Hi all,

I picked up an 84-87 E Series MIJ strat today. I had an ad on Craigslist looking for another strat project and the guy offered this guitar for $100. I had to take a look and when he showed it to me I jumped on it.

It is Candy Apple red (I think) and has the System 1 Tremolo and a maple neck/fretboard.

He had screws out of the locking mechanism behind the nut. It is missing one nut and one washer, but I have a machinist buddy who should be able to take care of that.

He also had the fine-tuners out of the trem, but he did provide them. He had the guitar strings strung outside of the trem block for some reason. I took the trem apart and put it back together properly. There are 2 intonation adjustment screws missing and one of the fine tuner holes seems a bit stripped. He had teflon tape on one of the fine tuners and this seems to work for now. The trem screws were set all the way into the body. The nut is very poorly fitted as well and will need to be replaced. I've been wanting to learn how to cut and install my own nut, and this may be the perfect excuse.

I was thinking of putting in a new trem, but I saw that these System 1 units are going for big-bucks on the net. I may sell the trem and the locking nut and put in a new tremolo and maybe even a good neck but this one seems okay. I'll probably have to re-crown the frets, another job I should learn anyway.

Okay on to the pics!

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Great Score. The parts alone is worth well over $100, 4 claw T-nut and all.


SOLID! X10

Nice score; that's definitely worth the $100. Hopefully you will be able to get the replacement parts for the System 1 trem.

I've never dealt with this vendor but they do have some parts for the System 1 - I don't know if this is where you checked for prices but just in case here is the link:

http://www.wammiworld.com/System%201.php

well done... assuming you find the parts (and even if you don't) that's a great deal... I had a buddy with one of those model strats and it was a great player! I've always been a fan of the Japanese Fenders... great quality and playability, enjoy!!!

Kong,

Chet Feathers is the resident expert on these mid-80s Japanese Strats. He'll jump in here and tell you all about them, but yeah, you got a good deal.

RickyD

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

Excellent price!! My personal opinion is to make it project to return it to as close to stock as you can. Don't Mickey Mouse it.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Thanks for the feedback, guys.



Thanks for the advice, Chet.

I originally had planned on re-finishing it in Sonic Blue and switching to a vintage 6 point trem or maybe 2 point Wilkinson.

To get it back to stock I'll only need to do the following:

* Cut a new nut
* Replace 1 missing locking nut and the square washer that compresses the strings
* Replace 2 missing intonation screws
* Re-tap one at least 1 fine tuner (I may re-tap all 6 and get Kahler or Floyd fine tuners)
* Get the trem arm (just ordered one for $18)
* Re-crown and polish frets

I checked the electronics last night with the screwdriver test and everything seems in working order.

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Very nice... I have an '84 MIJ in artic white, well now more a cream color from the days my buddys dad used to play it in bars and was stained from mass amounts of smoke. when i got it it was beat to s*!t cracked headstock no string retainer but we got it in working order ( still higher than normal action) its a beater but i still love the thing. as for yours.. for $100 in that shape it was a steal. Congrats on the axe my friend

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"Blues, as a human you get it right"-

John Mayer
'84 MIJ(#1)
90's Samick S-Type (Slim)
Vox AD50VT-XL w/Footswitch
Peavy Audition Chorus 10 watt

Thanks Bluesbreaker,

I did some shaping to the nut, the previous owner installed a flat-bottom nut, but the slot is curved. I may have a tech install a new nut, but mine is serviceable for now. I fixed the string-lock and installed new Texas wound pickups, pots, cap, switch, and jack. The string lock was missing 1 nut and 1 square washer. I could not find the square washer anywhere, so I took a round washer and sqared it off on a bench grinder, worked like a charm.

I sent the bridge out to get re-tapped for new fine-tuners. I'm looking forward to getting the bridge back so I can get to playing it. I think I'll be able to get it set up perfectly. I also found the trem-arm on Ebay for $18 which was a steal (there was another thread on this.) I can't wait to finish it, I'll post some pics and maybe a vid. I've never been one to use the trem, but I'll be setting this one up to use it.

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Nice work kong, teles/strats/teles/strats Don't settle broseph, for $100 its an absolute steal, and I bet it sounds great with thos tex speshs in there . Did we ever get a sound bite for the pair of Sherwoods?

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

Btw Kong, you're gonna have to update your banner at the bottom, at this rate it should end up about 3000px wide about this time next year

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

Yeah That's a nice score. I had one a lot like it I paid $250 for, but the body had some chips in it, the trem was in great shape though, had all the fine tuners and parts.
Mine had a little more orange in the color I think.

I sold it though, wanted one in a little nice shape. Haven't found one yet, and have been buying other things, got a 54 reissue, a epiphone Dot Deluxe, and just picked up a Peavey Classic 30 tonight, need to post some pics sometime.

+1 on the vid man, i cant wait to hear this beast... Good Luck to ya with the mods!

_________________
"Blues, as a human you get it right"-

John Mayer
'84 MIJ(#1)
90's Samick S-Type (Slim)
Vox AD50VT-XL w/Footswitch
Peavy Audition Chorus 10 watt

You did make out like a bandit! That's a Fender Contemporary Stratocaster. I got mine for $150........but mine is beat up alot more than yours.....Great guitars though!

Finaly got me action fixed on my MIJ.

_________________
"Blues, as a human you get it right"-

John Mayer
'84 MIJ(#1)
90's Samick S-Type (Slim)
Vox AD50VT-XL w/Footswitch
Peavy Audition Chorus 10 watt