Is this fender strat real?

Freddie

Can anyone ID whether a) this is a real fender stratocaster and b) whether this is actually a custom shop as it says on the back of the headstock? Thanks

Here are some photos:

https://i.imgsafe.org/f51ae7890e.jpg

https://i.imgsafe.org/f51af0e97e.jpg

https://i.imgsafe.org/f51af613d8.jpg

https://i.imgsafe.org/f51b066b55.jpg

KrisGee

Links don't work.

Freddie

My bad, hold on i'll reupload

ronnyb

Link doesn't work. Just says webpage not found.

Freddie

They should work now

SteveRobinson

I'm going to stick my neck out and say... fake.

BloodEagle

Highly suspect

richardhomer

Custom Shop logo is nothing like the real one - and in the wrong place.

Whether any of the other parts are Fender is hard to judge - but clearly it's not as represented....

Freddie

OK thanks everyone, I thought it was unlikely.

thebreeze

I'd be very suspicious.

I've never seen one with the CS logo where it is there on the back of the headstock.  It's usually at the top of the headstock, even the early CS motif.

I've never seen one with the Fender F on the neck plate.  Where's the serial no?

Plastics look weird - on the pickup selector.

I could be wrong but looks very unusual to me.

@richardhomer?

Freddie

Here's the ebay link if anyone is interested: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fender-stratocaster-/152436927617?hash=item237df2ec81:g:~m0AAOSwUKxYkIm3

Seller says that it was valued at £500 at PMT

richardhomer

No longer available.... 

Freddie

richardhomer said:

No longer available.... 

Sorry, put the wrong link. New one should work.

ICBM

Fake. As already said the CS logo is wrong, the plastics look cheap when you look closely, the pickups are too small for the pickguard holes and have cheap Chinese-type polepieces, the edge of the fingerboard and the fretting are typical of a Chinese copy, all the screw heads are the wrong size and not countersunk properly, and the string tree is wrong. It was very good of him to provide such nice close-ups where you can see all this at such good resolution .

And last but not least, the machineheads are totally wrong… no slotted posts.

Richardj

Fake, the neck plate is also wrong for it and doesn't look straight.  Also, I think that the offset on the centre mounting holes for the back plate are the wrong way round. It just doesn't look decent enough quality to be Mexican, let alone a CS.

TonyR

Shoddy - there's still the remains of the clear polythene protective sheet (that seems to cover most cheaper plastics these days) around the pots and the middle pickup. 

ICBM

Richardj said:

Also, I think that the offset on the centre mounting holes for the back plate are the wrong way round.

Correct, and I'm pretty sure that if it was a vintage-style CS reissue it would have six individual string holes and not the slot as on a USA Standard - but which has a three-ply plate.

thermionic

Shame on PMT for not telling him it's a fake and saying it's worth £500!

Bridgehouse

And would you photograph a prized CS Strat on a table with that much crap and dirt on it??!!

thebreeze

Bridgehouse said:

And would you photograph a prized CS Strat on a table with that much crap and dirt on it??!!

Don't go on about this Bridgehouse - I noticed some dodgy wine stains on the the table I photo'd my CS Strats on earlier!  

Nomad

thermionic said:

Shame on PMT for not telling him it's a fake and saying it's worth £500!

The seller says PMT valued it, but that might not have been true. (In any case, wouldn't a Custom Shop Strat in good nick or better be worth more than £500?)