justify all the money and time ive already put into audio lol. I think quality used gear is good enough for what I do and I like modern vintage equipment also just by preference but a gutiar just becomes one part of the overall process and cost albiet probably my favorite.
@@Studio33guitar I just went into my local guitar shop yesterday and they had one guitar for sale, I said why is this Fender Tele so cheap and they told me its a replica though that wasnt on the signage for the guitar. Its like these fakes are being normalized into the market because there are so many. I wanted to ask the guy more about hwo he came about selling a "replica" but he wasnt to friendly so i just left.
@@joeoge9347 I understand the struggle! There are so many things that I am interested in, it is tough to focus on just one! But for me, guitar will always be my favorite!
I’m just thinking I have an American Standard black. I think it wouldn’t be too hard for some unscrupulous seller to soup it up and call it a Custom Shop. I didnt notice if it was Nitro or not. That of course would blow that theory. I don’t think you could do that quite as easy with say a Les Paul std. much harder to fool someone with that I’d say. Any way just something that came to me.
Out of curiosity did the fake come in an accurate tweed case? In fake Les Pauls that’s usually a big flag also. Do the custom shops have the active pickups like the standards do? Im guessing the fake didn’t have a 9v battery
Good questions! This one did not come with a tweed case, just a regular one. Yes the Custom Shop model does come with active pick ups, and no the fake didn't have that either. Thanks for watching!
Important video EXPECIALLY,alot. of younger player, don't know! The Chinese knockoff can be ripping people off left and right. Another important thing,,.what to look for..The frets!!!,,there LOUSY ,sharpe frets,x, Ouch! Good video! I also could tell instantly by the finish....real one is deeper & glossier blk.
As soon as the video started I could tell the right one was fake! But it’s because I’ve done my homework for many yrs! But how I was able to tell is the headstock, the label was wrong and some curves were wrong.
@@Studio33guitar Started when I was 16 my mother and father wanted me to learn just two songs when I got the guitar stairway to Heaven and Hotel California I was self-taught so it took me a couple months but I got them down and then from that day on I’ve just been learning everything I can possibly learn
I don't mean to be over exaggerated but you are a true guitar hero. What an awesome guy. You were looking for a custom shop Eric Clapton strat then you found this one and you realized it wasn't what you were looking for so you passed on it. Then you turn around and you thought about it and you didn't want some other person to get scammed so you turn around and you buy it. Your a guitar hero dude
Thank you for the kind words! And thank you for watching. I appreciate it!
Super hero 😅
That's what I call making the world a little better for us all. You set a good example to follow.
Yes, good video; So important to know your instrument before you purchase one, especially through the mail! I've been playing 50 years,, I've never purchased a expensive / good guitar buy mail order!!! Woops Once when I was about 9 years old my mom got one from the JCPenney catalog for My 10th birthday,in 1967.lol😅 this guy's great.
Just found and shut down a scammer in my area with your video as proof! Thank you for this, it made it very easy!
How can you scam people out of Thousands of dollars? The worst of the worst type of people.
Excellent! Good Job! I'm glad the video was helpful! You're right, scammers are the worst!
Well done Man!
Well done. You are the first person that actually pointed out the spacing of the 12th fret dot inlays. I look at the dot inlays and if they are too far apart on a “fender” I’m automatically suspicious. Most of the time I’m right in thinking it’s a fake. Great job. Really.
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. how long have you been playing guitar?
There are more on the site as well. Some models have numerous copies.
Thank you so much for the video! Most definitely has came in handy for me.
@@Studio33guitar roughly 13 years. Maybe more. I’m still very intermediate lol
Also the Flat Black paint on the fake Fender gave it away.
I bought a fender Stratocaster in Pomona California in 1976. It had to string trees on it. I paid $350 for it brand new and I paid another $35 for a nice hard shell case. That shows you how much things have gone up over the years. Thank you so much for your videos. Super cool stuff.👍🏼😁😁😎🎸
I have a legit MIJ ST357 mid 80s strat with two simple string trees. I don't know how that to apply to USA guitars.
I make fake guitars here in China thank you for this observation. I now will make it harder to tell the fake from the real one.
