Fender serial number doesnt match guitar?

robgilmo

I know of a Strat Deluxe players , Mexican, the ones with the gold hardware and 12'' radius, it was for sale a while back and could well still be and I am thinking perhaps the 12'' radius might be better for my big hands.
Anyhow, I ran the serial number on Fenders web site and it came back as a Sunburst and maple Classic Series '50s Stratocaster®, the one that was for sale is Red and Rosewood and isn't a Classic Series '50s Stratocaster®.
The guitar dater project put is at 1998 - 1999 which would be about right. Can Fender be wrong?

boogieman

Could be, Fender aren’t infallible. Could also be a Chinese fake, they’re not fussy what serial numbers they use. 

Octafish

Hard to say, in my experience the guitar data project is not always that reliable and can throw up anomolies, got a link to any pics?

Funkfingers

The majority of Fender guitars have their two major portions fastened together with wood screws. It is extremely simple to separate these and swap them over. 

I have purchased Fender guitar bodies, necks and other components from separate sources and assembled them into complete instruments. If I can manage it, so could Clyde the oran-utang.

Thus, the guitar under discussion could be a Bitsa. (This is nothing to worry about. Technically speaking, almost all Fender instruments are Bitsas.)

If you believe reference books, there are overlaps of Fender serial numbers - usually after numbering conventions have changed or due to different countries of origin. 

flying_pie

The serial number isn't everything. I wouldn't be overly concerned as long if the year and country part of the code is correct as far as the model goes. There are often markings on the neck/pocket and on the pickups for genuine Fenders - if you could get photos of those then that would help. 

robgilmo

Thanks guys, what worried me was the neck radius difference, 7.5 and 12 is a big step, but I am also reading that this could be a Super Delux Strat, in which case it will have a 9.5 radius, this is based on its production year.

flying_pie

@robgilmo you mentioned your concern was about what would best fit your hands. I think you're confusing radius with neck profile.

Funkfingers

flying_pie said:

I think you're confusing radius with neck profile.

Possibly. (Radius = fingerboard. Profile = rear of neck shaping.)

I am of an age where I grew up with the 7.25" fingerboard radius. Today, my favourite Fenders are the AVRI series. Thus, whenever I try a 9.5, a 12 or a compound radius, it feels as if it has been hollowed out under the D and G strings. This soon passes and I soon get on with making my squawking noises.

Octafish

robgilmo said:

Thanks guys, what worried me was the neck radius difference, 7.5 and 12 is a big step, but I am also reading that this could be a Super Delux Strat, in which case it will have a 9.5 radius, this is based on its production year.

Yeah exactly. If it is a Classic series neck it won't be the spec you want so it does matter really. Again some pics or a link would make it easier for people to help.

Funkfingers

Better still, go and check the guitar out in person. 

MattFGBI

PM me the serial number and I'll let you know .

robgilmo

Thankyou Matt, I have PM'd you.

guitars4you

I've known many times it is wrong - Fender Custom Shop and certainly on a  PRS via a ModCat code info - So on most occasions it is fine but errors do occur