Hard to say on the pickups. The later MIJ/CIJ "premium re-issue" series are equipped with US-made Texas Specials. The mid/late 80's models likely have Japanese-manufactured pickups.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Here is my 84 MIJ E series Strat..

Only mods done are pickguard and pup covers, knobs & Switch tip swap.

It has a Very Very thin Neck Profile. The thinnest out of my whole collection. Very Unusual I think.

I'm not sure about the '62, but I picked up an 84-87 E-series MIJ Strat earlier this year and I swapped out the stock pickups for some GFS Texas wounds. My strat was a '57 (maple neck) and had the system one bridge (locking nut and fine tuners).

I'm pretty sure the stock pickups were Japanese made. I tested them and they came up as 5.63K ohms on the bridge, 5.64K on the middle and 5.66K on the neck. I would also say that the wiring, pots, and cap were very cheap and low quality. I re-wired the guitar with new pots / cap when I changed the pickups.

The guitar is really nice (as is yours!), and I am really impressed with the cavity routes and the neck fit, very precise. It has a few dings on the back but otherwise it's in nice shape. Had to get the fine-tuners on the bridge re-tapped and cut a new nut. Including the price of the guitar I have less than $300 into it.

Here's a couple of pics of mine.

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Hey guys, sorry, I've been one of those annoying posters who looks for information and then leaves when
he gets it

Firstly, those guitars.....wow, such beautiful examples. They both look brand new!

Thanks for all the information mate, been really helpful, going to make a project out of it as I have to say I love this guitar!!!! More than my David Gilmour custom shop! I've been alternating them both at gigs all summer and I've finally decided.....this e-series, easily one of the nicest strats, nicest guitars even, that I've ever played!

anyway, again, thanks guys and I'm going to be more active on here now, might go for the srv custom look for it, 3ply black,white,black pickguard and all gold hardware with a topmounted tremolo.

Let me know what you think. Cheers.

Mike

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"I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It's so f*ckin' heroic!"

Since we're showin' 'em, here's my '86 MIJ Strat -- The venerable "Black No. 1". One owner - it was my first Strat . . . but not my last. I took the nut lock off because I was breaking so many strings. Added a string tree like the American Strats had . . . the few that were available. The neck, pickup covers and knobs aged over time, but the pickguard never yellowed.

Here is a few pictures of my E series. 85 LPB

My MIJ has one of the best necks I've ever played.

Hi man, id be interested in buying it if you still have it. Im from ireland too

This is my LPB E-series Strat. its an E7XXXXXX. I was told, and always figured it was a 1987.

fhopkins, yours is an E9 and a 1985. Im confused now.

Speaking of MIJ 62 Reissues, here is my LPB (CIJ really, so not a E serial number):



I agree, the JV and SQ guitars, as well as the E series, MIJ Strats were premo and many used USA parts (mostly pickups, switches, and potentiometers) that were shipped over to Japan to help speed up production while the new USA plant was being set up in Corona, California. that is the very first ones. I was a told this by a Fender rep who was involved with the setting up of the MIJ at the Fugi Gen Gakki company. Great guitars IMHO.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

[quote="TobiJ"]This is my LPB E-series Strat. its an E7XXXXXX. I was told, and always figured it was a 1987.

fhopkins, yours is an E9 and a 1985. Im confused now.

You really can't identify the exact year the E series was made by the serial numbers like you can today. See the info below that I've seen on several sites. I also bought the guitar myself(first owner) in 85. As you can see the E series were made in Japan during the years 1984-1987 so mine can't be an 89 as the serial number would suggest. Fender was doing some strange things while the US plant was down for renovations. Hope this helps you.
Japanese Serial Numbers on Peghead Decal
Note the lack of S, E, N series. These are reserved for U.S. made Fenders in their corresponding decade. BUT note that the "E" and "N" series does sometimes appear on "made in Japan" models. I believe this was a mistake on Fender's part using the same prefix for both U.S. and Jap-made guitars. In any case, if it says "made in Japan", then it is...
JV + 5 Digits = 1982 to 1984
SQ + 5 Digits = 1983 to 1984
E + 6 Digits = 1984 to 1987
A + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986
B + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986
C + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986
F + 6 Digits = 1986 to 1987
G + 6 Digits = 1987 to 1988
H + 6 Digits = 1988 to 1989
I + 6 Digits = 1989 to 1990
J + 6 Digits = 1989 to 1990
K + 6 Digits = 1990 to 1991
L + 6 Digits = 1991 to 1992
M + 6 Digits = 1992 to 1993
N + 6 Digits = 1993 to 1994
O + 6 Digits = 1994 to 1995
P + 6 Digits = 1995 to 1996

Source........
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

There is an E series currently for sale at my local GC. I rather like the guitar, reminds me of Clapton's blackie strat.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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Nice thread. I love looking at pictures of guitars.

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'09 Am Deluxe Ash Strat
'09 Mex Standard Strat
'10 Mex Standard Tele
Champ 600
Blues jr.
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

I don't think I could part with it to be honest my friend.

Where in Ireland are you from??

Some lovely guitars in this thread guys, keep em comin!

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"I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It's so f*ckin' heroic!"

I have an "M" serial numbered, Made in Japan '62 Reissue Strat from 1992, I'll get some pics in here when I get the chance. (is it OK to post an M series in here?).

Snowy.