Is this an American Strat?

[EEF13]

I bought this and the serial number says it is from '91. I think the neck is american but I am not sure about the body.

[EEF13]

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Nopes MiM it is.

[kmcguitars]

The Neck looks legit 90's US made. But the body looks Asian to me (i.e) ceramic bar w/t slug PuPs & cheesy electronics. Could be a Mexi? I'm not sure of the PuPs they use? But I'm thinking soy sauce,Not salsa when I look at it!

[Diego]

The trem isn't american. It's got a thin block and the saddles look cheap.

So it's probably a Made in Mexico body.

[tonedeaf1]

I thought American-made Strats had 22 frets.

[kmcguitars]

I thought American-made Strats had 22 frets.

YUP! Good Eye! I missed that. It is possible to remove the 22nd fret,But WHY? Look at the truss rod adjustment area. If it's isn't Walnut like the skunk stripe? It's a forgery !! MIM have some kind of black martial there Plastic?

[beandip]

That does seem typical of a 90's American Standard neck.

As for the body, those pickups, electronics, and the routing of the body scream MIM to me.

[beandip]

BTW: That's some serious fret wear.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

^ we agree Mr Beandip!
Had a MiM from the same period, same vib...also same routings.
Neck is US ok.

[beandip]

Also, don't let the "U.S.A." on the neckplate fool you, it's aftermarket.

[WhoFan]

i do believe this is from a series Fender called The Californian series... basicly MIM quality with a MIA sticker

[Funkfingers]

Vibrato bridge looks MIM. Pickups look MIM. Routed cavities in body look MIM.

N1 serial number prefix implies 1991 manufacture. American Standard Stratocasters of this period generally feature 22 frets. The neck anchor plate is highly suspicious.

Explanation #1
The US/Mex cross-border California Series mentioned by Who Fan.

Explanation #2
A MIM Stratocaster with Fender USA decals, QA stickers and replacement machineheads.

[WhoFan]

ya it was a short lived series... Fender was marketing them as USA guitars but they were your basic Squier and MIM quality at the time as far as hardware and build quality... they only lasted a few years in the early 90's...

i remember that you could be the MIM version for hundreds less then the one with the MIA badge on it!!!

[ganzosrevenge]

the california series were made from 1997 to 1998, and the neck stamp is 1991. The body is NOT routed the period correct way of 1997 / 1998 which was swimming pool, and the routing seems too poorly done for an MIA, even of the early 90s. The bridge block seems to be a squier or an early MIM, thin, not much to it. I would say either you got a squier that got a decal job, or worse a partscaster. Either way, it's not an MIA strat as the neck purports.

Jason

[scottish]

i dont see the tell tale circular routes for the CNC machine typical of MIM bodies....

are they there and only hidden by the guard in the pics?

[EEF13]

Thanks guys. I am going back to get my money as soon as I can.

[beandip]

i dont see the tell tale circular routes for the CNC machine typical of MIM bodies....

are they there and only hidden by the guard in the pics?

Not just your guides, but also the fuzziness of the route itself. Says dull bit to begin with, then used several thousdand times at a high speed. You wouldn't expect that sort of quality from anything else

[Funkfingers]

Thanks guys. I am going back to get my money as soon as I can.

Hey, fella. Let everybody know how the dealer responds to your complaint.

[Diocletian]

Are Fender neck pockets always as messy as that? It looks terrible.