Another Fake Fender Strat | NOT a Squier This Time

This week someone sent me pics of another guitar they suspected was fake. Yep, it turns out that it was, but this time it was not a Squier stratocaster turned into a Fender. I believe it was a vintage Teisco or similar guitar. They had a lot of pictures, so we are able to get a good look at all the details in this video.
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[@Forest_Fifer]

A blind man running for his life could tell that isn't a Fender.

[@eddiejr540]

Hahahahaha....nice!!!!

[@wingdwolf56]

The indentation on the headstock looks to line up with a truss rod cover

[@riloh58]

Yep. Just what I was thinking. Also explains why there’s no walnut trim around the truss rod access hole too. This thing is all kinds of wrong.

[@Abbieabma]

I think it was for a string tree

[@markcheetah4960]

@@Abbieabma You're kidding, right? They never put string trees right there in the center.

[@TheLenaweeTrekker]

A video on the old Teisco Guitars would be interesting. I had a Teisco Tulip guitar when I was a kid, the $39 Wonderland special. It was impossible to keep it in tune. The fret ends would slice my fingers. The neck was warped. The truss rod was useless, and the pickup was so microphonic you could easily use it as a microphone. I loved that guitar..., only because it was my first electric guitar.

[@xxxxneoxxxx]

Kennis, it's so cool to have you back again. Cool and very informative videos as usual. I was curious, what about the other channel, though?

[@chadwickhurlburt6529]

I suspect the body is a genuine 70's strat body. Based on that alone, I'd take a chance and offer $150 for this guitar.

[@jefflitchfield4950]

All day

[@williampaisley826]

It the body is a real 70s uts with alot more than 150,,try 1000 bucks maybe more,neck is a joke,take the neck off burn it for heat...take the body put a real year correct date,then u got a 2000 dollars guitar..even more if its early 70s

[@BillyZakk]

I agree, I would’ve asked for a picture of neck pocket, Buying guitars over the years I’ve seen some strange things.

[@chadwickhurlburt6529]

@@williampaisley826 What you are suggesting is a very risky proposal. After all, we don't know for certain that anything other than the neck plate is an authentic Fender part. If you think paying $1000 for this guitar is a good investment, then you can have it. I will not contest your offer in any way. But I will stand back and watch the lottery of fate determine your luck.

[@williampaisley826]

Well I said that ,if ,I mean if it is a 70s body ,

[@Aceroxx02]

Those are Schaller tuners

[@Abbieabma]

Ok, if you dont even know those are schaller tuners, you kinda lose credibility regarding spotting fake guitars. Just my opinion

[@kennisrussell]

You are right. I have no idea what I’m talking about.

[@thewalrus1968]

he does have a point

[@scottdunn2178]

@@kennisrussell No, you don't actually.

[@mikedizzle298]

Regardless of how proficient you are ( or aren't)at identifying correct hardware, your command of the obvious is totally suspect. Never seen a skunk stripe that wide? Its obvioulsy stained and not even a piece of wood. Never seen the Shallers? Neither of those are as offensive as not pointing out the shape of headstock isn't even close! Its closest to a fatty circa 65-81 but the angle from the nut to the rod screw is way off. Its a Japanese Univox or Princeton neck that has been sanded a tiny bit maybe? You know a skunk stripe is a piece of wood right?

[@andocobo]

Mike dizzle yes that headstock is awful - I was waiting for him to start laughing about how wrong the headstock shape is the entire vid

[@Arky101b]

The indentation in the headstock could be from a truss rod cover.

[@ShaunZimmerman668]

most teisco guitars had that string tree that goes through the back, and also a lot of them had zero frets as well not all though

[@philgallagher1]

Agreed completely. Headstock logo and that "string tree" bar are dead giveaways. Please keep doing these type of vids, cos there are so many fakes out there and some of them are really close. Your experience is much appreciated 👍👍👍.

[@kirkharrison6139]

What are the two brown spots that look like plugs on the back where the neck meets the headstock?

