I recently picked up a Squire Stratocaster Serial # E768XXX which is Made in Japan 1984-87. My question is whether Fender Japan produced these Squire guitars in the same place, and at the same time as Fender E serial # Strats. I have owned several Squires, but find this guitar to be of very high quality, and above average components(nice Fender die cast tuners, roller string trees, full size pots, solid basswood body). It compares nicely to my "72 reissue Strat #E856XXX MIJ.
I wonder if Fender Japan made all of the E serial # Stratocasters during 1984-87 to basically the same specs, and just labelled some of them Squires, and some Fenders, with subtle changes to differentiate the more expensive Fender models.
What do you all think? I know the Strats of that time are becoming popular, and are well liked by players.

I've got an e-series Fender Strat from 1985, and I'm completely with you on the subject of their quality - it is an absolutely superb guitar, the best I've ever played (and I've played a lot of good guitars). Playability and build are out of this world particularly - the thing practically plays itself.

As far as I am aware, the Squire series of the time were built as an answer to the Tokai Springy Sound Strats which were starting to make an inroad into Fender's sales as they were of a higher quality than the US made Strats at the time.

Fender's first response (apart from legal action!) was to take on Tokai as a budget alternative to Fenders by having the Fujigen factory build Squires to the same quality as the Tokais. Trouble was, the Squires were then better than the Fenders of the time!

Seeing this, Fender started to badge the guitars as the real thing. I think there may be some slight differences in terms of hardware between the Squires of the time and the Fender e-series guitars, but essentially they are the same things.

I'm a bit of an e-series evangilist - especially as after 28 years of playing the guitar, and having my hands - owned or borrowed - on more guitars than I care to remember, I have yet to find a guitar at any price that matches the playability and build of the 80s MIJ Strat.

My only regret is that I once had an 80s Japan Tele and sold it before I realised how good it was (I was young and foolish and had my eye on an SG, which was also great, so maybe I don't regret it that much!)

I am the proud owner of 2 1986 MIJ Strats. One is an E Series and the other is an F Series. Both are absolutely fabulous!!!!!!

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Just on a nerdy note, your guitar was built in 1987 - the e-series guitars kept the US Fender tradition of having the year of build as the first number of the serial - mine is e-5xxxxx, so it's a 1985. This method of dating stopped after the e-series, unfortunately so its harder to date the other Japan Strats.

If you want to find out more about your Strat - try this site, its a gem:

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/default.aspx