Eighties Stratocaster Identity Crisis

chromeface · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:16 am

John, did you have a couple of infos about the US Contemorary Stratocaster? The only thing I know about this guitar is that John Suhr built it when he worked as a senior masterbuilder at the Custom Shop in the early-to-mid 1990s before founding JS Technologies in 1997.

I guess that Suhr was also responsible for the Set Neck and Carved Top models among others.

John C · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:50 pm

chromeface wrote:

John, did you have a couple of infos about the US Contemorary Stratocaster? The only thing I know about this guitar is that John Suhr built it when he worked as a senior masterbuilder at the Custom Shop in the early-to-mid 1990s before founding JS Technologies in 1997.

I guess that Suhr was also responsible for the Set Neck and Carved Top models among others.

chromeface - I'm postive the set necks predate John Suhr's tenure at Fender; they were among the first models that came out of the Custom Shop and I recall one circa 1992 that was essentially a set-neck Strat Ultra (same Lace Sensor set-up, roller nut, etc). However, the carved top Showmaster models were John's designs - they were pretty similar to the old Pensa-Suhr MKs and to his current Carved Top Standards - as were those US Contemporary models. The main thing I know about them (and I've only seen a carved top model) is that they both have slightly smaller bodies than an original Strat - which Suhr still uses that smaller size today as his "Standard" (his "Classic" is a full-sized body).

There is a lot of detail on John's site; here's a quick timeline:

Early 1991 - John leaves Rudys Music; the last Pensa-Suhrs he worked on would be circa January

1991-1994 - John builds amps with Bob Bradshaw under the "Custom Audio Electronics" name

1995-1996 - John works as a Master Builder at the Fender CS

1997- founds his own company.

Here's the link to his site: http://www.suhrguitars.com/aboutJS.aspx

stian_a · **Joined:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:15 am **Posts:** 12

This topic is probably years old, but still intresting for me,
- since im now a fender MIJ E-Serial strat owner!

I live in Norway, and I think i paid a good price for it, (450bucks inkl shipping) Since here in Norway a normal price for a 1year old or a new Strat Standard is around 1200dollars.

So I talked to Fender about this, and they dont hold a record of Fender Strat MIJ before -1993.

IS this a collectors item, and what is its value? Its on the way from the states, so i havent got it yet!

boxbang · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:33 am **Posts:** 1397

G'day stian a, I am the original poster of this thread and it's only a few months old. As you can see in this thread, I was trying to learn more about my guitar and I did. There are many well informed people on this forum and I suggest you post some pictures when you get the guitar. As far as your guitar being a collector's item, I'm not sure, but I can tell you that Japanese guitars of this era are high quality instruments. Some say they are equal or better than US guitars of the time. They do hold their value. Enjoy yours mate.

....Mark.

adey · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:51 am

Probably not at all relevant Boxbang, but I have a Charvel Model 3 with engraved neck plate stating the guitar was made in the US. But it also had a little foil sticker on it saying made in Japan. One day the sticker fell off never to be seen again.

One day, if I ever sell the guitar, the buyer may believe it to be a US built Charvel model 3 (unless I tell him of course). I think the point of the story is obvious..

You seem to have reached a conclusion (almost certainly the correct one) that you can live with and that is well supported by such evidence as you have been able to find.

Aggravating isn't it, that a tiny omission such as place of manufacture, can haunt us for years afterwards.. :wink:

stian_a · **Joined:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:15 am **Posts:** 12

Boxbang wrote:

G'day stian a, I am the original poster of this thread and it's only a few months old. As you can see in this thread, I was trying to learn more about my guitar and I did. There are many well informed people on this forum and I suggest you post some pictures when you get the guitar. As far as your guitar being a collector's item, I'm not sure, but I can tell you that Japanese guitars of this era are high quality instruments. Some say they are equal or better than US guitars of the time. They do hold their value. Enjoy yours mate.

....Mark.

Yeap. Im sorry if I interuptet your strat-id-crisis, and thanks for your answer! =)

htwheelz67 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:33 pm **Posts:** 1

definetly a 85-87 mij contempoarary strat, I have a couple of those as well as three of the contemporary teles, they are excellent guitars, the last one I bought had the "made in japan" removed but if you look close you can see where it was, it will be right under "stratocaster" back then It was cooler to have a USA strat and japan was thought of as cheap I and many people I know got rid of the MIJ markings, now they are my favorite guitars, some of the finest necks of any Fenders IMO.

Look on ebay and you will be surprised at what these e-series and JV models go for, they are rapidly increasing in value.

boxbang · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:33 am **Posts:** 1397

Yeah, but no. There was never a MIJ on it. A few of us bought these new and there was no decal. I believe this particular model with the US parts was put together around '88 after the contemporary Strats ( for whatever reason ).
I've accepted that it is Japanese made. If I ever wanted to sell it , I may have problems convincing people that the guitar is original, but it is my first Strat, bought new and it's a keeper.
Anyway, no need to resurrect this thread again. Unless some new, hard evidence comes to light, we'd just be going over the same ground again. Thanks everyone.

....Mark.