[@BruceLee-bf5ks]

Where a floyd rose once was

[@stur34gt]

I need knowledge on a strat I bought which was made by VENTURA

[@Russell_Optics]

Agreed ! 1st glance tells you it is not a real Fender. The tuners are actually pretty good being Shallers, but the string "tree"/bar , the crazy looking skunk stripe, and several other factors instantly say fake.

[@akc5150]

WOW!! Can't spot GENUINE Schaller tuners????? Looks to me like probably a genuine Fender 3 bolt body but with (from my 40+ years of knowledge) possibly an 80's Hondo or similar neck on it. And given the screw and hex adjustable poles on the bucker, could be an early DiMarzio or japanese copy there of. I would happily give in the region of £500 for that!....... But would need a closer inspection of the body....

[@adamorsulik7558]

Yeah, the body seems legit.

[@danmc_2783]

Yeah, that doesn't look to me like a Teisco body

[@markcheetah4960]

That'd be way too generous of an offer. Fake neck, no way to verify the body... $200 max.

[@lesscobrandeau2451]

I thought of Hondo right away. Glad you did.

[@lynnzi3d]

Teisco De Ray. Owned one of these from the mid 70’

[@arlobrubaker]

There are Teisco guitars, but there are also Teisco guitars with different brandings. I have a Teisco from 1965 and it's logo came off, but no indent. The logo was glued on. I feel like what you're seeing is a sort of "built in the same factory but branded differently" variant. Probably the same Japanese company, but sold by another company with whatever their logo was.

[@tallthinkev]

If that is a Teisco neck, It's a style I haven't seen before, all the ones I've seen have had the bar bolted on. Might be a neck off an Eko?

[@tallthinkev]

Thinking a bit more, a Framus?

[@jgrimsley2000]

I'm with you on that. Most of the Teisco necks I've seen are made of Korina and are closer to the small Fender headstock, or are totally their own thing. That doesn't mean that there may not have been a Teisco branded guitar with that headstock, especially after Kawaii took over the brand. The fact that he doesn't know Schaller tuners or is hung up on the string tree kind of robs him of a little credibility. He made some valid points. At least head was able to recognize drywall screws.

[@BarryPoogy]

tuners are 1970s Shallers.

[@kennethcrickmore7858]

I already have my own Starcaster almost exactly like that one which I am going to go even farther in modding it.. and yes all but the neck and body will be replaced and severely upgraded...3 quad rail humbuckers wired like a Les Paul but with 5-way switch and each with its own volume and tone with coil split ...also a bypass switch to activate both neck and bridge.. going to attempt to install led's in the neck under the fret board to light up the dots front and edge. fun fun fun...lol

[@captainhowdy3104]

Yeah the neck peices, the screw hole fill on head, weird parts construction, angled pick up.

[@jackass2420]

Those are older schaller tuners, made in Germany! Looks like the neck had a floyd nut at one time. Definitely NOT fender! Decals like that are printed on inkjet printers, ebay, etsy's, etc...

[@ericb7799]

Once again, you kind of missed the biggest glaring thing that shows this to be a fake. As you noted, it has 2 serial numbers (huge red flag #1) but both serials, if real, would come back to a 70’s Fender. All Fender Strats in the 70’s had the large CBS headstock, with the large CBS logo. Most would also have the bullet truss rod and 3 bolt neck. This having some kind of a bullet truss rod (obviously not Fender style to boot) and being a smaller headstock logo (80’s transitional) would automatically tell you it’s a fake. Fender didn’t start making small headstock Strats again until the 80’s, and they had stopped using the bullet truss rod by that point. So any “Fender” Strat with a bullet truss rod and small headstock logo=fake. Same goes for any Strat with a 70’s serial and a small headstock logo=fake. 100% of the time. The real Strats you were comparing it to (E series=Eighties) were all from 1980’s, after they had brought back the small headstocks.

[@markcheetah4960]

I agree with you, but that doesn't look like a small headstock

[@ericb7799]

Sorry. I was meaning to say that it’s a small headstock style logo on a large headstock. The large headstock logo would be the large Fender logo with the curved “Stratocaster” script. So anytime you see the smaller logos, either the 80’s transitional logos, like this one, or the spaghetti logo from 50’s (brought back in 90’s) on a large headstock, you know immediately it’s a fake.

