Fender Strat "built for Guitar Center"

[ruedi]

Hello, I have a question: Have you ever seen such a thing? How would you rate this guitar?

Actually I already own my dream Strat, but somehow I am intrigued... Any thoughts on this will be highly appreciated!

I asked the seller for specs and will update as soon as I have an answer.

Here's the link to the ad: https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/fender-stratocaster-usa-lefty-1132078962/

Please forgive me, I'd rather discuss some Guild left handed guitars, but there are none...

 

[Westerly Wood]

man that is a sweeet color. i really like the cool look, vibe it has.

 

[walrus]

+1. Very cool look!

walrus

 

[ruedi]

Thanks Woody and Walrus! Yeah the look is really appealing and special. I'm not sure about the tuners though...

The seller has written back by now, he doesn't know anything about the specs. No papers either. I guess I have to go there and check the guitar myself... (I want it). CHF 700.- is not a bad deal I think (roughly 774 USD as of today).

 

[SFIV1967]

“Z”-prefix serial numbers denoting the new millennium appeared on U.S.-made instruments in 2000. Z0 denotes 2000; ...; Z3 denotes a 2003 made in USA Fender.

Ralf

 

[Coop47]

I've never seen anything like that - especially the amount of print on the back of the headstock - and I'd proceed with caution. I have doubts that Fender would build for one specific GC. Fender Customer Service used to provide info about guitars if you gave them the SN. Otherwise you could post on TDPRI or Strat-Talk and check in with those folks.

 

[SFIV1967]

Good points!

I also see that usually the "Serial Number" is inline at the beginning (my red line) and the font is a different font for the serial numbers.#

Also "Guitar Center" has a corporate design, that font would not fit to them and "Guitar Center" is always written in two words, not one together!

Here's another "Z3" to compare:

At least that whole serial number looks like dodgy to me. And the "SERIAL NUMBER" font is also not clear! Look at the "BER" at the end.

And usually the colored headstocks have the normal Fender branding:

versus that one:

So be careful, it might not be a "real" Fender at all.

However it has the micro tilt adjustment system (the 5th hole in the neck plate) and that was a clear Fender USA feature for instance of the Fender Amerian Series from 2000 to 2008. So the body could be indeed a Fender USA body.

Another observation, the headstock has no string retainer/string tree, here a real example:

And that yellow color on the headstock seems to be no yellow at all but a light effect only. The other picture the seller posted shows a pure red headstock.

Ralf

 

[ruedi]

Thanks Ralf and Coop! These are certainly valid objections. I will ask the seller to remove the neck and post pictures of what he finds there (neck and body), plus I will ask Fender Customer Service what they have in their books for this serial number. Stay tuned...

 

[fronobulax]

Interesting. This did not set off alarm bells for me. Guild made some customs for Mars Music a long time ago. They made customs for Reno. Chicago Musical Exchange and Street Sounds both had deals where they were the only dealer with certain finishes. It is unlikely that there was a store using "Guitar Center" (or GUITARCENTER) for very long if it wasn't part of the chain, but there are some items that are collectible because the markings predate an intellectual property lawsuit that was lost by the manufacturer. Finally the fortunes of FMIC and GC have been tightly coupled for a while so if there is any chain that had an exclusive from FMIC, I would expect it to be GC.

But after reading the comments my guess is that an individual store commissioned 22 instruments. Probably neither GC corporate nor FMIC approved of the action, or knew about it. A local was commissioned to build them and used genuine Fender parts where possible. OR it is an elaborate fake attempt to impart value, but for the prices we're talking about the faker is not getting rich.

 

[AcornHouse]

The easiest way to tell if it was actually built for Guitar Center is to look at the strings. If they are old, crusty, and dead, then it’s the real deal!

 

[davismanLV]

Guild did special runs for Guitar Center the year before Fender bought them, hence my D65S. It was a run of 20. The next year (1995) Fender bought them and I don't know if any other special runs were done for GC. However, there's no mention of Guitar Center on the guitar or the label other than having a serial number starting with GC. I'm not sure any of what I'm saying helps you in any way. It's just stuff that goes through my head when reading this thread. It sure is a fun looking guitar..... and it's a lefty. Good luck with this!!

 

[ruedi]

Fender just got back to me:

Greetings Ruedi,

Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be a legitimate Fender product, so I'm afraid I have no information on it.

Regards,
Nicholas Abbas

They are quick! Well, thank you all for your considerations and observations! I'm a bit sad, would have been a cool guitar, but being a "not legitimate Fender product" this does not have any value to me other than a curiosity...

 

[Coop47]

Sorry Ruedi! Glad you got a quick response.

 

[twocorgis]

Guild did special runs for Guitar Center the year before Fender bought them, hence my D65S. It was a run of 20. The next year (1995) Fender bought them and I don't know if any other special runs were done for GC. However, there's no mention of Guitar Center on the guitar or the label other than having a serial number starting with GC. I'm not sure any of what I'm saying helps you in any way. It's just stuff that goes through my head when reading this thread. It sure is a fun looking guitar..... and it's a lefty. Good luck with this!!

There was the D26 as well in 1995, and I loved mine! Probably should have kept it, as I've never played a nicer (or prettier) D25.

 

[davismanLV]

Sandy, WOW!! That's beautiful! Love the binding and the mahogany on that is BEAUTIFUL!! So, apparently Fender owned Guild did do some special runs. Good to know. Doesn't help poor Ruedi, but that D26 is a knockout!!!

 

[twocorgis]

Sandy, WOW!! That's beautiful! Love the binding and the mahogany on that is BEAUTIFUL!! So, apparently Fender owned Guild did do some special runs. Good to know. Doesn't help poor Ruedi, but that D26 is a knockout!!!

It sure is, and you'd pay $5K to get a top like that from a boutique builder.

I got it for a stupid cheap price because the local GC store manager called me and said that he just took it in, and it's too bad he didn't last. I had to wait out the New York state "pawn shop" law (21 days), but it was sure worth it. It was a great guitar, but I didn't get along with the neck and nut width all that well as I remember, and that's why I sold it. I also have a hog dread that's near impossible to beat, so I didn't need another anyway.

Of course, knowing me, if one came along at the right price, I'd probably buy it again.

 

[ruedi]

Actually it's not so bad, thanks to your warnings and the quick response from Fender I could save myself a trip to the seller.

Makes me feel happy with what I've already got, Strat-wise.

Cool stories about Guild/GC collaborations btw, thanks for sharing!

 

[SFIV1967]

Fender just got back to me: ...Unfortunately, this does not appear to be a legitimate Fender product, ...

At least our detective work even outside Guild was correct! Thanks to Coop47 who pointed out that something seems to be wrong, initially I also thought it's a legit product but after Coop47's post I noticed all the wrong details...

And your real Olympic White (?) one is a great one!

Ralf

 

[Coop47]

That's a beauty! Is it a re-issue? I love the white w/mint combo.

 

[ruedi]

That's a beauty! Is it a re-issue? I love the white w/mint combo.

Yes it's a 1962 Reissue and a keeeeeper. I bought it four months ago and have really bound with it by now. One of the two guitars I play every day, besides my Nightbird X2000. Briefly introduced it in this thread.