I just dropped by my local pawnshop. They've got a decently priced strat sitting there but I can't ID where it was made. Any help would be appreciated.

It's got some wear and tear, and it seems solid but someone has scratched the 'Made in XXXX' area so I can't read it.
It has steel bent Fender labeled saddles.
I believe it's 'Chome Blue'.
Gotoh tuners.
Rosewood fingerboard but there is no truss rod hole at the head.
Serial number starts "E94". I don't remember how many digits there were.

Is it Japanese maybe?

Thanks

Impossible to tell without seeing it.

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No no and no

Can we rule out Mexican?

I don't see how. Theres very few distinguishing features between some Mexican guitars and ones made elsewhere.

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No no and no

No truss rod hole? Scratched country of origin? Too suspicious to warrant buying unless there is definitive evidence ^^

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

Even truss rod billets don't spill all the beans anymore. The AVRI 57, JRI57 and 50's Classic Player guitars all have the same walnut billet.

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No no and no

Might be a parts0caster too?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Take some picts with you cell phone and post the,. BUT if it says "Made in.....) if could be Japan with an E4 serial number early 1980s, Strat and they used those Gotoh tuners. It would have a 62 Reissue styled bridge (6 screws) and they were made in Lake Placid Blue and would look kind of like below. But I sure would not buy it based on what I just told you....as what everyone else just wrote could be true too!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

It has the 6 screw bridge and could be Lake Placid blue. The RI neck makes sense with the absence of a truss rod hole.

I'm starting to think that the scratch out was intentional, since the pick guard was replaced with one with a Union Jack on it.