[@ericb7799]

Mark Cheetah I edited the post to have the correct info. I was meaning to say small headstock type logo, not that this one is the small headstock, but that it is a large headstock with a small headstock type logo.

[@markcheetah4960]

@@ericb7799 Cool, got it!

[@pczYT]

Those are Schaller tuners.

[@Eric_1972]

yes old Schaller

[@eddiejr540]

Those old schallers are probably worth more than the entire guitar

[@gringopig]

That's the most obvious fake I've seen for ages

[@dp9550]

Dude those are Schaller tuners , if you can't even Identify Schaller tuners then maybe your not the guy to do authentications, also the those are bridge saddles not tuners and the have height adjustment screws not thingys.

[@kennisrussell]

A thousand pardons for not recognizing the S logo and for my speaking and calling the saddle a tuner. This whole time I thought the tuners were the saddles and the saddles the tuners. There is no way I happens to say the wrong word. That never happens when anyone ever speaks. I am actually pretty dumb. Thanks for letting me know.

[@dp9550]

@@kennisrussell I apologize I was a little hard on you I just figure if someone is going to make a video and post it on you tube they would edit some of these things but hey we all make mistakes.

[@KaosII1968]

I honestly was just about to write the same thing. This was hilarious... I just kept thinking did you just make 20 minute video on this obvious fake.

[@jescocom1]

CustomKraft guitars had the bar instead of the string trees also

[@flyme2themoon720]

First glance at headstock I knew exactly what it was...and those are Schaller tuners..very,very common

[@tucanman9775]

i may have done some water sliding and that one is crooked as the guy who pute it on there

[@BillyZakk]

It was a common mod To place a hum bucker in a Strat at an angle like that back in the late 70s/ Early 80s....I would’ve asked for a picture of the neck pocket...Never know it could be an original body. And I wouldn’t even go into not knowing the tuners.

[@charlescampbell9267]

Yup. Schaller tuners. Logo on headstock not right color or applied in correct location. Eighties serial number on headstock. Neck, screws. What a mess. Of coarse, an older guitar could be modded to death.

[@zombiecannibal7171]

I bought a used Starcaster identical to what is in your hands for $60 dollars. It plays so much better than my Affinity Fender Squire. It weighs a lot more than the Squire too. I am curious to see your mods, my tuners definitely need to be upgraded, but overall not a bad find.

[@zigzagrz]

There was also some Arias from the 70s and early 80s that looked very close that strat with the large headstock but yeah the neck does look like a Teisco

[@justinrayguitars6024]

Looks like they used a Univox Ripper for some of the parts. Which would be ashame since they were better guitars than Fenders.

[@zaphoddog3878]

Wow, i'd never hear of the Univox but just googled it. You might be right that the body is a Univox. What a shame! based on that i'd buy it for the body and tuners and throw the rest away.

Didn't you look at the headstock shape?

[@martywoods2476]

I would like to find out if my strat is real.How can I send you some pic. No ser. number found Everything matches like tuners etc. iIt's been turned into a hard tail (vibrato bar removed. But the bridge looks fender but was changed).

[@dp9550]

It's not a Tiesco they have Mahogany necks , this may be a 70's Body with a replacement neck among other things , if the body itself is a 70's body it's worth it you would have to disassemble it to confirm.

[@Vice3200]

I have a fake that I bought on reverb and it has a painted on skunk stripe but it did have real Seymore duncan pups so that was a plus

[@kennethcrickmore7858]

I bought My "Starcaster" from Music-Go-Round here in Bradenton Fl. for under $80 and am pairing it with a Blackstar ID-Core Stereo 40 modeling amp.. sounds fine now but with all I'm about to upgrade and mon the heck out of it ..I think it should sound awesome and then some..

