Good luck with that.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Had to start somewhere,...right?

If I DIDN'T email them, I definitely wouldn't get a reply...

Yes indeed. Good Luck.
rchautard, I notice that your bolts on the locking nut are different (replaced). That shouldn't worry you though, nice specimen.





Goodonyaz ...Mark.

Here is the same strat repainted in red (it´s not candy apple, i would say torino, dakota or fiesta red...)

By the way, my tuners are GOTOH...

The red looks great.
Yes, we all have those Gotoh tuners. Like new after 25 years.

Email From FujiGen

> Thank you for your inquiry about FGN guitars. Unfortunately, we can't
> disclose any information about Fender stuffs due to our OEM confidential
> contracts with some OEM brand companies. If you'd like to solve the issue,
> you should ask Fender USA directly. Anyway, we've been making Fender Japan
> (marked "Made in Japan") products until 1994.
>
> Best regards,
> FGN Guitars Japan

...sigh. At least they responded.

Doesn't really help, does it?...
The mystery about those strat seem to resist hard!
Dont't lose faith, geckochameleon!

Hello,
It was interesting to see all the posts since I left some information about the Strat belonging to this topic, which I bought in Dec 12 (see my posts and pictures, around page 8-10). But still no confimation MIJ or MIA, however I tend to believe more and more the theory that this batch of Strats have been assembled in USA Corana with Japanese parts (Necks, bodies).
Some of you already made the link of our Kahler equiped Strats to HM Strats of the same years, and the booklet I got with my guitar of which you can find the pictures also uploaded in this forum, is about the HM and standard Strat both.
See for some interesting information what could be linked to our story:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_HM_Strat

And compare the pictures from this Wikipedia site with the ones from my case candy:


You see the similarities ... they state that this guitar is USA ... still no hard proof ... but I just wanted to share this piece of info with you all.

And oh yes, I play this guitar a lot now, it became my favorite meanwhile!
Best regards from Netherlands, Peter.

_________________
Fender Stratocaster MIJ 1986
Fender Stratocaster MIA? 1988
Fender Acoustic CD-140SCE/BLK 2011
London City Comet I 2005
Gibson SG Classic Faded 2011
Fender Super 112 amp 1991
Peavey Classic 30 112 amp 2008
Vox 15VT & AD30VT XL amps
Boss ME50 + more ..

Here is a sparkly Lake Placid blue SpyderStrat on on EBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Japan-St ... 6016.l4276

and..... a sunburst SpyderStrat:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fender- ... 6016.l4276

G'day MarkT.
It's interesting to read the ebay descriptions.
I guess, if and when they sell, we'll have an accurate market value.
The blue one looks awesome.



Goodonya ...Mark.

I'm researching a 1989 25-4300 ( E9 series serial ) and saw this thread. I'm certain of that because it has the manual with it and meets all the specs, including the Kahler Spyder. I had decided to dismiss the missing MIJ decal as just an oddity, but ran across some more info that you might find useful and may also add to the confusion.

So, first I found this info about the first and second versions of the 1988/1989 japanese standards from The Fender Book: A Complete History of Fender Electric Guitars, 2nd edition by Tony Bacon, Paul Day, page 109. You can view it at Amazon, or google the first edition and search for "japan-made telecasters"; these strats are on the same page:



Next I saw a current craigslist ad, which I feel confident is a 27-4600, referred to as the second version ( previously Squier ) above. This model is also in my manual, with no reference to "Squier." Among the differences ( other than I hope better quality on our "mystery" guitars, ) are 22 frets, 11 pg screws v. 21 frets, 9 pg screws. Also, the headstock serial is an "H" series, and the one in the ad *has an MIJ decal*. Here's the link to CL:

http://asheville.craigslist.org/msg/4319534049.html

I've also inserted pictures here since the CL ad will go away eventually.

E9 series 25-4300 first version ( "our" ) strat:


H series second version ( previously Squier ) strat:


H series second version ( previously Squier ) strat headstock:


The last thing I will point out is that the original Contemporary Series manual is titled "Contemporary Standard Guitars" and dates from 1985. The one for "my" 25-4300 is titled "HM Series and Standard Guitars." Both manuals are available at Fender support.

A couple of questions from me:

Does anyone have an E8 or E9 series Kahler ( 25-4300 ) that *does* have an MIJ decal?

Does anyone have a 1988/1989 H series that *does not* have an MIJ decal?

While we'd still be stirring the pot, I think it would be evidence of something if all the H series had the decal and all the E8/E9 series did not.

G'day Raja,
There's a white example posted by gbstratocaster on page 4 of this thread. E8 s/n - with MIJ decal. I'm sure there are others here somewhere. They do exist.
Many HM strats of the era have no decal at all.
Is the manual you speak of, the same one posted in detail on page 6 of this thread?
Thanks for all the info provided. I'm not sure if it helps us at all. What are your conclusions?
....Mark.

G'day boxbang, although I'm a US ( southern ) Yank.

>white example posted by gbstratocaster on page 4 of this thread. E8 s/n - with MIJ decal.

Sorry, I should have remembered that; I did read all 15 (so far) pages. I double checked this one at the heel. No indication of decal removal.

>Is the manual you speak of, the same one posted in detail on page 6 of this thread?

Assuming you mean Rob Schwarz-Fender's brochure and parts image, no. I should have posted the actual link. The support page:

Fender® Guitar Owner's Manuals
http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... s-manuals/

The 1988-1989 Kahler Spyder model manual listed as "HM and Standard Series Guitars Owner's Manual (Japan, 1988)"
http://support.fender.com/manuals/instruments/HM_and_Standard_Series_Guitars_(Japan1988)_manual.pdf

>What are your conclusions?

I'll call them surmises rather than definitive conclusions:

I think the missing decal was intentional, without necessarily any intent to deceive. I base that on E8 and E9 series without them, while the H series does have them. I know that serial numbers at this time are unreliable, but we're at the end of the sequence ( and the Spyder wasn't available until then. ) I also understand that at least one posted here has a decal, but I wonder if it is an *early* E8. There was also something going on with the (previously) Squier 27-4600. One guess is that the Mexico thing was in the air.

Rob Schwarz-Fender's document postings are, I believe - without criticism at all - mixed. I don't doubt the brochure and parts image, both very helpful thanks, but the text below them with the 21 fret business and "Changed to Squier Standard Series in 1991" IMO refer to the 27-4600. Does anyone happen to have a clearer image, including the other side, of that brochure?

The parts image does clear up the ST-557 and ST-562 markings ( see this thread page 6 ): ST-557 is the 25-4302 with maple fretboard; ST-562 is the 25-4300 with rosewood fretboard; It's unfortunate that these numbers bring year reissues to mind. I do wonder what the beginning "5" signifies.

Overall, I'm confident that all parts are Japanese ( or their sourcers ) other than the US Kahler. Keep in mind that the Standard series went through a number of tremoloes. I'd be happy for any definitive proof otherwise, although we're down ( I'd say ) to pickups, pots, switches and jacks.

In summary, I think we have fine Japanese 25-4300/25-4302 guitars, the last of the Japanese E series!

It would be excellent if Fender could contact FujiGen and make all info available.