My MIJ Strat (1984-87) looks very much like some Squire MIJ Strats I have seen on Ebay which have the same E series serial #. Has anyone found what the differences were in those models?

My model appears to be the 27-4300 with the series 1 tremelo bar and locking nut.

Also I am considering possible upgrades for this guitar. Any suggestions?

Dan

I have one almost exactly like this, complete with the Kahler bridge, except mine is sunburst and I can see the wood in the body.
I’ve had mine for at least 20 years.
Best I can tell this is a Fender Contemporary Stratocaster Japan Model 27-4300. I think mine is a ’86.
Here are the mods I have put in mine.....
Mojo CTS 250k pots - this made the tone noticeably cleaner, clearer, brighter, better low frequencies, just better.
I have experimented with several tone caps. I settled on a big orange drop .022.
I added a treble bleed cap and resistor on the volume pot (.00047uf and 22k ohm in parallel). This allows me to turn down the volume and keep the bright tones.
New knobs from StewMac, although I think I still have the originals somewhere.
Copper shielding from StewMac in the routed cavity under the pick guard - made it noticeable quieter although still not as quiet as if it had humbuckers.
Schaller strap locks.
I use D’Addario EXL110 (.010) strings.
My frets have been redone a least couple times, and they need it again.

I have a couple guitars with Floyd Rose bridges. I notice that the string spacing at the bridge is slightly narrower on the Kahler than on the Floyd Rose. It takes a minute to adjust my picking motion when I switch guitars. I also notice that this one’s pups have a little lower output than the single coils on my other guitars. I adjust the volume on the amp to compensate.

I have owned at least seven electrics and this is still my one of my favorites.

I have a late 80's mij strat thet looks just like yours except mine has a charcol finish

The only change I have made was to line the cavity with copper foil from Hobby Lobby and add a metalic capacitor according to specs I read here. This and settup from instructions on Fenders web site made a real difference in the sound.

Eventually I might have to get the frets dressed or try it myself. Maybe then I might try changing the pots too.

Except for the slightly lower volume I actually like the tone as well as from other more expensive Strat clones. Have you ever tried Fender Bullets? I thought installing them might have had some of the difference but am not sure. I use the EXL110's on my Epi LP but have not tried them on the Strat.