First of all, thanks very much for reading this rather detailed question and I appreciate any assistance you can give me.

I purchased a Japanese Strat 1950s reissue back in 1992 and have been in love with it ever since. This past weekend I purchased what was said to be a 1990s Japanese Strat off Craig's List for little money. Upon getting the guitar home, though, I found that it had no serial numbers on the neck or body. The only marking I did find was June 1997 branded into the neck where it meets the body. The head stock, just like my other one, reads, "Fender Stratocaster With Synchronized Tremelo." There are no other marking on the head stock and it doesn't look if any stickers were removed. There are also two string saddles on the head stock.

The body appears to be identical to my 1992, black with a white pick guard. On my first Strat, the guard is not beveled, on the new one it is.

The pickups are single coil with all the poles the same height where as my original is staggered poles. The vibrato on the new one looks exactly like the vintage one on the 1992. The bridge on the new one is different being shiny silver with no wording stamped on them.

I have photos available of virtually every square inch of the guitar it that would help. Feel free to contact me directly: Apioppi@earthlink.net

Thanks again for the help.

Anthony

Posting the pictures here would be a great help. If you use the search option for the forum, I'm sure you will an unbundance of similar posts that have a wealth of information on the subject. Several of the members can tell you almost immediately whether or not it is genuine and much more.

I know personally a lot of the MIJ and CIJ serial numbers are stamped on the neck plate itself. I see a lot of examples here in Okinawa. You can't always trust a serial number they are easliy faked.

I hope you find the info you are looking for and welcome to the forum.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

Here are some photos. More available if needed.

Anthony

This is a Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster....that has been faked to be a Fender with a Fender decal. Fender NEVER made a guitar with a truss rod access hole at the headstock that didn't have a walnut plug (USA) or a black plastic insert ( Mexico, Japan, etc.) It is a Squier......

If it is not an early Squier.......it is a Squier with an aftermarket neck.

Thanks very much for that information. Any idea on the value? I paid $200 for it.

I have seen genuine MIJ & CIJ Fenders with the truss rod holes that look very similar this morning actually. The decal does look out of whack along with the tuners and the neck itself looks very much like squier necks look. To me they have always looked short and fat, where a regular fender neck looks long and lean to me.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

Is there any way to find out about the neck to find out if it is a MIJ or CIJ or a Squier.

The finish of the neck is very light, almost like a stain rather than a varnish.

Also, there is a universal routing in the body, if that makes a difference and the selector switch is made by YKE.