I kept waiting for you to mention it but in addition to the areas you mentioned, one of the first things I saw on the fake was shape of the neck heel. Looks like it’s cut squared like a Tele and not a rounded heel like a Strat neck.
Yes, good eye! I missed mentioning that one. Thanks for watching!
also hate to tell you but even the fender is not an accurate replica, it should have a heel adjust and dime tree.. solid walnut plug, its a 57'... not even close, should have patent comma patent..
Just wanted to thank you for answering most of the comments like you did. It’s really kind ! Great video btw.
Thanks for noticing! I try to answer them all! Thank you for watching!
Son got one off Reverb for Christmas. Subscribed because of your kind act of taking the fake off the market and found the video informative. Keep up the great work!
Awesome! Thank you!
Always check the last fret (the last woods space only) of the closest pick. The original has the circle form, on the other hand, the fake has the rectangle shape as the generic form.
Yes! Good eye. I failed to mention that difference!
@@Studio33guitar Tnks bro! good vids by the way. This type of vid always welcome!!
@@jorgedelgado1427 Thank you! Let me know if you want to see something specific!
The square neck, where it meets the pickguard, on the fake one is a dead giveaway, in he beginning his hand was covering the 12th fret so I couldnt see the distance of the dots,along with the two string trees…
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Yes, good eye! Thanks for sharing!
there is a lot of information on the back of the neck when you unbolt it from the guitar - worth checking that out too.
That would habe been perfect if we could have a soundwise compare. I bet a LOT of people couldn't tell the difference and may even like the fake one better...
If they gonna make a fake, why not make it identical.
The agreement on after market items, it must be 10% different to avoid lawsuits.
You can also see that the pickup poles are not the same as they do not have the bevel nor are they staggered in height. The end of the fretboard is flat like a Telecaster whereas the Fender is always round. The size of the fretboard markers are also bigger on Fender guitars. The pickguard on the fake Strat has a THREE PLY pickguard - not two. And Fender ALWAYS has a gloss finish on the Eric Clapton model. Also worth mentioning is that the font and size on the back of the fake is too big and Fender NEVER put a serial number for the Eric Clapton model there - it is always on the neck plate. Fender also uses a three spoke design for the volume and tone knobs inside so that you know if they're legitimate or not. The aftermarket ones are always four spoke design no matter WHO makes them! Plus the Eric Clapton guitars always have a 9.5" inch radius and the Chinese copy has a 12" inch radius. That''s plain to see even in the video. I already know my guitars and I've owned I don't know how many Fender guitars and Fender style guitars so I'm not fooled and I know what to look for. Thank you for sharing this with us any way. It helps for those who don't know better. But all the pirates on evilbay selling cheap copies with fake Fender logos does not!
Great info! Thanks for sharing. We can all learn from this! I didn't know about the knob spokes! That's very interesting. Thanks for watching! Have you been playing guitar for a long time?
Does the fake one have the Mid Boost and the TBX preamp circuit in or it's just a plain normal strat style guitar? (Given that the real EC model is popular for these two features)
So how well did the Chender play compared to the real one?
I'm actually looking to purchase an authentic USA Fender Stratocaster (Hank Marvin Fiesta Red) but have not a clue as to how to get around this. Ask me anything about a Spanish flamenco guitar and I can spend half a day telling you about them 'cos that's what I play for a good part of 20 years. I've always wanted a genuine USA Fender Strat since the mid 1960s but could not afford them. Now I'm able to and is looking to realise my childhood dream. Your video has greatly enlightened me and I'm all that wiser and confident to hit the market for a genuine Fender Strat now.
Excellent! Thank you for watching. I’m glad you found it useful!
bullet strat neck - the plain truss rod hole, two trees and tuning peg holes set lower... so low the Low E tuner over-runs the wood...
Thanks! Helped me a lot to buy a (hopefully) genuine custom shop Tele. Checked all boxes! 😀
I think you might have missed something. The walnut "skunk stripe" on the back of the neck looks way different on the fake "Strat". 😊
Just looked at the bullet model to make sure ,the neck and signatures we're legit and i analized every detail seem like a trustworthy website find,but even if it's fake, it's important if it does the job
Yes, exactly! Thanks for watching
And I would add a more straight part below the last fret (see 9:46) on the fake model, and a more rounded part going up on each side to meet the last fret, on the real one !!!
