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Post subject: 80s MIJ strat
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:26 am
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MIJ strats from the 80s are a mixed bag apparently. Anyone know which ones were highly regarded, and which were not?

I have an 'E' serial number reissuse 70s strat, bought it new 20+ years ago!

I've always liked it, nice tone. It is rather heavy though (basswood??) and the tone, although nice, is not as 'bright & spangely' as an alder bodied strat; although it still 'chimes' very nicely.

Years ago I replaced the bridge PU with a S. Duncan, no offense to Mr D, but I wish I hadn't done that!


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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:11 am
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I would say mid 80's (84-87) are the most sought after by those that know. Which puts your E Series (84-86) right in the heart of it.
I own an E Series '72RI which although no longer completely stock is a fabulous guitar.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:24 am
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CAFeathers wrote:
I would say mid 80's (84-87) are the most sought after by those that know. Which puts your E Series (84-86) right in the heart of it.
I own an E Series '72RI which although no longer completely stock is a fabulous guitar.


I'm in total agreement with Chet! Again. :)


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Post subject: Re: 80s MIJ strat
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:26 am
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adriandavidb wrote:
MIJ strats from the 80s are a mixed bag apparently. Anyone know which ones were highly regarded, and which were not?


It's hard to answer that because all of the models that were available isn't well documented AND they don't put the models numbers on the guitars.

Well, they do, but you gotta take off the neck to look at the codes in the neck pocket.

The Japanese were real good at making full ranges of guitars. Obviously the high end of the range are the most highly regarded. The model numbers with the highest numbers were the best (because the numbers indicated the retail selling price).

But even the low end, the most inexpensive, are pretty decent.

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My other guitar is a Strat.

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Post subject: Info
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:39 am
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Thank's guys.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:43 am
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How about some pics?

I love to to see pics of mid 80's MIJ's!!!!!!!

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Post subject: Sorry
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:18 pm
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No pix at present. But it's white (the pale cream off-white, but paler than antique white) body, white 3 layer scratch plate, rosewood fretboard. The maple neck was slightly tinted to begin with but has become a deep amber over time. The white PU covers have also aged from white to a yellowy colour. Very thin fretwire. Good quality rosewood, hardly any 'pores' visible

I choose it because it looked sort of Richie Blackmoor-ish ( but without the scallops).

Untill a couple of months ago, it spent the last 15 years in its case, my memory may be failing me, but I'm sure the neck and PU covers have darkend during it's tiem in hibernation.

I plan to get it refreted with larger wire, a new nut and maybe scalloped!


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:05 pm
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From what i've gathered, there were 3 different japanese companies making fender strats and the letter that started the serial number determined the factory either E, J or S (sorry i don't know what companies they were, but i believe Tokai Make the S series)

I have an 85 E series, Contemporary Standard 22, with a kahler system 1, and it's a nice piece, pickups are a little weak but do a perfect job, the quality is excellent.

As orvilleowner said the models were not well documented, for example i found the break down for options on the E series, and for a 3 single, 1 vol 2 tone, there should be no maple fretboard guitars, only rosewood, but mine deffinately has a maple board. So it's really hard to distinguish what is what unless you get the model numbers and serial numbers to sync.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:14 am
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medeiros2021 wrote:
i found the break down for options on the E series, and for a 3 single, 1 vol 2 tone, there should be no maple fretboard guitars, only rosewood, but mine deffinately has a maple board.


Not true - the 50s reissue E series strats had 3 single, 1 vol and 2 tone - and they only came with maple fretboards. I have one - its great!


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:57 am
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jakehadlee wrote:
medeiros2021 wrote:
i found the break down for options on the E series, and for a 3 single, 1 vol 2 tone, there should be no maple fretboard guitars, only rosewood, but mine deffinately has a maple board.


Not true - the 50s reissue E series strats had 3 single, 1 vol and 2 tone - and they only came with maple fretboards. I have one - its great!


My bad, I was talking about the system 1 e-series.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:45 pm
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Here are a few pics of my 85 MIJ. 3 single coils,maple neck, and regular trem. Sorry! Forgot to make pics smaller
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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:59 pm
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I like that fhop :mrgreen: They were well crafted guitars.

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