your trem arm screws in, right? As opposed to a push in/screw down collar?

Yes mate, screw-in. Howz those pics coming along?

From what I've pieced together this model started with the Fender System 1 trem, then went to a Kahler fulcrum trem, and eventually went to the Spyder trem circa 1988/89.

I've seen the Spyder on the first couple of years of HM Strats; here's one from Wikipedia (HMs switched to Floyd Rose bridges for the last year or so of production):

Thanks John C, Great Stuff. I'm happy to be proven wrong. That's the Spyder alright. That Strat's a beast. How many frets does a guy need??

it's still saturday here in seattle... going to the local irish pub for a few guiness' with the wife.

John C and Xhefri can gave us a lot of useful informations concerning the US Contemporary model, which used a totally different design. Also BTW the US Contemporary is not dissimilar to the Set Neck and Carved Top Stratocasters manufactured during that era.

Hi Boxbang,

I had a E8 MIJ Strat pretty much the same as yours...



Factory fitted Kahler Spyder (awful trem IMO).

I never found out much about these Strat's but I reckon they may well be the forerunners of the Contemporary and HM Strats.

Andy

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Pending Greatness

G'day Andybighair, Yeah thats her exactly. Right down to the aging pup covers. Let me guess, no country of manufacture ? Since the Contemporary was made from 85-89 I'm guessing these came between those and the HM. Not a fan of the Spyder huh? I rarely use the arm these days, but Ive always found it to be a nice reliable bridge although string changes are a mission. Mine's floating but with 4 springs, plays pretty much like a hardtail. The quality is high and it stays in tune really well. Thanks for your input mate.

Howdy!

It was a few years ago now but mine had Made in Japan on the head stock.... I believe the E8 MIJ Strat's could have been made any time between 1985-89 so its pretty hard to nail it down.

Good luck with your search for info.

Andy

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Pending Greatness

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee3 ... rat011.jpg
http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee3 ... rat010.jpg



here's a couple of the inside. I was surprised, the pickguard was "glued on" to the body by 25 years of gig sweat. She did clean up pretty nice all in all. there was a number on the back of the pickups, 016730, same on all three. Hope the pics help.

Thanks cjpeck, 25 years of gigs and never had the pickguard off ? That's Fender reliability for ya Cheers for the pics. I don't have the numbers on my pickups. I think Andybighair has pretty much put the thread to rest. His former guitar was a clone of mine and if he says it had a MIJ decal - case closed.


So there we have it, The Made in Japan E series, Contemporary 22 Stratocaster, circa 1985-1989, with Gotoh tuners, Kahler Spyder tremolo and locking nut. A well made, reliable guitar which may or may not bear the MIJ decal. If you own one,hang onto it. They are quite rare. Thanks to all for the information. I have learned much.

.........Mark.

Fender Japan released also a Contemporary Telecaster, which came in various pickup configurations (the most common being HSS and HH), sporting a Kahler Spyder tremolo.





The Contemporary series was the precursor to the Heavy Metal range of guitars and basses manufactured during the late 1980s/early-to-mid 1990s.

I'm still kind of curious why there isn't a country of origin on mine. I watched it being unboxed (I wanted a sunburst, and Jack was willing to go through the four or five strats that had come in that morning to oblige me) so I can say for sure it never had one on it, I've never altered a thing on her. I don't remember the shipping lable having anything to do with Japan, but back then I was lusting for a sunburst and had a few hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket!

It's nice to be able to describe the model though, 1980's contemporary 22. Just gave her her first real cleaning in all those years, she really looks good! Seems to sound better too!

Hey boxbang, is your middle pickup have a ton of quack?

one thing about that Kahler spyder, you can rest your hand against it and get the prettiest Gilmour-esque vibrato with the tiniest rock of your hand. I don't think I've ever had the arm in for a gig, but I really give that trem a workout with the edge of my palm.

G'day cjpeck, I do the tremolo palm thing too but mines probably a bit stiffer (4 springs). I'm not sure about "quack" in the middle pickup but at jams I always had the switch in the middle-bridge position for a solo, to cut through the noise made by the other Barbarians.
Hey, I'm loving that white Tele posted above by Chromeface, but one is enough. I wouldn't want to be known as Spyderman Take care mate ......Mark

If you look closely both of those Teles have the System 1 trem on them, which I believe was actually made by Schaller for Fender - although they had so many part failures that I don't think either Schaller or Fender claim it any more. I remember all those 1985-86 Contemporaries; while I'm normally a Strat guy a local dealer had one of those 2-humbucker Teles in white that I really liked.