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Malmsteen strat - identifying a guitar

Discussion in 'Non-Fender S-Type Guitar Forum' started by Jaboli, Jan 11, 2019.

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  1. Jaboli

    Jaboli New Member!

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    Hi guys, this is my first post here. I've seen you have a pretty solid knowledge here on different strat parts, so I thought I'll give it a shot.

    I bought a stratocaster recently, it plays really nice, but I have a problem identifying it. It has a malmsteen sig neck (it says made in u.s.a., and the serial number suggests it was made around 2005 in California). But, when buying it I didn't really know much about Malmsteen's signature models, so I wasn't bothered by the humbucker at the bridge, white color, etc.

    So, according to it's looks, I guess it's either some squier with Malmsteen's neck, or custom Fender with swapped electronics (less likely IMO). Any ideas?
     

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    Jaboli, Jan 11, 2019
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  2. stratman323

    stratman323 Dr. Stratster Strat-Talk Supporter

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    The first thing I noticed is that the truss rod hole at the headstock has a black plastic sleeve. That's usually a sure sign that a guitar was NOT made in the USA.

    However, I'm not familiar with the Malmsteen Strat (I can't imagine owning a Strat with a scalloped fretboard...:eek:) so maybe there are oddities about this model of which I am not aware?
     
    stratman323, Jan 11, 2019
    #2
  3. Percy

    Percy Most Honored Senior Member Strat-Talk Supporter

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    I know nothing of Malmsteen Strats but imho yours is not a Fender Strat it is a fake.
     
    Percy, Jan 11, 2019
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    mad axe man likes this.
  4. nutball73

    nutball73 Senior Stratmaster

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    Doesn't look good to me. @stratman323 is right about the sleeve, and the tuners don't look like Fenders (not with a screw).

    Malmsteen strats should have a bullet truss rod and brass nut too. And vintage style tuners.

    If it plays Ok, best of luck. But it's not a Fender so I hope you didn't pay much.
     
    nutball73, Jan 11, 2019
    #4
  5. Mr Dunlop

    Mr Dunlop Senior Stratmaster

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    Absolutely fake.
    The logo,serial number, pickups are a dead give away.
    The back plate screw holes are wrong. Tuners are wrong, truss rod nut is wrong

    Run from this purchase
     
    Mr Dunlop, Jan 11, 2019
    #5
    Yves and Guy Named Sue like this.
  6. bob_66

    bob_66 Strat-Talker

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    Isn`t it one of the many Chinese Malmsteen variations available on Aliexpress etc...
     
    bob_66, Jan 11, 2019
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    jaybones, Bob the builder, Yves and 1 other person like this.
  7. Guy Named Sue

    Guy Named Sue Basking 'neath the almighty yellow yolk Strat-Talk Supporter

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    It's as fake as fake gets. Run!
     
    Guy Named Sue, Jan 11, 2019
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  8. stratman323

    stratman323 Dr. Stratster Strat-Talk Supporter

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    It's a bit late for that advice, he told us that he's already bought it. I'm afraid that Poland does seem to have more than it's fair share of fake guitars.
     
    stratman323, Jan 11, 2019
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  9. Guy Named Sue

    Guy Named Sue Basking 'neath the almighty yellow yolk Strat-Talk Supporter

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    To be honest I didn't read the text, I just went straight for the pictures.
     
    Guy Named Sue, Jan 11, 2019
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    Yves likes this.
  10. Mr Dunlop

    Mr Dunlop Senior Stratmaster

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    I didn't read where the op bought the guitar already either .
    Hopefully the op didn't pay to much for the guitar, should have posted pics first before buying
     
    Mr Dunlop, Jan 11, 2019
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    Yves likes this.
  11. Textele

    Textele Senior Stratmaster Strat-Talk Supporter

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    First, welcome to Strat-Talk.

    Now the bad news..............

    22 frets, and a gasket under the neck plate (+the other things mentioned above) = Not a real Fender Malmsteen

    Check before you lay your money down.

    Try to get a return?

    Hope so, for you.
     
    Textele, Jan 11, 2019
    #11
    Yves likes this.
  12. mad axe man

    mad axe man Senior Stratmaster

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    hope you didn't pay too much... not only a fake but a bad fake so its a fake fake lol
     
    mad axe man, Jan 11, 2019
    #12
  13. Textele

    Textele Senior Stratmaster Strat-Talk Supporter

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    Too late, I am afraid.
     
    Textele, Jan 11, 2019
    #13
  14. Jaboli

    Jaboli New Member!

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    Thanks guys, I thought there might have been something wrong with it, I just never expected that it's "as fake as fake gets!" type :). So it's a fake. Chineese fake. I'm going to have to deal with it. But... It plays really well. I mean, sure, I can't really compare it to the real deal, because I obviously don't own one, but it plays better than my Jackson Performer (MIJ or else, too old to say by the serial number), Peavey Predator (MIA 1992) - even with SD hotrails bridge pickup in it you could argue which sounds better, and I'd say better than Korean PRS SE Soapbar. Yeah, I know, not really top guitars, but any of them costs more (used) than I paid for that strat (let's not call it a Fender guitar anymore). So it has to be a really well made fake. I think I'll give it a chance, and if it gives me no problems setting it up (now I'm worried about the truss rod quality), maybe it'll stay with me...

    PS: Oh, and I paid 1000 PLN
     
    Jaboli, Jan 11, 2019
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  15. Guy Named Sue

    Guy Named Sue Basking 'neath the almighty yellow yolk Strat-Talk Supporter

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    That's about 270 USD wise. Not a huge lost! That's good

    Enjoy it if you can't return it, at least it plays good as you say.
     
    Guy Named Sue, Jan 11, 2019
    #15
  16. Swampash

    Swampash Senior Stratmaster

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    So fake :(
     
    Swampash, Jan 11, 2019
    #16
  17. Yves

    Yves Senior Stratmaster

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    Hopefully, ...depending on what 1000 PLN buys you in Poland.
     
    Yves, Jan 11, 2019
    #17
  18. AngelDeVille

    AngelDeVille Strat-O-Master

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    Some of the early ones didn’t have the bullet truss rod nut, had a little different scalloping but they never had 22 frets.

    $250 isn’t a bad price for a guitar that plays well.... I guess...

    Here is a 99 Tokai made Fender...

    [​IMG]

    The set list on the floor is the one in the picture above...

    [​IMG]
     
    AngelDeVille, Jan 11, 2019
    #18
  19. Smylight

    Smylight Strat-Talker

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    I recently had one of these Chinese fakes (a complete one though, with the yellowish basswood body) in the shop for a setup. I ended up installing a set of SD YJM pickups in it and it ended up sounding surprisingly good. Now, the neck was a complete mess and I had to reset nearly all frets. And swap the entire electronics. And now the owner plans on me swapping the real ****ty bridge and nut. And doing a fretdress.

    You know... ;-)


    Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Tapatalk
     
    Smylight, Jan 11, 2019
    #19
  20. stratman323

    stratman323 Dr. Stratster Strat-Talk Supporter

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    How do you know it was made by Tokai?
     
    stratman323, Jan 11, 2019
    #20
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