Yes! Good eye. I failed to mention that difference! Thanks for bringing it up!
You also forgot to mention the shape of the fingerboard at the neck pickup. It is a bit rounded on the edges in the original fender and pretty squared in the replica. Also the ink on the serial number is lighter in hue and with low contrast compared with the original stray.
I believe that Clapton's strat has a 3 way switch while most copies have the 5 way, in fact Eric generally only uses the middle pickup
Thanks for watching. Actually, the Clapton signature models do have a 5 way pickup switch.
I just found your channel, I recently bought a cheap Squire Strat,to bang around on, and was looking to find our more about it. That tri-layer pick guard, the bridge, and neck on your fake is identical to the ones on my cheap squire. Perhaps someone is buying the Squire and altering the graphics on it.
The tell is the truss rod insert. With exception of the Mini, all Squiers and Fenders have either a black plastic or the walnut insert. Only a couple of the top of the line Squiers have the walnut insert which is sign of a dual action truss rod. None of the necks with the black plastic insert are dual action. If neither the walnut nor the black plastic is seen it is a fake. If either is present then remove the neck to see if it is a Squier or a Fender and remove the pickguard to see if it is a Fender body....
I noticed straight away by the missing walnut in the truss rod access and the wrong screw positions on the pickguard, plus the colour of the pickguard is a cheap pure white, and the body seems to be a matt black colour
Good info! The squared off fretboard at the bottom jumped out at me. Real deal Strats are rounded. Real Telecasters are square at the bottom.
Thanks for the vid!
ITS GOOD TO KNOW THE SIGNS ,I HAVE 4 FENDER STRATOCASTERS USA.
BUT I ALSO HAVE 3 PART CASTERS I MADE UP WITH ALL FENDER PARTS, AND A TOP LUTHIER PUT THEM TOGETHER .
AND ONE OF THE PART CASTERS IS THE BEST SOUNDING FOR ME OF THEM ALL,
AND THE OTHER 2 SOUND JUST AS GOOD AS MY USA STRATS .
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE ONE PARTCASTER IS THE BEST FOR ME , SO WHAT EVER THE SOUND IS FOR YOU MEANS YOU DONT REALLY HAVE TO PAY TOP DOLLAR TO ACHIEVE THAT
I picked the fake out from the first image, the saddle was the give away. The custom shop model has the same as my own strat.
I have a Fender Telecaster neck on a Strat body with a Strat serial number, obviously can't be both. I bought it cheap so not a GREAT loss but still I was looking for a tele, already have several Strat's. Need to work on the neck as it is very rough on the hands. Anybody else with a similar experience?
The rounding on the fake headstock was also off. Particularly near the b string there's this weird wiggle and a sharp edge going into the ball at the top of the headstock. The edges behind the nut also aren't rounded off.
Yes, good eye! How long have you been playing guitar?
What is real hard is to see what the pre- 1965 Stratocasters are worth and if original. I have a 64 that is mostly original except for a refinish job and some rewiring. Cuts the value in about half. But I know the history since about 1972. That is when I bought it and stored it under my bed for the next 40 years. A new set up this year and I'm back playing it and oh my! Does it play great and sound great!
That's fantastic! A '64 would be amazing to own. Why was it unplayed since '72?. I'd love to see a picture of it. You could share it on our Facebook page or Instagram if you have those.
@@Studio33guitar life got in the way, got a job, had a child, restored my interest in photography after retiring and then most recently guitar!
@@gosman949 Ahh yes, we’ve all been there. But I’m sure that kept the guitar in pristine condition!
@@Studio33guitar yes it is. Wish there were mileage indicators on these things. Mine would have low miles.
@@gosman949 Yes I bet!
Even the best get, HAD! Admitting it and educating us not to get scammed is PRICELESS and Accountable!! TY... I am too new at guitar, I did get scammed!! But i gutted it and made a Partscaster I love it whoever made it lol!!
The chinamen made it ....the knockoffs are getting better and better
The Clapton Strat you have is a 50s Style with a modern truss rod access. I can't honestly believe you paid more than $250 for the copy. Did you get a case with the copy?
