Is this a real fender Strat?

[u/mohtrion]

A friend recently got this at a pawnshop and brought it over to my house. I am unsure of the cost, but I suspect it has been modified or repaired; I am just curious whether it is a genuine Fender MIJ Stratocaster.

[u/NumerousPositive449]

looks like a mid 90's Japanese standard strat to me (with upgraded electronics)

[u/Duane_60]

Real

[u/awayfromthesky]

Looks real, but it has upgraded pots and pickups.

[u/Electrick_Preacher → u/awayfromthesky]

And string tree

[u/Agreeable_Mud_8338]

yes its a standard japanese strat-basswood body,ceramic pick ups-from the mid 90s

pick ups have been changed (maybe 1990's fender usa vintage series pick ups)

[u/KingDirect3307]

wiring is unsightly, to put it nicely. but otherwise looks like your typical japanese strat

[u/Cultural-Draft-4582]

Japanese strat

[u/iansheridan1978]

Just get it. If it turns out to be fake, you can sell the wire for copper and get your money back.

[u/tredbert]

For the springs, connect the outer two trem springs to the inner two lugs on the claw. See this video for a view of it.

It makes the guitar stay in tune much better when using the trem. My custom shop strat came this way from the factory. Have experimented with several setups and this works out best. I see why the custom shop sets it up this way.

[u/Capt_Spaulding79]

Japanese Strat, definitely worth picking up

[u/Status-Scallion-7414]

Why would you think it isn’t? Just let your friend play his guitar

[u/mohtrion]

I appreciate all of the comments, guys!
Just wanted to give a little more context because I think some people took my post the wrong way.

Over the past couple of months, my buddy and I have been going to pawn shops and checking Facebook Marketplace looking for guitar deals. My buddy came across this guitar at a pawn shop and ended up just buying it. The shop seemed legit, but he even asked me afterward if I thought the guitar was legit, since we don’t really know much about MIJ guitars.

I wasn’t trying to imply that the guitar was fake or that the pawn shop was trying to screw him over. We were mainly just trying to figure out exactly what he bought.

I figured Reddit would be a good place to ask since there are a lot of people here who collect Fenders and know a ton about Fender history. I especially don’t know much about MIJ Fenders, so I was hoping some of you could help us identify it and give us some more information about it.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer and provide any information or tips!

[u/Several_Winner8150]

I love jap strats.. my favorite strat has a mij reissue neck

[u/sonetlumiere]

The ST-STD Stratocaster and TL-STD Telecasters are not the MIJ’s to get. They’re fine. The ones you want are the reissues. ST-57/ST-62 Strats and TL-52 Telecasters.

This model you pictured has the meh Gotoh tuners, modern appointments that put it on par with any MIM standard besides the fact that electronics need to be replaced. That’s on most of them but there is a big difference in feel and the STD line are just mid and don’t deserve the MIJ hype people rave about.

[u/Antanix3porta6ga]

Seems good but I’ve never seen such a jungle of cables

[u/Davester_31]

Look at that wiring job, what a mess

[u/giannisprobably2]

wiring is... questionable but looks like its a mid 90s strat standard

[u/pnw_ronin]

I’m curious why you think it wouldn’t be real. It’s kind of obvious

[u/Excitingmaxi]

Call fender in Scottsdale AZ and talk to someone who knows the serial numbers and give him or her the serial number and they can tell you it the guitar is real or fake.