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Post subject: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:44 am
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Hi,
I was hoping someone can help me more closely identify my strat. Guitar feels vintage and plays really nice.
Seems to be a 62 reissue, rosewood, custom body with a serial number V+6 digits. The guitar came with an original fender moulded case that matches ones from late 70s to early 80s. This seems to correspond to Fenders from early 80s ... 1982-1984.

The interesting thing is that just above the backplate on the neck (where Japanese ones have decal "Made in Japan") this guitar has a really faded imprint "Made in U.S.A." I can't say I have seen Fenders with this kind of wood imprint in the neck maybe someone here knows? Also the original tuning pegs seems to have been changed to newer Fender ones as holes are in different position. When taken apart the date on the neck seems to be faded so can't be identified. The scratch plate screws positioning doesn't match newer fenders which is why this humbucker scratch plate doesn't quite fit properly.

I have installed a humbucker that wasn't there originally, it was just a black body with white front single pickups. I would appreciate any help as I am running out of ideas on narrowing down more precise info. Thanks.

Here are some photos

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzlGL ... WNBc05IQ1k


Last edited by FilipFS on Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:50 am
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First, many forum members (including myself) like if you post pics with the IMG option = visible on the forum without extra clicks.

Second, and sorry for the bad news, I don't think that is an AVRI-series guitar (just an opinion, not gospel).
My guess is it's a partscaster, a Squier body (trem plate middle screws positioning, block saddles) and possibly a MIJ neck. Have you checked the radius?
Pics of the whole guitar from the backside, headstock backside might be helpful.
And you might get some more info from the neck heel & neck pocket stamps, markings etc.


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:19 pm
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The only thing that's genuine USA Fender is the case.

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Last edited by stratmangler on Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:47 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Second, and sorry for the bad news, I don't think that is an AVRI-series guitar (just an opinion, not gospel).
My guess is it's a partscaster, a Squier body (trem plate middle screws positioning, block saddles) and possibly a MIJ neck. Have you checked the radius?
Pics of the whole guitar from the backside, headstock backside might be helpful.
And you might get some more info from the neck heel & neck pocket stamps, markings etc.


+1

No way that's an AVRI anything.

Wrong headstock decal, wrong tuning machines, wrong 12th fret dot spacing, wrong pickguard, wrong pickup configuration, wrong bridge saddles, wrong trem cover, the list is endless.

When listed on Ebay it should be described as an "undocumented" Custom Shop edition. *Somebody* might buy it. Maybe......

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:01 pm
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Yep I am with the other guys on this.
Parts with possibly squier body ... what's under the pickguard?
Suspicious erasure of id on neck to hide true identity :D


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:10 pm
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I can't see your images only empty img tags, attachments don't seem to work for me nor can I add one there is no upload in my control panel like it says in faq. Maybe because I am a new member it's not active yet not sure. Sorry about that, but that was the best I could work out as secondary solution.

Also thanks for your comments. As I said don't worry about pickguard, humbucker that's not genuine I've changed that, tuning pegs were changed too by previous owner .. I have the originals too ... guitar plays really well compared to other usa fenders. Of course few things don't add up but then again that is why I am here trying to piece things together. The guy that I got it from 16 years ago had it also for about 10 years before that and said he got it in London. Anyway here is the whole folder with more photos I took it apart. Maybe someone will find a clue. Thanks again.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzlGL ... WNBc05IQ1k


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:21 pm
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Even more likely a squier body... :D


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:04 pm
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FilipFS wrote:
I can't see your images only empty img tags, attachments don't seem to work for me nor can I add one there is no upload in my control panel like it says in faq. Maybe because I am a new member it's not active yet not sure. Sorry about that, but that was the best I could work out as secondary solution.

Also thanks for your comments. As I said don't worry about pickguard, humbucker that's not genuine I've changed that, tuning pegs were changed too by previous owner .. I have the originals too ... guitar plays really well compared to other usa fenders. Of course few things don't add up but then again that is why I am here trying to piece things together. The guy that I got it from 16 years ago had it also for about 10 years before that and said he got it in London. Anyway here is the whole folder with more photos I took it apart. Maybe someone will find a clue. Thanks again.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzlGL ... WNBc05IQ1k


There ain't no USA made Strat with "Made In USA" on the heel of the neck, just above the neck pocket. That was the sole reserve of the MIJ/CIJ guitars.
You might have a MIJ Squier, which is best case scenario, and a bitzer at worst.

Thankfully you don't seems too deflated by this knowledge.
Continue to enjoy this guitar as you appear to have done already.
Just because something isn't MIA doesn't make it a worse guitar.

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Last edited by stratmangler on Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:47 am
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Hey Chris not at all I actually choose this guitar over a USA 2001 Strat it played and sounded better and had a better finish and setup. I am here because I am intrigued by the history of this guitar considering Fender had some inconsistencies during transitional periods so it had me wondering.