The one I found has everything correct about the neck, but the body isn’t correct at all. The pickups don’t even say noiseless on the one I found. And the neck plate only has the fender logo without a serial number. Is it fake?
When buying guitars that expensive it's best to buy them new from an authorized Fender instrument dealer. There's some knock offs that are a lot closer to the Fender brand than that. Chinese copy guitars are definitely a bargain for obtaining a playable guitar but I wouldn't pay more than $500 for any of them new or used. That way you'll probably get what you paid for when buying online. Majority of sales people are honest but the scammers are among them for sure.
Yes, great info! Thanks for sharing. How long have you been playing guitar?
@@Studio33guitar Since 1960. Got my first Fender guitar in 1967. It was a Fender Malibu acoustic. Got my first Fender electric in 1971. A telecaster. A million guitars since then. Lol I'm seriously addicted. I spent many years selling and trading Fender and Gibson guitars new and used in music stores.
That’s amazing. You have a ton of experience and knowledge! Buying guitars is a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing!
@@Studio33guitar Yes it is. Enjoying your videos! Thanks!
I’ve a 1997 EC Signature and it says “blackie” under his signature like the fake here.
Good info, thanks! Is it a Custom Shop or a standard signature model?
@@Studio33guitar Not CS, just stock USA.
I also noticed that the real strat has a round neck at the bottom where the neck is attached to the body, and the fake one is squared at the bottom.
Thanks..was very informative!! My buddy started to school me on spotting fakes..I always watch videos on this topic..peace✌️🇺🇸🇬🇧
I like the backlit guitars - can you tell me how you did that with the lighting? Thanks
It's strange that my 6 years old Squire VM70's Strat (discontinued) has the same offset screw holes on the back plate, and fender stamped bent steel saddles, that Fenders have. Why would they put Fender parts on a Squire made in the Cort factory in Indonesia?
Great video and thanks for the all the pointers to look for ,
Thank u sir for showing me that my guitar is a fake.but I need help on my neck repair.the truss rod nut is rounded and it won't remove.pls what can I do
Thanks for watching. That is a tough problem. Sometimes you can grab them with some thin needle nose pliers. Have you tried that?
Studio33guitar
Thank u sir ,I will try that out first, thank u.
Lets not forget that even if some guitars are copies or fakes they can still be good buys. Just make sure you dont spend thousands on something that is only worth hundreds.
Note the real neck at front by neck pickup has curvature at bottom, fake straight cut
Yes that's right! Thank you for watching!
Wonderful video and supuer super useful. I'm looking to own one of used fender lately, but still quite reluctant because of these issues. Thanks so much.
Another clue as to whether it's a replica is when someone tells you, "it was made in China."
Also a clue! 😂
Very useful , thanks 👍
How does it sound/play though??
The truss rod hole & bridge are always the 1st thing I check and always a dead giveaway on a fake .
Great tips, thanks for adding that!
I could tell by the color of the pick guard
Good eye!
The instant giveaway was the squared off fingerboard.
Believe it or not Fender had some how made a few Squire Bullet Strat HSS HT that was actually a Fender and I had one because they released serial numbers and I not knowing had one and it also had a Fender Headstock and it got stolen with four other guitars I had that were Squire Bullet Tele, Glarry thin line semihollow and I had a generation 1 Epiphone Hummingbird pro! I still get depressed because they were sold to pawn shops for a one-time fix for drugs according to the cops!
Wow, sad story! Thanks for watching!
At 3.55 where should the "F" of the fender logo be? Or is that wherever the bloke fitted them felt that day?
This is a really good video - and all your calls are good. But - I have to agree with the others - that square heel on the fake is the most obvious tell. That was the first thing that caught my eye.
Yes, you are 100% correct! Thanks for watching!
The fake one is on all points but the numbers of screws on the plate identical to my Squier
I love black strats. Some of my best friends are Guitars!!!
I believe the custom shop strat does not have the EC signature on the front of the head and the artist series does.
That's a great idea-running a serial number through Google, not just a Fender lookup database.
Yes, I was surprised at what I found! Thanks for the comment!
Is the fake better sounding and playing than the original? If so, which would you choose?
Thanks for watching and commenting! The legitimate model is definitely better in all ways (construction, playability and sound). Thanks for asking!