[@ratwynd]

Based on what I could get from a cheap guitar, you are gonna make some lucky person a happy guitar player. With a solid body and a good neck you can build a really great playing guitar for far less than buying one new of similar play-ability and tone. Just did a custom strat-aloid build from a Kramer pawn shop guitar with a great flamed maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and a heavy plywood black painted body. Planet Tone Alnico II custom PUPs, Fender fat block tremolo bridge. Fender 3 layer greenish pickguard with CTS pots, Orange Drop caps. Dressed the frets and refinished the neck down to 1500 grit then Teak oil finish with a blank flamed maple headstock. Kluson locking tuners in black. Plays and sounds like a good guitar for less than $350 total including the guitar. I also get to play a real Sttrat. The difference is not worth $1000 more except from an investment standpoint. I would not take a real Strat to a bar or some other sketchy gig. Guitars like this are great, great to play and if lost or stolen, not a disaster for most.

[@briankavanagh7191]

Kennis, could you do a spot a fake Fender telecaster?

[@emypena]

The $180 price is the dead giveaway that this is not a genuine Fender Stratocaster guitar.

[@liamkeane4214]

XXX P exactly, the fact that he is asking that little to begin with, I would have just bought it anyway for the joke of it lol

[@tragicallyklef007]

Looks like you found my first guitar.

[@thefreyfactor442]

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that a big headstock with a little headstock logo? The big headstock has a curved logo.

[@Wabin22]

The word "Stratocaster" would be tilted a little (sorry if my english isn't the best, but I hope you get what I mean), whilst this is more straight forward. I think the logo is legit, but not the rest.

[@ericb7799]

It’s not even a big headstock Fender. It’s somewhere in the middle. (Cause it’s not a Fender) Even If it was a big headstock Fender it would have to have the big CBS logo. That logo wasn’t even right if it was a big headstock. All big headstock CBS logos have the curved “STRATOCASTER” font and would not have a serial on front of headstock either.

[@kitoyobeni1]

@@ericb7799 Not entirely true. The big headstock started in late 65, while the first curved logo came in 67. The transition logo was used in between. The truss rod was adjusted at the heel until 71, so thats a glaring issue with this fake too. The recessed area around the truss rod at the headstock was never done by Fender either. At the very least, that neck is a complete fake.

[@BigRob829]

Is that shoe polish for the skunk stripe?

[@kevinking2468]

I hate to say this but I think you were being punked on this $180 strat - Everything about that guitar screams FAKE... I mean everything... Somebody was screwing with you ( not cool ).

[@rosco9254]

why are people relying on this guy to see if their strat is fake. It gives me anxiety. 8:01 the logos that you looked up are from the mid to late 80's not the 70's. But you are still pretty good at spotting fakes. Good job

[@ijahtom]

Hi Ken. Ok you wanna change parts on the starcaster and we should say what parts to be changed? Ok then: 1. New neck (Fender Strat vint 50s) 2. New body (Göldo) 3. Ah let me Not waste tym, just change it all. (Or, just leave it as it is) Lol All the best and well wishings. 1Love

[@gregaltenhofel7326]

I think you were spot on the price. 100 - 125 I think was fare. Japan did make some amazing guitars in the 70’s. I have a 72 Aria model 1930A a SG copy. @ the time I bought it. I played every Paul (what I was looking for) SG & a RD custom in the store. The SG’s looked like they’d been made by fence builders. The Aria with my eyes closed sounded and played better than any Gibson in the store. She still plays as good or better than any LP custom Ive ever played. Tysco’s not quite that level. But japan put a hurt on Gibson & fender

[@zaphoddog3878]

I hear ya on the well made Japanese brands. Aria was a good brand. I've had both Ibanez and Lotus strats and properly set up they are as good as the real thing. HOWEVER, i don't think this hunk-o-junk frankenstrat is worth more than what he can get for the Schaller tuners.

[@Geetarman69420]

Those are schaller tuners and are actually pretty great

[@mikeeben1491]

Mid 70s s/n on neck. “E” prefix on headstock s/n indicates 80s. Also, Stratocaster script on the large style headstocks were curved. Neck heel is wrong. And never mind that abortion on the back of the neck. It took less than 10 seconds to determine this was fake.

Clearly not a Fender neck. The bridge pickup has been left at an angle to reuse the mounting screw from the original angled pickup. What price was being asked?

[@kennisrussell]

$180

[@jefflitchfield4950]

@@kennisrussell totally worth it.