Mark T · **Joined:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:31 pm **Posts:** 21

I also own one of these Kahler Spyder Stratcasters that is NOT an HM strat but more like a "contemporay". Mine is is black, with a white pickguard and a maple neck, and I bought it brand new from a shop on the Berlin Turnpike around New Britain, Connecticut in 1988 or 1989. It has an E series serial, and does not, and never has had a "Made in Japan" sticker on it. I remember I played the guitar in the store one day, and came back a few days later to buy it. When the salesmen was ringing it up for about $600, the sales manager came along and said something like "wait..that is wrong, that is American made not Japanese." I said...I came back to buy it for the price quoted to me, and so they sold it to me for the lower price, but I remember the sales manager was furious LOL.

Off and on over the years, I have tried to figure the origin of this guitar and I have yet to see anyone give a definitive answer. A couple years ago, I corresponded with a fellow from Cincinnati who had an identical guitar, and he said that he had taken it to Gruhn Guitars and they had no answer for him. For sure it was made in a transitional period in Fender's history.

I have played this guitar for over 20 years and it remains my favorite. I don't care if it is made in Japan or USA, I have never played another that feels or sounds better to me. Yeah it is a pain in the $@! when a string breaks during a gig for sure!!

boxbang · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:33 am **Posts:** 1397

G'day Mark T, It's good to hear from yet another owner of the mystery Strat with no country. It'd just be nice to get some definitive info on the exact model. Ahh well, I don't know what else we can do. If you find out anything more I hope you will post it on this thread. Thanks mate.

...Mark.

Mark T · **Joined:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:31 pm **Posts:** 21

It would be good to figure it out, and also to know how many there are out there, and also if people regard them as well made, or not, in general. I am new to this site, but is there a place to have some kind of registry to collect info on these? Also, I have a couple of pictures of mine, but I don't see how to upload them to this forum.

Bluesbreaker_66757 · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:30 pm **Posts:** 146

Steve-oh-no wrote:

It is a Japan made Fender Contemporary Stratocaster. That's what it is

Yes it is Steve. I have one and i love it!

boxbang · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:33 am **Posts:** 1397

Mark T, G'day. I'd like to see a black one. Open an image hosting account with Photobucket . It's free. Then you just copy the image code for the pic and paste it into your post.
And Bluesbreaker_66757, how about a picture mate. Everyone who owns one seems to like them. Sure, it's a MIJ contemporary , but they didn't all have these trems and no MIJ decal.

Here's mine with her sisters.

Goodonya

....Mark.

Mark T · **Joined:** Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:31 pm **Posts:** 21

ok, bear with me, I just set up the photobucket thing.

here are two pictures I had on hand. A couple of notes, based on what I have read in this thread:

-I have had this guitar since I bought it new in 1989, and I have never taken the pickguard or neck off, so i do not know what lies beneath.
-it has 22 fret
-it does not, and never has had, any sticker saying "Made In Japan"
-it came with a Kahler Spyder tremolo installed, not a fender tremolo copy of of a kahler. The tremolo arm screws in
-the salesmen who sold it to me in 1989 thought it was japanese, the owner of the store thought it was made in USA. (the store was in New Britain Connecticut, I don't remember the name).
-it came with Gotoh tuners installed.
-everything on it is stock, except the rubber nib to the selector switch, that i replaced after the original disappeared one night. I don't remember the color of the original.
-the serial number is E857128

ok here are the pictures..there are some remnants of flowers and vines that were handpainted on the pickguard still visible. All the scratches and dings are from throwing it around on stage for years...and it still plays great =]

and another:

TTSC · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:13 am **Posts:** 1174

Boxbang wrote:

G'day, This is my beloved Strat which I bought new in the late 80s (sn E8xxxxx)
I often try to find out more about this model and since I took some more pics, here I go again.

My research usually uncovers more questions than answers, but here's the facts. It has a factory fitted USA Made Kahler Spyder ( Floyd Rose Lic.) Tremelo and locking nut. The neck has 22 frets. The tuners are Gotoh and the serial number is on the headstock in grey, under the Fender logo. Nowhere on the guitar is any country of manufacture. This exactly as it was new. Here's another one I found on this forum (the only other one I've seen - ever)

The consensus seems to be that it is one of the variations of the Contemporary Standard produced in Japan and many knowledgeable people ( including John C on this forum ) have confirmed this. I just don't understand why this model doesn't say MIJ on it.
Extensive searches have revealed other owners of this model - Jacktoz, fleagle73, firstmeasure, all say the same thing - no country of manufacture. Did they run out of stickers? This was bought in Australia, but they were sold in Europe and the US.

I'm perfectly happy to accept the Japanese Contemporary Strat theory although I've not seen this exact setup on any specialist Japanese Fender site.
My favourite theory atm is that they were assembled in the US with Japanese necks and bodies and american parts. Wasn't the new Corona plant only making about 5 guitars a day around this time? What do you think? Does a look inside offer any clues? Can you tell if the pickups and wiring are US or not?

Anyway folks,that's my 80s Strat. A flashback to another time, Fender's attempt to appeal to the growing army of big-haired, dive-bombing shredders of the era. I've copped a fair bit of ridicule over the years, but now I think it has a sort of classic beauty about it.
I would appreciate any input, comments and theories about this guitar. I'm not expecting anything conclusive, but maybe someone will know exactly what I have here.
Thanks .....Mark.

Nice strat. Nice pics also.

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