by stephen » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:40 pm
Hmmmm........
Don't know whether I'd 'walk away' just because the CoA was missing or just a photocopy, if everything else checks out OK.
About 12 years ago, I bought (s/h) one of the numbered, 1954 40th Anniversary, two-tone sunburst Stratocasters from the Coda Music stand at the London Music Show at Wembley.
These 1954 guitars were mooted to be Custom Shop quality, if not exact origin and were priced accordingly........ie not cheap! I wouldn't dispute that. It's a beautifully put together, looking & sounding instrument and undoubtedly, the 'best' Strat. that I own.
Anyway, this mint guitar came with everything ( moulded case, repro. 'thermometer' case, repro. 1950's Fender catalogue, tags etc.) EXCEPT it's numbered CoA! It would have been nice to have this one missing piece, but I certainly wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to buy the guitar, because of this. Quite frankly, just who would be bothered to go to the trouble of 'forging' everything else APART from the CoA, in order to pass it off as genuine? It'd be daft, wouldn't it.........?
Similarly, given the price of the average, s/h NOS Custom Shop Fender, I doubt whether the unscrupulous guitar forger is bothering to fake these yet. There just isn't sufficient return to be made when weighed up against the effort involved.............I think that they'll be sticking to 'vintage' pieces for a while yet!
Stephen.