[@TheYjmfan]

Wouldn’t the logo be completely different for that shape headstock the word Stratocaster would be running around the curve on the headstock

[@gregoryhassett2813]

yup

[@kennisrussell]

Yes

[@LowT_jc]

The 64-66 had a straight logo on the big headstocks

[@TheYjmfan]

Jesse Sizzle the logo would then be gold

[@LowT_jc]

@@TheYjmfan yeah your right

[@HektorBandimar]

I have a strat that has a serial number on the back of the head stock, I looked the number up and apparently it is a 95/96 Japanese strat, BUT ! nowhere on the guitar does it say MIJ or CIJ. It looks as though it could be a Japanese Strat, it's a great guitar, I wondered if it could be a Strat they made for the home market.

[@captainhowdy3104]

Truss rod hole....duh, that monstrous hole lol.

[@voxelraster]

A casual glance and a one word summation - FAKE!! As soon as I saw the truss rod slot it was obvious!

[@knuckles6044]

I realize that this series of videos is aimed at beginners to educate so they don’t get ripped off, but most professionals could spot a fake like this immediately!

[@captainhowdy3104]

Those are early 90s shallers

[@zaphoddog3878]

You are probably right on the neck being Teisco or some other K-mart guitar. It probably originally had a painted finish which is why the back looks so odd. It would have originally been covered with paint to conceal the janky woodwork. The body looks to me like any of a million knockoff bodies, anything from an old Mako, Lotus, Hondo, Cort, Harmony to something newer like a Jay Turser, Silvertone, Fernandez etc. Surprised you missed on the Schaller tuners. The pickups look like the DiMarzio wannabe's you see in all kinds of import guitars like old Epiphones or Kramers. The neck plate looks authentic but i'll bet if you look behind the adjustment port for the tilt neck there is no actual hole or allen screw. I think the drywall screws and that cheap slotted screw in the bridge tell the whole story of this Frankenstrat and the abused life it led. Fender did actually have a series of guitars with the canted bridge humbucker in the early 90's. I think it was one of the few times they came stock with seymour duncans. However i seriously doubt this kluge-mobile contains an actual fender part.

[@fisherdole196]

Fender DID use the Schaller tuners.

[@jjstudiosjj2408]

These are probably not even real schallers They stamp them in their own machines to say whatever name they think are popular tuners. They are most likely not even generic brand timers and I doubt they even stay in tune

[@amathis7292]

OMG Blahaha that's like a fake of a fake, like someone who faked a fake in Japan or something.

[@frmcf]

I think there are bullet truss-rod 70s strats with the big logo, but you're right that the 'Stratocaster' part is all wrong and, yes, the serial number crammed in like that doesn't look right. In any case, the guitar looks like garbage, Fender or otherwise. There are loads of clues that the seller doesn't know what he's doing and hasn't cared for the instrument. The saddles are all in a line, so it's not been intonated. Things like that are easy to put right, but they set off alarm bells about the seller. Offer him $50 for it if you fancy a fun project putting it right.

[@rustyaxelrod]

It’s a PartsCaster, and a lot of it isn’t Fender. If it plays ok, maybe $300. $175 max if your tryin to flip it.

[@0000song0000]

they were asking 150 bucks for it. who cares if it's 100% Fender. (fender body, teisco neck) .

[@rustyaxelrod]

@@0000song0000 - sounds fair

[@bertoldoburger2157]

Great!

[@SeanKerns]

Oh, you're being kind. I was past 100% the first time I saw the back of the neck. People need to trust their instincts. Someone will say, "I'm not sure about this one." Of course you are. And you're right. That's totally fake.

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Schaller older tuners made in W Germany. The neck is wrong especially the skunk stripe.

[@Marcus-lq9yj]

I told several so-called Elite shops here in Minnesota 20 years ago to watch out for this stuff. Willie's in St Paul was a big one. They laughed at me and told me I was a fool. I guess buyer beware

[@kennisrussell]

I’m not familiar with that shop, but you have to be aware of fakes on the used market for sure.

[@scottdunn2178]

Willie's are a joke. Twin Town Guitars in Minneapolis are much better.

[@captainhowdy3104]

Those holes in the back of the head, homemade valute ?

