Hi, this ebay auction lists this as a 1988 USA Strat but there's no "Made in USA" stamp anywhere and the SN corresponds with Japan and US models:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT
or
http://tinyurl.com/3yhpmnu

Lots of detailed pics in the listing.

Comments? Thanks!

It looks like an E-serial Squier with a doctored headstock decal. The dot marker size and their spacing at the 12th fret do not correspond to anything built in Corona.

Definitely wonky IMO.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Thanks. Is it possible that it's the same model as the sunburst at the bottom of p2 of this thread? The pics are blurry but to my untrained eye it looks similar to the one on the ebay auction.

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... c&start=15

It certainly looks like it to me.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Its not an E serial Squier, but an Serial MIJ Fender. My friend has an E serial FJ strat just like this one but in red. You got to remember Fender Japan and Squier Japan were made at the same plant using some of the same parts too. There is a Squier version of this, but this is the Fender Japan version

Well it's definitely not a MIA model -- which seemed to be the OP's primary concern. The seller has erroneously listed the guitar as such -- either deliberately or with the intent to deceive.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

It appears to be a "Contemporary Standard" which would be an MIJ guitar, not a USA guitar. Since it has the Kahler Spyder trem it is from the end of the life of that model - it seems like they started out with the "System 3" trem, switched to a Kahler fulcrum trem (with roller saddles and a string lock) the finally double-locking Kahler Spyder.

I've heard two reasons why some of these don't have "Made In Japan" on the neck (either on the front of the headstock under the "Stratocaster" part of the decal or on the back just above the heel):

1. For some reason they used the wrong decals and just added a paper "Made in Japan" sticker to the back of the headstock which was easily removed, or

2. These were 100% MIJ parts but final assembly took place in the USA like the HM Strats and the maple-top "Contemporary Strats" of circa 1990.

I tend to believe it is the first reason - for some reason the "Made in Japan" was just a removable sticker. I think only the HM and Contemporary Strats were assembled here from MIJ parts.

Don't forget MIJ/CIJ Fenders come without cases; it's likely that the original purchaser of that strat bought a USA Fender case like those the American Standards were shipping in at the time.

That was my concern. I don't know if the seller intended to deceive but the listing is still incorrect. Does anybody think it's worth the approx $540 shipped price? And thanks for the helpful responses.

Regardless of the instrument's pedigree, it does seem to be a very nice guitar. I don't think the asking price is out of line but there are others here more knowledgeable about the MIJ/CIJ Strats that can offer a more informed opinion.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

mij for sure. i can tell by the way the pickups yellow. whatever they used seems to be unique to them.

i paid $325 for my similar strat with no case. $500 isnt unreasonable imo