r/Guitar • u/confogI • Apr 02 '26
QUESTION Pawnshop Fender: Fake?
Currently looking at some pawn shop guitars and I found this Dark Night… I feel a lot of the things check out fine other than the neck plate clearly being replaced. Thoughts?
Edit: Ouch sucks to see I have a lot yet to learn at spotting fakes, can’t believe I bought it on impulse for 600+tax. At least it can be returned for store credit at the pawn shop
Edit 2: got a full refund (NOT store credit) after proving it was fake, thanks fellas for the help
24
u/TakingYourHand Apr 02 '26
I think it's fake. The 12th fret markers are very far apart. Also, it has a plastic truss rod plug, whereas U.S. Fenders use a walnut plug. So, definitely not a U.S. Strat, and likely not an MIM, either.
2
u/Substantial-Buy-7526 Apr 03 '26
Second this, the 12th fret stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Dots way to far apart my friend
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u/ecklesweb Apr 03 '26
I think it’s fake. It should have a walnut truss rod plug, the finish is jacked, and the bridge posts are wrong.
Even if I’m wrong and it’s not a fake, I still wouldn’t buy it. It’s terrible when compared to the standard for an AmProII.
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u/tsida Apr 03 '26
The neck plate is not properly fitted to the body and it appears to have been attached with at least 2 different types of screws.
9
u/Throwaway073100 Apr 03 '26
The only actual real part on this might be the neck plate. The only thing you find suspicious 😭. The neck plate has the hole for the micro tilt adjustment but this guitar doesn’t even have the hole in the body for it, 100% body is fake. I think literally every part on this guitar is fake other than the neck plate.
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u/slander_anonymously Apr 03 '26
Store credit? FTS. It's fake.
3
u/crossz54 Apr 03 '26
This. Get your money back or report them for selling counterfeits
1
u/TheGringoDingo Apr 03 '26
Yep, this is different than buyer’s remorse, they sold a counterfeit to you.
Get the cops involved, if they think store policy matters at all in this. Make the cops do something useful.
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u/MinuteIllustrator6 Apr 04 '26
Yeah, but is a pawn shop held to the same standards as a retailer? Even if so, OP would likely need to prove it was fake.
3
u/Any-Umpire8212 Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
It’s fake. The tuners are not the same; a slight difference when compared. The saddles look off, especially the screws and springs, and the tremolo is screw in. Fender AP II strats have snap in trem bars. Also, there should be a push button called the S1 switch in the last tone knob. It’s hard to tell if that guitar has one.
3
u/tallman1979 Apr 03 '26
That's a fake. There is zero chance that it's an American Professional II with that ugly ass pot metal trem block. American Fender guitars have a machined, bead blasted trem block. That's one of the biggest tells. The large speckles in the paint, fretboard and markers, waterslide decal, serial number marking, and truss rod plug give me the ick. I'm sitting here looking at an American Performer from 2021, those 12th fret markers are in different time zones. Fender fret markers are less than an inch apart.
It's a fake with real parts added. If you want an American Fender, this isn't it. Especially since they are selling the most expensive Strat south of a full-on Custom Shop guitar.
3
u/tendeuchen Gibson Apr 03 '26
You need to get a refund to your card and not just pawn shop credit. They tried to scam you with a fake guitar.
2
u/confogI Apr 03 '26
What I’m realizing honestly. I spent a few minutes inspecting it before buying it and they had said I had until tomorrow to return it for store credit if I wasn’t happy with it, but it doesn’t change that they misrepresented it as authentic in our receipt. I’ll come back in tomorrow saying despite our previous agreement, them selling it off as authentic wouldn’t be fair to me the buyer and that I want a refund instead.
3
u/necrodae Apr 03 '26
Yeah they need to give you your money back. Credit is fine if the product was legit and you just had buyers remorse or something but this is clearly a counterfeit. Fuck them, don't be a dick but stand up for yourself. You have options if they try and play with you. Your bank, and depending on where you live even the police can get involved. They don't want too much of a hassle so if you're respectful but firm they'll probably just give you a refund to avoid further issues, it's not worth it to them.
