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Fender experts required

canuckshort

canuckshort

Apr 16, 2011
440
685
#1
Hi,

I found what I believe is a 200X Fender Hot Rod P on the weekend but there are a couple of things that make me not so sure.

1. The serial number has an extra '0'.
2. The truss rod adjustment is at the neck not at the body.

Everything else looks right (I think). It has Corona California on the neck plate and says made in USA on the head-stock. So what exactly do I have here? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Serial_Number2.jpg


Closeup.jpg


FenderSmall.jpg


Headstock.jpg
 
#3
The guitar you posted doesn't look like a stock hot rod P for a number of reasons.

Hot rod P tuners should have the F-stamp, and those in your photo don't.

Hot rod P necks have the truss rod at the heel, as you mentioned.

This would suggest that you have a hot rod with a swapped out neck, except the pick guard isn't correct either -- hot rods came with a special groove cut in the guard to facilitate truss rod access without removing the neck. The pick guard in your photo doesn't have this feature, meaning that at very least, the guard is aftermarket as well.

Hope that helps a little...
 
#6
I agree with the above post regarding the knobs -- they would appear to be too curved on top to be hot rod-correct originals.

The string tree is not a match either.

I don't know quite what to make of the serial number, but yes, the neck is likely a swap-out.

The question is, is ANY of this guitar from a hot rod P?
If it is a hot rod P, then it should be string-through --do you have a wider photo of the back of the guitar?

Also, hot rod P's had a somewhat higher-mass bridge than usual. Hard to tell from your photos, but you might scrutinize that detail for a clue.
 
#9
Thanks for all of the replies. it is a string through.

Would the body or any other parts have serial numbers that I could cross reference? I'm feeling lucky though that I only paid $300.00 at a local antique shop and not some crazy amount. Sounds pretty decent so I'll keep it for a while.
 
#13
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#16
Looks to be fake- or at least quite a number of parts have been replaced. From China or the Philippines (saw quite a number of fakes there- even at what's considered a reputable music dealer , Fender, Gibson etc). The Serial number also looks suspect as it's a little too faded as if it rubs away a little too easily. - "Serial Number" and the "0" .
 
#18
canuckshort said:
Thanks to everyone who replied for the education ans sound advice.:)
Click to expand...

I'm astounded at the number of fake Fenders that show up here.

Many years ago, I quit doing vintage authentication because of the number of fakes and the hostility of cheated buyers -- toward ME, not the grifters who gypped them -- but I never expected that people would ever stoop to even faking-up stuff like MIM Standards. :rolleyes:

I consistently advise against non-experts buying used Fenders because they pay far too much for them even if they're real and don't have some kind of problems.
 
#20
Bongolation said:
I'm astounded at the number of fake Fenders that show up here...

... I consistently advise against non-experts buying used Fenders because they pay far too much for them even if they're real and don't have some kind of problems.
Click to expand...

... add to that the incredible number of erroneous listings on sites such as Ebay, with flat out misleading information and/or item identification ... some intentional, and some just due to sellers ignorant of what they actually have, and it is a bit of a mine field out there for the uneducated buyer ..

.. TB has brought many of these to light, but for every one that comes here, I see several slip through ... JMHO
 

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