How to Spot a FAKE Fender in Seconds!

I picked up a fake Fender Stratocaster guitar at my local used music store. Within a few seconds I realized it was a fake. Someone had rubbed off the Squier logo from the headstock and put a fake Fender waterslide on it. In this video I compare this fake Fender Strat to two real USA Fender Strats, a MIM strat and a Squier Strat. Here are the things I identified as a fake... Truss rod opening, Bridge, Serial number, Headstock, Logo, tuners and more. This is a must watch to spot a fake Fender Guitar.

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Please watch: "Guitar Neck Shootout: Fender vs Squier vs Mighty Mite"
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[meclazine]

I make good fender guitar in China. Thank for pointing out upgrade. We make new version.

[Auiuei]

damn, I wish I would have watched this before I bought this guitar. My fake fender says "Ibanez" on it.

[themagicrat]

I bought a Fender SRV Custom Shop, it must be fake as it sounds nothing like him when I play it. Going to ask for a refund.

[Ken_James_SV]

I worked in a Guitar repair shop for a few years and many true Strats came in with two string trees, some factory original, some added by the owner of the guitar. And some Strat customers asked us to fit a second string tree for them. Also, we often changed stock Fender Tuners for Grover or Schaller Tuners at customers request. So many parts can be changed from original, like pickups, knobs, pickguards, nuts, bridges, etc. Some heavily modified Strats only have a Fender neck and body but with all non-Fender everything else. One of my own Strats has a non-Fender Body because I cracked the original LOL! It has DiMarzio pickups, and Grover Tuners. So, in reality, only the neck and electronics are still Fender. The rest makes it a Partscaster now.

[Betterifitsfree]

"You can tell the American metal is better" Who am I, magnet man?

[phreak]

This seems like a great instructional video for the Chinese on how to build better fakes.

[teogo]

You sound like you are trying to film secretly in a store

[lovedgunnnertaj]

Him: squiers always have 2 string trees me: restringing my squire with 1 string tree

[shivani]

Thank you soooo much....I just learned a ton about my husbands Strat I now play. He passed away 2 years ago and I thought it was American made and around 2005 that he bought it and you just confirmed that for me. Plus I learned a whole bunch of other stuff was excellent!!!

[fray]

My beloved Squier has both the more expensive saddles and truss rod, and every time I see this kind of video, I'm even more in love with my fairly cheap Squier. A few adjustments and it plays like a way more expensive instrument.

I bought the Squier Deluxe Hotrails Olympic White Strat a few years ago, and after setting it up properly it plays like a dream, and sounds great for metal and hard rock. Truly amazing for the price, no wonder it's not available new anywhere.

[RobR]

I have a squier, made by Fender, it's not fake, just their lower end series of guitars, however I like it, it plays well, stays in tune and can be set up exactly the same as the more expensive models.
I spent a few minutes with my measuring tools and a few guides setting it up, adjusting the action, plays completely different to how it came out of the box.

[thecampfire]

wow, I've just realized that I have a fake starcaster.
joke's on them though, I only paid $100 for it

[jesse_cole]

The things he's saying in the video are true... but if you want to spot a fake like a pro, look at the positioning of the screws on the _backplate_. If it's a modified Squier, the backplate holes will be evenly spaced apart... 4 holes in the corners, and two holes that are equidistant from the ends, centered evenly between the two nearest corner holes. On a USA made Fender, however, the middle hole on one side of the backplate will be slightly off center (closer to one corner than the other). Someone _could_ fake this little detail, but the vast majority of Squier modders out there either don't know about that fact or wouldn't put in the effort to actually drill an askew hole to fit a USA backplate on it, because they don't think anyone would notice (and most people wouldn't). So the likelihood that you'll come across a modded squier with a USA backplate on it is very low. Either way, if you see a "USA" strat and it has evenly spaced backplate screws, you'll know for _sure_ you're looking at a fake. But if you see a used strat in the store with a backplate that looks "USA" style, but you're not 100% sure it's the real deal, ask the guitar salesman to pop the back plate off... if the backplate has been modified, you'll see 7 screw holes instead of 6 surrounding the central cavity.

[petervad]

Damn, I just discovered my Squier is actually a fake Fender. I'm returning it immediately. Thank you.

[johnlopez]

Some fake guitars actually feel/play nicer than real ones. I'm down for whatever, as long as I can go to 11!

[tablaturebutler]

I have a fake strat - and I LOVE it! It doesn't say "FENDER" on the headstock - it says "TOKAI" - so the idea wasn't to convince anyone the guitar was made by Fender - but make no mistake - it's ALL strat from headstock to strap pin - and all of the highest quality. Vintage American guitars are worshipped in Japan - but there aren't enough of them to meet the demand, so Tokai, a venerable and respected Japanese manufacturer, made drop-dead replicas of the best Strats and Les Pauls. These were initially intended for the domestic market only, but once American travelers - musicians and servicemen especially, discovered them, they started making their way to the US. Long story short - it got out of hand and the lawyers got involved. But guess who makes Made-in-Japan strats for Fender now? Yup - Tokai. Bottom line - not all fakes are bad - some are better in fact than the originals. Just know what you're getting into - Tokai has been SO successful that some of THEIR guitars are now made in China, and those aren't their best units. Sigh...

[Jplent]

In Los Angeles I heard a Jazz guitarist playing an Aria guitar that he paid $99 for. He out played the top LA players with their expensive guitars. It ain't the arrow...it's the Indian.

[j.r.]

I just bought an all original and functioning 1958 Fender Stratocaster. It had been stored in its case since 1981. But then from 1958, to 1981, it was played very little. I have had a few vintage experts tell me that they think my 58’ Strat and its case may be the most well preserved all original and functioning 1958 Fender Stratocaster and Fender tweed case from that era in existence. During the certification process it was discovered that the body was completed in 6-58 and the neck in 7-58. The volume and tone pots came back as being made in the 25th week of 1958, or mid June of 1958. Out of all of my instruments, with this one, while I want to play it a lot, because it is so well preserved, I want to keep it preserved more than I do playing it. As it gets older and older and there becomes fewer and fewer of them left. Especially all original and functioning ones, the value of mine will only go up.

[xNukex]

“How to spot a fake fender, you can just tell”

[johnhickey]

Tabulature Butler, AGREED! Japanese Tokai guitars are at the top of the list of guitars being made today! Now remember I said made in Japan. But I completely agree with your opinion! The Squire Classic Vibe series are fantastic and not just from a price point. Those Classic Vibe's are fantastic guitars! Plus, taking a decal off that has a finish over it must take a lot of work. Nothing wrong with playing a Squire. I saw a fantastic Tele player using what I believe is the least expensive Squire Tele out there!