@@Studio33guitar I was really asking which one you would choose if the fake one felt and sounded better.
Oh! IF the fake sounded / played better. Interesting question. The sound and playability of a guitar is the most important thing, so I guess I’d choose the fake! Great question. Thanks for asking!
Hi , l am looking for a fender Mexican but the serial number starts with MZ is this a fake
What are the real ones priced at ??
besides the cosmetics.. which one plays better?
I bought a fender at a reputable store but the serial number doesn’t match .. is it a fake?
Which one plays and sounds better????
First thing I noticed was the 22 fret was slightly squared off. Spacing with pickguard was off. I really love this video .Amazing details to learn from. I’ve read Duchasoir ? book back and front
Yes, good eye! Thanks for watching and commenting! I’m not familiar with that book, I’ll look into it. How long have you been playing guitar?
@@Studio33guitar I may misspelled the name of the book.A.R Duchasoirr Im 61 been at it since 15. I bought a fake Stratocaster when I was 17. It was made in the Philippines. I swore Id never be taken again. In the 70s a huge amount of knock offs were being produced. Id go to local guitar shop and compare notes . I still have my 74 Hardtail and 94 American Standard.Thanks
I looked up the book and found it through Google. It looks like a great resource! Yes, there are many many fakes out there. Hopefully more people realize that and take steps to avoid getting scammed. Thanks again for watching!
i have japan fender stratocaster 1994..body from plywood..its ori or fake??
Do I call my reconstructed 72 Strat Part Genuine or Part Fake.. Body, Neck Tuners and neckplate all genuine. Scratch plate and pickups cheaper bits replacements
You missed out on the screw placement’s on the pup selector which are also different. Cheers.
Good eye! Thanks for pointing that out!
What a story, hard to buy on it. Its not that I deny that there are fake fenders out there, as if the real ones are worth the price anyway.
Thanks for watching! It’s a true story!
Actually 3 more pick guard screws, 8 vs 11… two different model types
A little late to the party but, I noticed the fake right away from the way the lower horn body didn't faithfully follow the contour of the pickguard, and the body there kinda needs more sanding work. Looks alot like a "Pinewood Derby" model in the way that it is not contoured enough. As far as buying that fake to save others from a scam? LOL, I'll try that on my girlfriend the next time I buy a cheap obvious fake. Thanks!
I was going to purchase a 2016 70s re-issue, only to realize it came with a 4 hole neck-plate, not the 3 as they did back then.
That seems like a major feature of the 70's models doesn't it?
Was it a 1970 re-issue cos up till 71 they were still like 60s ones apart from the larger headstock. Did it have a maple fretboard on a maple neck, the one Hendrix would have used?
whoa, the back of the squier tuners... dang
Very interesting, I was looking at some yoyo's Fender Strat he was trying to sell me for 450$. After careful exam, I could tell that it was a Chinese copy. As you said in the video, it is little things that kind of got my attention.
The location of the string trees alone says its fake. How do you not know this? Fender lines theirs up with the A tuner. Those aren't lined up with anything. Versus the Fender that's exactly in line with the A tuner.
That's just 1 thing. I've only been playing for 2 years. Come on man. It's ridiculous when I know more than people who have been doing this their entire lives. Then there's the lack of walnut truss rod plug. There's the fake custom shop logo and the serial number that's all over the internet.
How did you not know this was fake immediately upon seeing it?
Good eye! You are very knowledgeable for only playing 2 years. Thanks for watching!
I paid $240 for mine delivered I knew it was a fake but for me playing in the living room of my single wide through a line 6 I can’t pay $3,500 for any guitar my truck cost me $2,500 🤦🏻♂️
I instantly see the end of the neck squared off
Didn't anybody notice that hilarious "MADE IN USA" under the Fender logo on the headstock ?
Has anyone ever seen that on a real Fender guitar ? 😂
Man, kinda sucks for whoever has the real fender with that serial number.
So? I've been trying to figure out? Is my fender nineties strat a fake? Or is it a 1991? Or a 1993; hence the code: 039647? What is MN1? Isn't it just supposed to say MN? Alone?
Is there any difference in the sounds of the real fender and the fake??
