Fake Strat?

[bakeaj]

Hey folks, I wondered if you here with more stratocaster experience might help me do a bit of detective work. I offered up a set of V-Drums for trade on Craigslist, and a fella has offered to trade me this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32968283@N04/

Now, I haven't had a chance to see it in person, but a few things are raising some flags. The serial number checks out (I think) as an American made in the Corona factory in either 2006 or 2007. These are my concerns:

The serial number- I don't know if this silk-screened looking silvery white lettering is legit. Looking at other pictures hasn't really helped me; although should it even be in this position?

The headstock- Just looks weird. The decal doesn't seem to match up with what I'm seeing on the 'net; most of them have skinny black lettering, not fat silver stuff. Additionally, they seem to usually have the serial number, "made in the usa" and "with contour body" on it.

The finish- It might just be the pictures/camera, but the finish looks wrong, a little too orange. Most of the sunbursts I've been able to track down on the net are darker.

The case certainly isn't OEM for a strat (right?), but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Most of this stems from my relative inexperience with strats I think, so if there are any aficionados out there that can lend a hand, please do! Thanks!

[kidego430]

It's fake. Serials are NEVER on the heel of the neck. Always on the headstock somewhere. Run like hell from that pile

[bakeaj]

Yeah, I think the reason it threw me is because its weird...like they didn't try hard enough to make it passable; I don't consider myself a pushover or "noob" when it comes to guitars, but I've never owned a strat. I have no idea if the guy knows its fake, but I intend to keep my eye on CL to make sure he doesn't try to pass it off on anyone else. I put an email in to Fender, and I still have to get back to them about it too; thanks for the help folks.

[The_Dali]

MIJ strats have serial numbers on the heel.

This does look fake, but not for the reasons you mentioned... the Fender loogo has had many incarnations, so it being "silver" instead of skinny and black has nothing to do with it.

The serial number for a USA strat should be on the back of the headstock or below the Fender name on the front... Most US strats now have a two-point tremolo, and this one has 6-hole (vintage). Overall it "looks" wrong, but I don't think you can point to the sunburst because there are so many variations.

I agree it is fake, but I think what makes me more suspicious is the God-awful pictures. Usually if the pictures suck someone is trying to hide something.

[mc5nrg]

Case looks like a MIC fake type of case. The photos seem to miss the details that would help ID the guitar. Such as full headstock(incl nut) , back of headstock, tuners, bridge... Looks like a fake to me.

[Ibarshall_X]

i got a fake one too :D
well the pickups are replaced with new ones but the neck is.....:poke:
amd the body is .....:poke:
and the tuners are.....:poke:

[Dave67]

The Serial # is fake. Ask the seller to remove and neck and take photos of the heel. If it is a Fender it will have a build date there.
It looks fake to me though

[koco]

The font is wrong for the logo. And what's with the weird copper colored strings?