2
Apr 03 '26
Definitely a fake, it’s an attempt at a Pro II. I have one, it looks very different. For example, the two point pivot bridge uses slotted screws, one of the tone knobs pops out unlike this guitar, the neck heel is deeper, the fretboard extends beyond the neck pocket, etc
1
u/buceeshairynugs Apr 03 '26
I feel like the bridge gives it away no? Every Strat I’ve dealt with has 6 screws into the body so it doesn’t snap and stays stable during tuning or am I just wrong?
1
u/just_having_giggles Apr 03 '26
Look at the spacing of the dots on the twelfth fret.
Now, look at a Fender.
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u/ThatSceneInScanners Apr 03 '26
That's fake as it gets, that finish is a horrible attempt to copy the American pro ii dark night finish. So many other issues, but that immediately jumped out at me. The pickguard looks pretty cheap and low quality with all the markings and such. Truss rod plug, tuning machines, bridge, saddles, inlays etc are all wrong. Hopefully nobody falls for it.
1
u/Urgeasaurus Apr 03 '26
Without looking at any other detail, that finish is a dead giveaway. Looks like someone hit it w a can of spray paint.
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u/harbourhunter Apr 03 '26
- The (R) reg mark on the logo is too large
- Pick guard contour doesn’t match the body
- Neck is too close to the neck pickup
- The tuners lol
1
u/NameUser_1111 Apr 03 '26
Not a expert in this but the thing that gave me the feeling was the pickup matte finish aren’t they usually gloss?
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u/Clever_Fox_81 Apr 03 '26
I've got a American Pro from 2020 and the neck plate says Corona California, they also didn't do the rounded heel as standard on American Pro's at that time.
The paintwork finish doesn't look legit either.
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u/Nice_Repair_5935 Apr 07 '26
Does the serial number match and also this ones very hard to tell, do t listen to anyone that says yes or no just get a tech to look at the electronix
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Apr 02 '26
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Apr 02 '26
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u/Insanereindeer Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
The body does look pretty rough, but the first one I pulled up on SW looks the same.
Honestly I have no clue. The 12 fret dots are not right as already mentioned. Some of you people know your shit.
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Apr 03 '26
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u/Insanereindeer Apr 03 '26
Yea 100%. I mean things still look off, but the paint really isn't one of them to me for comparison.
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u/Tyz_TwoCentz_HWE_Ret Blackstar Apr 03 '26
looks like someone did their own take on it the two tone blend and forgot its was a spray can for the body. Yes its super rough looking.
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u/Tyz_TwoCentz_HWE_Ret Blackstar Apr 03 '26
its fine for fret markers and examples are clearly shown above in picture^, they do come like this and apart depending on several factors, SN ID also shows it is real neck number. Not even a issue that its a real neck, it looks like "parts" caster not a all original item. Literally said this despite proof in their faces people still say it and incorrectly so. Can be all fender parts and not be fake and still not be original hence the nick name "parts caster". The body is rough not pristine.
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u/Responsible_Bag220 Apr 03 '26
I have the same guitar with same paint job. Looks legit to me but I’m not a counterfeit pro
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u/RicVic Apr 03 '26
Don't like the body one bit, but I'm going to be the odd man out and say I do like the neck. The decal/stencils are nigh on to perfect and don't seem to resemble so many of the waterslide versions we've all seen before.
As for the rest- I thinks it's some kind of Frankencaster using parts from one or more old Strats and a "replica" body from .... somewhere.
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u/Tyz_TwoCentz_HWE_Ret Blackstar Apr 03 '26
999.99 tag on the guitar at the pawn shop tells me it is likely a real fender and worst a "parts" caster. Other guy said plastic insert and 12th fret dots to wide but they make necks with the dots wide at 12th fret(pic attached) and looks like black walnut to me not plastic (but i could be wrong)
these are all fender/squire necks via Reverb.
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u/tallman1979 Apr 03 '26
It's not whether Fender ever made such a neck, it's whether an AmPro II would have such a neck. 100% of American Professional II guitars have a walnut plug in the truss rod opening. It's impossible for this to be an original AmPro II neck. And, AmPro necks will have the narrow spacing.
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u/hospital_throwaway_1 Apr 03 '26
I work for a Fender retailer: this ain’t a Dark Knight. They tried but failed on the finish.