[@jefflitchfield4950]

Floyd nut

[@philgallagher1]

I have noticed a number of negative reviews of this video talking about things like the shape of the Headstock being clearly wrong, the angle made by the nut and the truss rod being miles out, the "skunk stripe" is obviously stain and not wood etc. Please note that these videos are intended for people who may be novices in identifying fake guitars, and as such wouldn't know the difference between a 60's and a 90's Headstock, or the specific angles made by different parts etc. Therefore it is much more helpful for Kennis to focus on the things that are more obvious - the shape and size of the logo, where it is positioned, the "string tree bar", the screws on the neck plate and so on. These are things that somebody with little or no experience would be able to check, rather than the more subtle differences. Give him a break guys. Kennis is trying to provide a service for people who don't have your knowledge. This is not aimed at people who already know what a strat looks like in detail, but at people who really don't know the exact dimensions etc.

[@kennisrussell]

Thanks for helping clarify. I appreciate the support. 😁

[@philgallagher1]

@@kennisrussell No problem, Kennis. I hate it when people leave negative comments like this. It seems like they just want everyone to know how clever they are!

[@sprintcarsandguitars959]

just a thrown together guitar,japan copy neck. fyi,an earlier fender decal on a big headstock was in 66 transistion period beetween the old style decal and the curved larger decal. they had rear truss rod adjust,nothing in the front,dead giveaway.

[@sprintcarsandguitars959]

kramer used the angled humbucker.

[@jasonperry5526]

Great that you're trying to help people but you should probably do a little more research on differences in Fenders before offering up advice. Most people in the comments pointed out glaring things you clearly missed. Also, you have a Partscaster made with a genuine Fender body but don't know how many screws hold the backplate on?

[@jamesgretsch4894]

That bridge is the bridge on those cheapy Strat copies.

[@anthonynonya]

"Dude, the headstock shape is wrong! Point that out, why aren't you pointing that out!" - me during this whole video.

[@kennisrussell]

The headstock is the shape of a 70’s strat. They were bigger in that era.

[@anthonynonya]

@@kennisrussell I'm aware of that. The bottom half isn't right, especially from the nut to the pointy part - it's too long, and the round area looks a little off as well. Not trying to be overly critical, I like your videos.

[@bgilley8199]

@@anthonynonya I agree, the shape is off even for the larger 70s style headstocks.

[@BigDwww]

Truss rod slot is a give away , Schaller Tuners Germany,

[@afronprime51]

The head stock is not the same shape.

[@eddiejr540]

WOW...$180 bucks for a 70’s 3 bolt strat...dude...you could buy that and flip it for $185....best deal ever!!!

[@grantkoeller8911]

The string tree metal bar, is clearly an aftermarket accessory. That 70's headstock has no holes from previous string trees and Teisco used a round wire bar that went through to the back using bolts. I believe this is a Hondo neck bolted to a real 3 bolt Fender body. The serial number on the metal 3 screw neck plate is real. The serial number in the neck is fake, the fender logo decal is crooked and fake. Those are German Schaller tuners are super high quality tuners. The string saddles are off something else, real fender saddles are different. the stamped block saddles remind me of korean squiers...

[@colincourtney2903]

That pickup looks like its replaced the slanted single but a bigger hole cut for a humbucker. Those are also Schiller tuners but there is too many red flags.

[@LowT_jc]

That "indention" on the neck is a filled in string tree hole. I think he meant "indentation "

[@ianstanley2269]

Actually it’s an archaic form of indentation.

[@dougcook7507]

Concur it is fake, but not sold on it being a Teisco though. As for the angled humbucker, this type of mod is sort of common with people that don't know or have the tools to do it properly. The single coil in a traditional Strat is angled as well. Many in the late 80s and early 90s would hack out a larger square to fit a humbucker in it. And because they wanted to just get out as cheap and easy, would use the old pickguard and the same mounting holes the single coil did, resulting in an angled humbucker. Although many of these are no longer around, usually sitting in an attic or deep in a closet, mainly because the person probably wasn't serious about playing guitar for long or at all when back then.

