Can you please help me ID this fine instrument? Bought new in the the late 80s , it has an American made Kahler Spyder tremelo and Gotoh machine heads. The headstock has no country of manufacture. The only modification since new is the pearly pickguard (Original was plain white). Here's some pictures. Cheers. PS. OK I admit, I have no idea how to post images onto this forum. Can anybody advise?

i dont see pics but it sounds like you mite have a made in japan contemporary strat that some one sanded off the made in japan on the head stock or replaced the neck does it have a sunk in pocket for the back plate? if it does than thats your strat

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No mate. No pocket for the backplate. No sanding has taken place. Bought brand new from a Fender dealer in Sydney (Australia). Just looks like a normal Strat with a thumping great big-block Spyder dropped in. Sure wish I could post these pics.

Hi Boxbang: to save typing it all out again just see the fourth post down on this thread for how to post pix:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=18646

Good luck - C

They don't even make Kahler Spyder's anymore. I have a Fender HM Strat, and that's what that guitar comes with. I can't recall any other guitars from Fender USA that came with those off the top of my head.
The Gotoh Tuning machines are not stock either, but let me ask you this:
Is the headstock shape the traditional Fender small peghead? and if so, is it painted gloss black?

-Harley

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Discontinued 1992, according to WammiWorld. Though they claim to have a limited supply of New-Old stock Kahler 2720 Spyders, if anyones gasping for one. Towards the bottom right of this page:

http://www.wammiworld.com/

Cheers - C

Quite honestly Ceri, I can't see anyone stampeding to get those. They have the wimpiest inertia blocks I've ever seen in any tremolo system. I believe they are a sustain killer really. I had to compensate for the lack of sustain on my guitar with a slab of brass stock attached to the back of my guitar's headstock to help it along.

-Harley

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I own a 1989 $@! strat that doesn,t have made in Japan on it but has the I serial no. and everything is consistant with $@! strats.

Hi Harley: I'm sure you're right. Just mentioned it in case there's someone out there needs a spare part or replacement unit or some such.

Have you any experience of the current Kahler models? I'd want to hope the problems you mention have been improved upon. It's a very expensive bridge otherwise!

Cheers - C

Was it the floyd style Kahler. If so its not on kahlers site now.
http://www.kahlerusa.com/home.html The 2300 series are my pick. Far more comfortable and versatile than floyd systems.

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I'm perfectly happy with the Spyder's sustain and quality. Yes it's F.Rose licenced and USA made. Here's the pictures if anyone can help me ID. Thanks Ceri for the help.

Hi Boxbang: now I'm a little confused. That neck pocket and neck heel don't seem to belong to the same guitar as in the top photo, which shows a yellow or off-white Strat with a 22nd fret overhang on the fingerboard.

Clarification, please?

Cheers - C

Ah! (Your eyes are pretty sharp!)

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My other guitar is a Strat.

Why would a japanese 56 strat have a rosewood board?

The bottom guitar is a mij 56 RI designated by the st56 stamp on the heel and body.

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No no and no

Be merciful, gentlemen! The OP has just made his first picture posts from Photobucket: I suspect a little copy/paste slip is all we're seeing...

Cheers - C