Hey Ya'll,
For those who may have missed the other thread I had posted on this, I had been looking at an MIJ Strat. I originally thought it was a Fender but it turned out to be a Squier. Either way it was an "E series" and from what I've seen around the internet these seem to be pretty decent guitars (Fender or Squier)...and this one certainly plays and sounds very sweet. I had really wanted to get one with the System 1 trem but it just doesn't look like that's gonna happen at this time. Anyways...after doing a little research, $329 still seemed to be a fair price for her so I brought her home today.

Now I'm having some trouble tracking down specifics on this instrument...I know there were a few different models of MIJ even in the Squier line so hopefully someone can give me a little more insight as to what I just bought, LOL!!!

Nothing fancy...just some snap shots but here's some pics...




If you have problems reading that serial number, it's "E533233"







Any clue what that 9-13 means?





The neck pocket numbers are -very- hard to read...any help here especially would be most appreciated.




BTW...this last shot shows her in the case I just snagged at least weekend's guitar show for $30 .



Anyways...I'm guessing that ST-362 on the heal of the neck probably indicates the model and I would further venture to guess, that maybe means '62 reissue...but that's only a guess. Also being an E series would seem to indicate that she was made between '84 and '87...any way to narrow that down a bit?

As you can see, she's really in great shape and if she's indeed a mid-80's, that really goes double. There's a small ding in the head stock and some light surface scuffs and scratches on the back and the bridge could use a really good cleaning but otherwise nothing major at all. She doesn't even have nearly as much fret wear as my '96 MIM...this guitar really looks like she hasn't been played that much over the years.


So...what do ya'll think...for $329, did I get my money's worth on this one? Also anything extra you folks can tell me about her?

As always, thanks!
Jim

Looks like an 85 or 86. I have an 87 with the same markings on the neck, but mine has the system 1 trem, might pick up another 87 with the system 1` trem tonight, trying to work out a deal.

the price you paid is about what they were going for on Ebay when I was looking into it about a month ago.

My neck has the same markings. From what I read, they used 62 reissue necks on other models of squiers, so the neck would be a 62 but not from a 62 reissue, so the tuners would probably be different, and in my case, it had the locking part of the trem on it.

Looks like a nice guitar. Congrats!

I'm also looking at getting a 87 62 reissue from japan for $325, it's a left hadned guitar, but I was going to convert it to Hendrix type of thing.

I just noticed the 9-13 pic, and looks like at the end it says 85, but theres glare so I can't be sure, but that would be the sate 9-13-85

If you live by me I would be willing to trade you my 87 with the System I, I would prefer the regular trem. My guitar is pretty much in mint condition, and it's also black.

Thanks for the info. I have another pic of the 9-13 without the glare but it's a little blurry. Regardless, yes...it does say "85". I wasn't sure if that was the date or not though because the 85 is written a bit away from the 9-13. Either way that seems to answer that question and verify the info from the serial in that she's an '85...very nice condition for an '85 .

I didn't get any pics of the tuners yet but they do say "Fender Japan" on the back as do the bridge saddles.

On the price...yea, I had looked around on Ebay too and saw the same prices. Considering the condition of the guitar, seemed pretty fair.

I do have a question here...in your other post you said "they used 62 reissue necks on other models of squiers, so the neck would be a 62 but not from a 62 reissue"...so how do I tell if it's actually a '62 reissue or just a '62 neck stuck on another model and if that's the case, how do I determine which model? Could the 8 screw pickguard be some indication of a reissue?



Where about's do you live? The "internet" is a really big place after all! LOL! I'm up here in Lorain, Ohio...about 20 miles West of Cleveland.

I'm not sure what all they had on the 62 reissues, I would assume, the tuners would be vintage tuners, and the bride would be a vintage style bridge, but I could be wrong, because I'm looking at a white 87 that the guy says is a 62 reissue, but it has standard tuners, so I don't know if the guy is mistaken or what.

And I think 62's had 11 hole pickguards.

Ok...I've tried to enhance the picture of the neck pocket a bit...added some sharpening and enlarged the pocket area...






Alrighty...from what I can read there, it seems to say "SST" with "3U" written under it. If you flip the image upside down, the top lettering seems to say "BLK" which would probably indicate black (which is obviously the color of the body).

Ok now...am I just being paranoid or should I be concerned that the body doesn't have an actual stamp like the heel of the neck does? When I took the neck off this afternoon, it was stuck on there pretty good...almost as though it had never been off (which considering the condition of the rest of the guitar, wouldn't surprise me). I haven't had the pickguard off yet to see if and/or what may be stamped or written under there yet.

Is this normal or does it catch anyone's attention?

Thanks,
Jim

I can't remember what mine had, I think it's didn't have anything either. I have pics, I'll have to find them

Well, other than the saddles being stamped "Fender Japan", it does appear to be a vintage style bridge...although I haven't measured the spacing or anything yet to confirm that. It does have a large trem block that appears to be zinc and not steel...again not sure if that's an indication of anything though.

The tuners however are definitely NOT vintage. This isn't my guitar...I borrowed the pic from Ebay but this is identical to what's on mine with the "Fender Japan" stamped across the bottoms...





Ok...now I'm -really- not sure what I have here! LOL!

yeah thats the same as whats on mine. And I assume a 62 wouldn't be too glossy on the back of the neck, and like my squier is really glossy.

Another thing that seems odd to me...as you can see in the pics above, the truss rod adjustment is at the heal of the neck but there's not route at the body end...one would have to take the neck off to adjust the truss rod??? Is this normal or is it an indication that perhaps this isn't the original body?

Curiouser and curiouser...

Yea...mine's pretty glossy too. Well...maybe we'll get some more answers as morning rolls around and folks have fresh eyes.

I'm off to bed

Funny. Im having the same conversation with a guy on craigslist. He said his was a 62 reissue and I said it didn't look like one, and he said that the neck said 62 so he thought it was a 62 reissue, so I had to tell him the same thing I told you. I'm trying to work out a 3 way deal to get 2 87 squiers.

I'd wager that what you have is NOT a re-issue. The tuners look like Schaller mini's. Hard to tell from the pics though. The truss adjustment is vintage style. You will have to loosen (not remove) the neck to make adjustments. Not a huge deal! I'd also say that the body and neck are a matched pair. By that I mean its not likely an aftermarket body paired with a squire neck. I personally wouldnt pay that price for a squire, but I dont think you were "robbed" or misled.

_________________
"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

The neck on mine is the same as far as the truss rod adjustment goes.

Congrats on the new guitar. Im sure you'll have lots of fun with her.