Probably some. But for most people who spend alot on guitars, the feel and playability is where the real difference is and what they are looking for.
even on a first look, all those unnecessary screws :)
Excellent video!!! Your service is appreciated!!!
Thank you very much! I’m glad you liked it! How long have you been playing guitar?
@@Studio33guitar 40 + Strat and classical years!!! God Bless you, brother!!!
Amazing! Thanks for watching!
I just started Facebook marketplace and so many fake guitars on there. Those are obvious fakes, this video brings in so much more depth, and just because FB scammers cant fool me doesnt mean someone else cant. Im going to be even more careful and skilled now.
Yes you are right, I've been seeing more and more of them lately. Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it. How long have you been playing guitar?
@@Studio33guitar 22 years techincally but I just got my first strat in December. I dropped guitar for production and now am reversing. Im in a personal struggle with what I want to do with my life, I like playing guitar but the prices are through the rough to me so now im focusing on builing pedals and saving up to make my own guitars. In a few years id like to release a trip hopish album with my experimental guitar in it more or less just justify all the money and time ive already put into audio lol. I think quality used gear is good enough for what I do and I like modern vintage equipment also just by preference but a gutiar just becomes one part of the overall process and cost albiet probably my favorite.
@@Studio33guitar I just went into my local guitar shop yesterday and they had one guitar for sale, I said why is this Fender Tele so cheap and they told me its a replica though that wasnt on the signage for the guitar. Its like these fakes are being normalized into the market because there are so many. I wanted to ask the guy more about hwo he came about selling a "replica" but he wasnt to friendly so i just left.
@@joeoge9347 I understand the struggle! There are so many things that I am interested in, it is tough to focus on just one! But for me, guitar will always be my favorite!
@@joeoge9347 Wow, that's surprising. I would expect it from a pawn shop, but not a legit guitar shop!
What scam are you talking about? If the add says "replica" it means a copy. They are already disclosing that it is a fake.🤔🤨
Hey has fender ever accidently stamped there own name backwards on the head or had a neck of maple without walnut
Thanks for the question! I've never seen that before. Do you have one like that?
Unfortunately these are all over eBay for sale everyday
Thank you
This is hilarious Glarry has a 59 dollar guitar that's equivalent to the Blackie guitar! They were later made to remove it from their ad!
$59? Wow, I bet it's amazing. Haha
I’m just thinking I have an American Standard black. I think it wouldn’t be too hard for some unscrupulous seller to soup it up and call it a Custom Shop.
I didnt notice if it was Nitro or not. That of course would blow that theory.
I don’t think you could do that quite as easy with say a Les Paul std. much harder to fool someone with that I’d say. Any way just something that came to me.
the headstock wreeks of Squier...
Out of curiosity did the fake come in an accurate tweed case?
In fake Les Pauls that’s usually a big flag also.
Do the custom shops have the active pickups like the standards do? Im guessing the fake didn’t have a 9v battery
Good questions! This one did not come with a tweed case, just a regular one. Yes the Custom Shop model does come with active pick ups, and no the fake didn't have that either. Thanks for watching!
Important video EXPECIALLY,alot. of younger player, don't know! The Chinese knockoff can be ripping people off left and right. Another important thing,,.what to look for..The frets!!!,,there LOUSY ,sharpe frets,x, Ouch! Good video! I also could tell instantly by the finish....real one is deeper & glossier blk.
At first glance, the one in your left hand doesn't have the walnut inlay in the truss rod hole, that's a dead give-away!
Why the real one has sticker (looks like) as fender logo on the headstock. Is that a Fender thing?
As soon as the video started I could tell the right one was fake! But it’s because I’ve done my homework for many yrs! But how I was able to tell is the headstock, the label was wrong and some curves were wrong.
Good job! The more you study the real ones, the easier it is to spot the fakes! How long have you been playing guitar?
I’ve been playing for about 23 years now
@@Studio33guitar Started when I was 16 my mother and father wanted me to learn just two songs when I got the guitar stairway to Heaven and Hotel California I was self-taught so it took me a couple months but I got them down and then from that day on I’ve just been learning everything I can possibly learn
The Stratocaster on the right is the fake one and I knew just five seconds into the video from the extra three pickguard screws in it.
The pick guard screws! Good eye! Thanks for watching!