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Been listed on ebay a few times, looks really nice but it doesnt seem to follow the signature model details on the PDF that was created.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Custom ... 27bdba8c80

If you look at the neck plate this one has the fender logo on but according to the pdf it should be plain, also according to the pdf the signature had plain pickup covers and the autograph had dimarzio on the pickup cover, this one is meant to be a signature shown by the number but this has dimarzio on the pickup cover, not sure whether its a genuine model or one thats been modified or a replica any ideas?

We could get another clue if, perhaps, the seller was asked to weigh the guitar.
According to the PDF, the Signature weighs in at 8lb 0oz whereas the Autograph is some 4oz lighter at 7lb 12oz.
Personally, if I could afford to buy this sort of guitar, I would not shop for it on Ebay.

Dave

Seller has 85.7% feedback. You wouldn't touch him anyway!!

Do these top of the range Strats all have the large string opening on the back plate, rather than invidual string holes?

Dave,

I must have led a deprived (not depraved!~) life, I have never owned a Fiesta Red guitar - not counting the 'Trafalgar Red' Marquee that I had for a short time of course!

As well as that eBay guitar being in Fiasco (sic.) Red, just as importantly, it bears the HBM transfer on the headstock. As those of us in the know have come to appreciate, this adds untold £££££'s to the asking price and THAT squiggle combined with THAT shade of red, acts as a magic catalyst that will make it feel, play & sound better than any similar guitar that is bereft of those two features............I'm quite happy to either fight or trade versions of 'Apache', with ayone that dares contradict this theory!
Stephen.

this adds untold £££££'s to the asking price and THAT squiggle combined with THAT shade of red, acts as a magic catalyst that will make it feel, play & sound better than any similar guitar that is bereft of those two features


I believe that this depends on how daft and shallow a person is. Never been impressed by these, all they are is a money making racket for those who commission them.
Hank's original guitar was nothing special other than gold hardware, which was unusual at the time. I have expensive USA Strats and modest Jap/Mexican models in and they all sound right, regardless of colour..

I agree. Colour is irrelevent to the sound of a guitar. I too have cheaper end guitars that sound really good, whatever I play on them, ignoring the fact that I have only a tiny bit of talent. I do have some Fiesta Red models, for the reason that I was mesmerised by them & the Shads in the early '60s. It's that nostalgia thing. But, the sunburst Mex 'Classic Player' & the Chinese Classic Vibe Strats play just as well, after a moderate bit of upgrading (nothing major). I was actually complimented on the quality of the 'Classic Player' Strat by a guy who had bought a £1,200 Fender Vintage Reissue '50 Strat, which on first glance looked identical, & even has the same vintage Fender pickups.

Tony.

Hi

The debate on whether Custom Shop and the like guitars are "better" than standard, cheaper models crops up with monotonous regularity and I guess it will continue to do so. But it really does all boil down to the old adage about one man's meat being another man's poison.

With regard to this specific guitar, and the questions raised, it has indeed been listed and relisted on eBay for months. I think it started with an asking price of £6500 which was way too much but the current price of £4250 is more realistic although still a little high. Whether it will be sold in the current economic climate is another matter. Hank2k refers to the neckplate and it is true that the Signature's is plain. There is some doubt regarding when the Signature "morphed" into the Autograph but the latter's neckplate is engraved with the Custom Shop logo, not Fender. I don't think this one is an Autograph and the serial no. (052) definitely puts it into the Signature run. Indeed, the colour of the body and neck tends to confirm this. There again, the pickup covers on the Signature are plain and the bridge cover is not marked DiMarzio as this one is.

So, there are a couple of anomalies but I still think it's genuine.

With regard to Neil's question about the slot in the neck plate, so far as I am aware the Signature and Autograph are the only ones of the various HBM limited editions to have this feature - the others have individual string holes.

Cheers.

Tony