[@wesmitchem825]

There's a couple fake strats at a pawnshop I frequent they have Mexican stratacaster necks on who knows body's one looks like a Washburn and the other maybe a Hondo the necks feel good but you can tell they don't match up right and the body's are definitely cheaper quality there both for sale for 200 bucks which might be worth it for the necks but the rest is kinda crap looks like they wouldn't intonate right

[@kennisrussell]

Take some picks and send them to me. I’d live to make a video about them.

[@wesmitchem825]

@@kennisrussell I'm heading there tommorow I'll see if there still there and take some pics

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Teisco has a zero fret. The fake Fender has a Gibson style nut that all Japanese guitars had up to 1975. Bit surprised it wasnt noticed. Pickups could be Dimarzio. Very obvious Schaller tuners with its distictive S logo.

[@kennisrussell]

You are correct. Good eye.

[@restojon1]

Yes I reckon that those pickups are DiMarzio. I have a Hondo Explorer that came with DiMarzio pickups, Grover machine heads and a really solid stop bar bridge,,I would hazard a solid guess that started off life as a Hondo

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

@@restojon1 Certainly possible !

[@alexbloemer6177]

They were trying to make the guitar look real with a skunk stripe, but they screwd it up by making it too wide

[@zaphoddog3878]

Actually this is pretty typical of the shoddy woodwork you find when you strip the paint off of those old K-Mart guitars.

[@joeferris5086]

The Stratocaster font on the headstock isn't right. The headstock isn't right either. The flare out part slopes out too much. Also the round part and the transition into the slope is too tight. Also they didnt put Made in USA on the headstocks in the 70s.

[@jbawz358]

Looks to be stain to replicate a skunk stripe look

[@williampaisley826]

Oh my it take a expert to spot that fake lol..

[@tolvajakos]

those are legit schaller tuners

[@Jihadbearzwithgunz]

Those are schaller tuners

[@willacewallace5905]

Looks like a vintage Hondo Strat clone. Run!

[@leomannpictures]

The thumbnail with the headstock photo kinda gives it away. Next!

[@ChristianTornholmLehn]

Obvious fake. Those tuners are Schaller. They are very well known and were used on fenders and Gibsons in that era Also I believe the 70s CBS Headstock logo's had Stratocaster in a arch. You should have put up a pic of that instead of the regular Headstock shape. The 70s fenders would also have a bullet trussrod end piece. The bridge saddles are also wrong - it would have bent steel saddles. Those there are cheap Asian pot steel sadles The bridge pickup can't bee used to spot a fake. It's obvious it's been cut to size by modification to fit a humbucker

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

Closer to a Hondo.

[@mordokch]

It literally doesn't look anything like a fender ! My cat knew this isn't a fender ! Laughable :) Butchered columbus ?

[@kennisrussell]

Lol

[@clipwatcher]

With that much mods on it, no matter what the headstock or the neck plate says, it's a frankenstein. Buy it if it sounds good, but it's a reach to claim it as a Fender.

[@jjstudiosjj2408]

East Asian copy. China Vietnam Not even close on the headstock. That truss rod Was way off. The logo was completely wrong The route the the bullet ... nope. That dumb skunk stripe looked terrible like an awful mistake they tried to cover up. Yeah and that neck plate made no sense with Sheetrock screws It makes me angry that these guys think we are that ignorant that they would try to sell something of this poor quality to us I’m glad your helping out the younger guys that may com across this type of low level craftsmanship

[@maxpuppy96]

It's a fake, you know the old saying if it's to good to be true, it probably is.

[@therifferer5984]

Head shape is different as well. That hook goes too far out from the neck...

[@captainhowdy3104]

Def. Not fender saddles or bridge, maybe squire

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Kennis, that's NOT a Fender. The pickups are wrong. Maybe a Squire parts caster. That bar is pretty weird. Maybe Teiesco or another Japanese guitar. What do the tuners say? No way is that a genuine Fender. I'm not an expert but I've had Fenders since 1968, and never seen anything like that. Partscaster for sure. Maybe $200? He should get a new one.

[@cyclesgoff9768]

The blind leading the blind.🕶

[@kennisrussell]

Who said that?

[@andocobo]

That headstock...is not good