I did more research and I actually matched my neck type and profile, as well as decal to a first American export for Japanese Market in 1982 and soon after MIJ series they both match. There was this slight but noticeable change in head decal to previous USA models. The first Strats made in Japan by Fender were vintage reissue ’57 and ’62 replicas, launched in Tokyo on Friday 7th May 1982 (that date again). Funnily enougn Squier started production under Fender branding also in early 1982 then switched to new Squier branding bit later (small Squier writing next to big Fender logo) . Maybe simply this guitar came from a really transitional Fender period or somehow it became a hybrid... I guess the serial number doesn't add up it points to 1984 USA or 1994 MIJ dual serials. I also found in few places that there have been some traces of similar issues with other Strats from 80s period and that few had a stamp on the neck "They were made for the export market and have “Made in USA” stamped on the neck heel." For some reason these export models were apparently closer to what has become soon MIJ Fender Strat. Again funnily enough these first exports were for England (which apparently is where my guitar came from). I must admit this is pretty hard to connect. Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:24 am
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Quote:
Again funnily enough these first exports were for England
Yes, I think we've discovered before that some seemingly-identical Strats that come/came to GB vary from US models. On an old thread, I seem to recall that all the Americans said AmStds over a period in the noughties should have staggered pickup pole-pieces, whereas I owned three (and still have two), from that period with flat poles. Two of these I bought new from a dealer. Doubtless there are other examples, so there may be something in what you say re export models. Certainly, what I've learned from this forum is that you cannot rely on Fender for any consistency whatsoever!!!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:35 pm
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FilipFS wrote:
I must admit this is pretty hard to connect.

You're absolutely right.
Now, I won't go too deep about the many oddballs (MIJ's especially, but also MIM, MIA) - there are some, but the origin always leaves too many questions of authenticity, especially when one wants to sell these instruments.
So follow the good advice above: don't worry about where it was born - just play on, play LOUD.


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:34 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
Yep I am with the other guys on this.
Parts with possibly squier body ... what's under the pickguard?
Suspicious erasure of id on neck to hide true identity :D



+1000
what's under the pickguard?

You will learn lots about this guitars when seeing electronics


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 3:29 pm
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Ok I've added more photos to the gdrive share folder. And good point from what I can tell it has 500k pots, metal 5 way switch and ceramic pickups which seem to resemble the 80s mij. White pickguard plate is 11 hole but with different middle bottom screw position.

So not sure about the neck anymore still confused with that usa imprint ... but my guess is that body and electronics are MIJ. Unless they were changed at some point when the tuners were changed.

As I said plays fantastic, neck profile is amazing, fast smooth action, stays in tune after hours of play ... if it's all MIJ I am totally impressed I wouldn't mind picking up one more


Last edited by FilipFS on Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:16 pm
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Late to the party on this one; this looks like one of those "unlabled" late 80s/early 90s Fenders that somewhere along the lines was stamped with that "Made in USA" imprint. At the very best they are the bottom-level MIJ Standard or possibly a Squier-level guitar (last of the MIJ Squier-level, before they went to MIK) that might (and the emphasis is on "might") have been assembled in the USA for export to other countries at a higher price. It also could be an overseas distributor trying to take advantage of the unlabeled nature of these guitars.

I think we've discussed these in detail here and it's been discussed in detail on Strat-Talk.

At any rate this was the era where Fender was playing really loose with "Made in USA"; there are at least 3 models that have no "Made in _____" decal on them that have been sold here as USA models when they are clearly FujiGen-built bodies and necks - the HM Strats, the last version of the "Contemporary Standard" Strat (with the Kahler Spyder instead of the System 1 or the Kahler 2550 found on the ones clearly marked "Made in Japan"), and the really oddball Contemporary model with a figured top, Kahler Spyder, and HSS configuration with a single TBX and a coil split switch where the second tone control would be. I believe the two Contemporary models have been identified as 100% MIJ, but the HMs appear to be assembled in the USA from the MIJ bodies and necks.

Long-winded post - who knows what was going on with these Fenders that got stamped "Made in USA" in the wood, but I wouldn't consider them to be a USA model alongside the American Standards and other truly USA-made models from 1989-1990.


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Post subject: Re: Help me identify my Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:45 am
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FilipFS wrote:
Ok I've added more photos.
Don't see pics of the wiring, pots, etc.
FilipFS wrote:
And good point from what I can tell it has 500k pots, metal 5 way switch and ceramic pickups which seem to resemble the 80s mij. White pickguard plate is 11 hole but with different middle bottom screw position.

So not sure about the neck anymore still confused with that usa imprint ... but my guess is that body and electronics are MIJ. Unless they were changed at some point which is unlikely.

Going very much on my gut feelings here:
The 500k pots and ceramic pickups also would fit a Squier, the metal (CRL/Oak Grigsby style) 5way switch is a very common upgrade.
I seldom trust a serial number on mystery guitars, so dating this body to the eighties is not sure. The stamp on the neck pocket is unreadable, could just as well be 1990's.
Adding to that the neck heel (looks like extra holes, plugged and redrilled), plus the (apparently unbranded and very Squierish) Gotoh-style tuning machines, I'm thinking partscaster. Squier body of unknown (guessing 90's..?) period, mystery neck which could be from a MIJ but that's absolutely not confirmed.

FilipFS wrote:
As I said plays fantastic, neck profile is amazing, fast smooth action, stays in tune after hours of play ... if it's all MIJ I am totally impressed I wouldn't mind picking up one more
Repeating: just enjoy the guitar, regardless of the origins.


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