Did I just buy a fake fender?

I've said this many times before, and I'll say it again. No one is gonna fake a MIJ or MIM Fender (especially when it's a reissue, and not an original). The only time you should be worried is when you buy a used MIA Fender, or if you happen to be dealing with the most stupid person on the planet. It should be fine. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it?

 

The neck looks right.
There is a difference between the CIJ's and MIJ's.

 

I can't imagine anyone investing enough to make a convincing fake of what at the time was itself considered a "fake Fender" by many. That is, sometimes the best fake Fenders are Fender's own fake Fenders. The question I have is always the same - does it sound and feel like it should for what you paid for it? If someone were to go through the effort of faking a MIJ '62 reissue, and got close enough that it plays and sounds convincingly well, then you got what you paid for in terms of quality / $ anyway.

 

Just for clarification:

MIJ signifies that all components were made in Japan?

and CIJ signifies basically that it was assembled in Japan with parts sourced from other countries?

Or does either one signify which Japanese guitar manufacturer built whichever?

 

Are you sure? It looks like a '09.

http://www2.fender.com/support/articles/japanese-instruments-product-dating/#prodRef

Just scroll down a little further on the page.

 

Yeah. That lighting on the pic of the truss rod threw me but the rest of the markings & text styles of the stamps & decals & finish work seems too usual to be faked.

 

Considering the SN begins with T09, I would think it's a 2009. I could be wrong though.

 

Hmm, now, on the other hand, if the seller passed off a newer reissue as an older, more valuable reissue, and charged a premium based on that, then yeah, I would say OP has a valid misrepresentation complaint. But again, if it plays and sounds like it's worth it, it's worth it, always my position.

 

If I recall my reading, CIJ vs MIJ is simply a naming method, it's all marketing. They changed sometime in the '90s.

You could easily say your MIM Fenders were "Crafted in Aztlan" if you wanted too and be as valid.

 

Well if you want to get technical, any Fender made after 1965 is a "fake" Fender.

 

CIJ and MIJ differentiates the factory it was made at Fujigen and Tokai. There are 1990's and 2000's CIJ & MIJ basses
I had a 2006 CIJ

 

http://www2.fender.com/support/articles/japanese-instruments-product-dating/

It appears you are correct, but at the same time not enough that I'm admitting I was giving bad info.

 

The serial number/dating has always been iffy with the Japanese made instruments.
All that matters is that they are very good basses.

 

See, I knew someone was going to chime in with that!