Thats why I would take a mate with really good Fender product knowledge.

I must say, my initial thought was that it was a custom shop(as Chris is looking for his first guitar,by the sounds of things, I am pretty sure he did not look it up and down and take note of anything that a long term gear-whore would look for) I think he may well have missed a custom shop logo...I mean, yes! Knock-off Strats are plentiful and it is very possible that this could be a really ugly guitar that isnt a Fender at all...but it seems it may also be a Custom Shop strat...I would give it a look...I would hate to pass up a custom shop, merely because I was too lazy and assumed it was a knock-off.