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Post subject: Help identify Fender Japan (MIJ) ST-68 TX has been modded/fa
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:45 pm
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Hi Everyone,

First time poster. Just need help identifying a guitar a bought used in Japan if it is modded/fake. It is a Fender ST-68 TX (Texas special pickups)

I find it weird that the pots are the mini version. I thought it should have the bigger version.

Images below:
Fender Japan ST-68 TX https://imgur.com/a/KdsxD

Fender Japan ST-68 TX Neck and body https://imgur.com/a/4Ircs


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Post subject: Re: Help identify Fender Japan (MIJ) ST-68 TX has been modde
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 3:46 am
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The wiring is most likely modded; pots could be original (I'm still guessing they're replacements) but that (Ibanez?) switch I've not seen on any MIJ. And the soldering is not the usual factory style, bit too rough tin drops.

The pickups look like Texas Specials.
And I'd call the guitar legit - on a quick pic browsing, though.

But hey: always ask before buying. :wink:

Pics on the forum usually bring more & better answers. Like this:
Image


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Post subject: Re: Help identify Fender Japan (MIJ) ST-68 TX has been modde
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 4:35 am
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jmattis wrote:
The wiring is most likely modded; pots could be original (I'm still guessing they're replacements) but that (Ibanez?) switch I've not seen on any MIJ. And the soldering is not the usual factory style, bit too rough tin drops.

The pickups look like Texas Specials.
And I'd call the guitar legit - on a quick pic browsing, though.

But hey: always ask before buying. :wink:

Pics on the forum usually bring more & better answers. Like this:
Image


Thanks for the info! I did actually ask them if it was modded or fake they said no it is not, it is all stock parts and real fender. I just got worried after opening it up and seeing the electronic parts and the model name in neck pocket seems to be rubbing off.

Not sure what other angles or photos would be helpful. Any suggestions of photos would be good if you think it will help.


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Post subject: Re: Help identify Fender Japan (MIJ) ST-68 TX has been modde
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:04 am
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Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:50 pm
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Location: Denver, CO, USA
I've seen MIJ Fenders with mini pots and that style switch.

Fender Japan is a marketing/distribution company -- they don't actually manufacture guitars. The guitars are made by Fuji-gen, Tokai, Dyna. And those companies make some parts and buy other parts from other suppliers.

So relatively minor details like pots and switches can vary pretty randomly.
------------------
Body and neck stamps are usually blurry, smeared, bits of them missing, faint, or unreadable. Perfect, crisp stamps make me more suspicious than sloppy ones.
-------------------
Unless that's some rare vintage MIJ, original electronics aren't a big factor in value. Not even a huge issue on vintage MIJ's -- traditionally, the electronics are the only weak point and upgrades are common.

Mini pots have a bad reputation, because the worst cheapest pots tend to be the smaller size. But not all mini pots are bad. I've had '80s Asian guitars with heavily used mini's that worked fine and had better tapers than most full-size pots.
------------------
So if that was my guitar I wouldn't worry about the originality of the pots and switch. If they work well, cool. Play and enjoy. If not, an Oak-Grigsby switch and a set of Bourns pots would be better than any stock MIJ electronics.


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Post subject: Re: Help identify Fender Japan (MIJ) ST-68 TX has been modde
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:43 am
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Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:20 pm
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strayedstrater wrote:
I've seen MIJ Fenders with mini pots and that style switch.

Fender Japan is a marketing/distribution company -- they don't actually manufacture guitars. The guitars are made by Fuji-gen, Tokai, Dyna. And those companies make some parts and buy other parts from other suppliers.

So relatively minor details like pots and switches can vary pretty randomly.
------------------
Body and neck stamps are usually blurry, smeared, bits of them missing, faint, or unreadable. Perfect, crisp stamps make me more suspicious than sloppy ones.
-------------------
Unless that's some rare vintage MIJ, original electronics aren't a big factor in value. Not even a huge issue on vintage MIJ's -- traditionally, the electronics are the only weak point and upgrades are common.

Mini pots have a bad reputation, because the worst cheapest pots tend to be the smaller size. But not all mini pots are bad. I've had '80s Asian guitars with heavily used mini's that worked fine and had better tapers than most full-size pots.
------------------
So if that was my guitar I wouldn't worry about the originality of the pots and switch. If they work well, cool. Play and enjoy. If not, an Oak-Grigsby switch and a set of Bourns pots would be better than any stock MIJ electronics.


Thank you for your reply! Very insightful. I just got worried cause this is my first expensive guitar I bought overseas.

Thank you for your suggestions on what electronics to get. Down the track if I decide to upgrade, I will look into getting those pots and switch. :)


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Post subject: Re: Help identify Fender Japan (MIJ) ST-68 TX has been modde
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 7:04 am
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Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 1339
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Definitely play it for a while and see. The electronics may be fine.

CTS pots have long been the standard Fender USA pots, but my experience is they're not as consistent as they used to be. For my money Bourns makes the best current production pots.


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