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Post subject: A True Japanese Strat or just a fake?
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:30 am
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Ok....it's my very first time on the forum here after owning a slightly beaten up 1994/1995 Japanese made Strat. Serial number S 0273** and has a violet clearcoat with a very darken, even black edges to the body of the guitar. Now...... I'm not a complete expert on most subjects in life, and Fender guitars is one of the things that I'm not hot on. I know some facts about them because I've follow artists like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, et al for a while now.

So here's the question. Is my Strat real.....or has someone tacked on a Fender neck and parts to a non standard body and passed it on as a Fender original? It has the vintage tuners with fisheye type string hold...if you know what I mean. And the screws on the scratchplate are all blackened and slightly krusty.

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Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:44 am
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Hi, welcome here. I'm not an expert on the laminated maple top MIJ Strats, but it looks OK to me at first glance. The '62 Reissue pickguard screw placement on this type of guitar is strange though (the screw betwen the middle and neck pickups on the bass side). Can you get a closeup pic of the headstock and a clean shot without the Les Paul in the way? What do the stamps say in the neck pocket and control cavities?
Image
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Last edited by metropolis74 on Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:47 am
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Give me a few moments and I'll see if I can take a couple of photos of the body and the headstock for you. Sorry about the Les Paul, I have 2 of those...and would love to build my own Strat if I ever had the cash.....


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Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:47 am
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It looks to be a slab-board '62 re-issue with a foto-flame top.

I'd say it's authentic.

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:56 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
It looks to be a slab-board '62 re-issue with a foto-flame top.

I'd say it's authentic.

Arjay


So that explains the '62 reissue style pickguard. I learn something new here everyday.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:02 am
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metropolis74 wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
It looks to be a slab-board '62 re-issue with a foto-flame top.

I'd say it's authentic.

Arjay


So that explains the '62 reissue style pickguard. I learn something new here everyday.


I discounted the round string tree since that may be an after-the-fact replacement (by rights it should be a "butterfly" type). But the single string tree, the correct-for-62 12th fret dot spacing, the heel-adjust truss rod, the pickguard, and the standard vintage trem bridge seem to rule out a MIJ "Contemporary Strat".

Somebody really familiar with MIJ/CIJ serials can prolly tell us more.

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:08 am
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Ok....here goes....I'm not hot on posting pictures up on forums because in my experience, there's always a slight different in how to post them. So if someone could kindly post the pictures on here via my links.....

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =876385022

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =876385022

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =876385022

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =876385022

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =876385022


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:53 am
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metropolis74 wrote:
Can you get a closeup pic of the headstock and a clean shot without the Les Paul in the way? What do the stamps say in the neck pocket and control cavities?
Image
Image


Ehhh???? What's that in English??? :lol: I wouldn't dare take the Strat apart. I did that with a limited edition Washburn with a Floyd Rose tremolo on it....and never put it back together because the bloody thing refused to get back into 1 guitar. So this Fender is not being taken apart in my clumsy hands!

But I hope you can view the photos and let me know what you all think.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:17 pm
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Yes, it looks legit, if your really worried about it, take it to a Fender Luither and have it appeased.

That way you will know for sure, but from the photos I would not be concerned.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:59 pm
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Judging from what I see it looks legit to me.

1. 11 screw laminated 3-ply white/black/white scratchplate.
2. maple neck (no skunk stripe) with 21 fret rosewood fingerboard.
3. Truss rod adjuster at body end of neck
4. One string guide.
5. Vintage Kluson style tuners.
6. Basswood body- except natural and fotoflame finishes which had alder body with basswood cap.


When shopping for a used '60s (or 50's) Reissue note that 'economy' versions were exported with unstamped string saddles and non-staggered pole, pickups.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:39 pm
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So just to recap. The guitar is genuine, alder body, maple/rosewood neck and not to worry about it. Hope it's not a basswood body because I hate the idea of basswood in a Fender. My brother had a replic Eric Clapton "Blackie" for a while and the weight diffence was stunning. The Eric Clapton replica was alot heavier than my Strat and the neck was a V while mine is a D or C shape. I have to admit though.... My two Les Pauls were a bit heavier than a "Blackie". Shame he sold it.

Would love to meet someone who really REALLY know their stuff about Strats and Fender. But living in a corner of the UK, it's a difficult. Thanks for the help. I won't say how much I bought my Strat for but I love the reaction off people in music shops when I whip out the Strat because they don't see many old Fenders while surrounded by new equipment.


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