I bought a used Stratocaster around 1991 at a music store in Cape Canaveral, FL.
It's original owner bought it new in a Newport, Rhode Island music store.

The serial number doesn't register in any websites I've visited so far and the rosewood fretboarded neck doesn't have the trademark brown inlay on the back of it.

"Made In Japan" and a serial number 1131900 is (on the back of the neck) just above where it bolts onto the body

I love this guitar and its neck.

Does anyone here know of any way I can possibly pin down the exact year of this guitar?

A roseboard Strat doesn't have a skunk stripe.
What is the first letter of the serial number?
Photos will help.

There is no prefix letter.
Just the words "Made In Japan", then directly underneath, the words "Serial Number", and then 1131900 next to that.

Looking at it closer, it could be I 131900, which I suppose would make it 1989-90, and that would just about make sense.
Up until now I never looked at it that close...lol!

Appreciate you kickin' my head! Thanx

Both the rosewood strats Ive owned have had skunk stripes, just sayin is all

I think ones with thicker rosewood boards dont need a skunk stripe, but the thinner ones do.

Please post pics if you have em. Love the MIJ Fenders.

The rosewood boards didn't need a skunk stripe, as the truss rod was mounted from the top and then the board added.
Solid maple necks had the truss rod positioned from the underside, and the slot was filled with a different wood.

ps It's possible that some manufacturers simplified their production, by making both the same way, but I wouldn't think Fender Japan was one of them.

Modern strats ( MIJ standards, MIM standards, and MIA standards/deluxes), and also 70s reissues have rosewood boards and skunk stripes. The skunk stripe isn't needed so its merely cosmetic on the newer guitars. 60s Reissues don't have a skunk stripe as the truss rod was put on after the rosewood board.

Almost tempted to start a thread.
'Do you prefer a Strat with, or without, a skunk stripe'

But I'll resist it.

I posted the serial number in a previous post.
Aside from that, it's a "Strat" to me, and I never knew much about re-issues or whatever. In 90-91 I found it in a music store in Central FL and loved it, and looking through the paperwork discovered it's original owner bought it in Newport, RI in a music store I used to frequent when I lived in RI years ago. It sort of blew my mind....
Later I also wondered if I had a clever copy because it didn't have the stripe, and I'd never seen a Strat w/o one.**shrugs** but I don't think so.
It's just that I finally dated my 67 Twin Reverb after owning it for about 34 years and then got curious about the Strat.
Anyway, it set up sweet when I worked on it and besides a little noise on the pots and 5 position switch I'm very happy with it.
I've had older ones (American Made) that I bought new in the earliest 70s but was playing a Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Gold Top and the Strats never clicked with me so I always sold them again.

This MJ is Candy Apple Red and came with a white pickguard and pickups but I've since put a Black w/white striped edge pickguard on it that I had leftover from a white MA 74 maple neck, I think.

How do you post pix in this forum?

Having a skunk stipe on a rosewood fret board neck is a relitively new thing.

Back in the day no rosewood neck had a skunk stripe.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

I had this one. It was grate!

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BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
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BOSS SD-1 SUPER OVERDRIVE
VOX TONELAB ST

I picked up an E-series MIJ strat in a pawn shop this year, rosewood board..no stripe! Nothing to worry about

I have a CS Gilmour, an American standard and My MIJ and to be completely honest my lil Japanese baby is my favourite! Picked it up for 190 euros, so about $270 compared to the $3800 for the Gilmour

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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!"

Yeah, I have a couple of rosewood strats, the 96 has a skunk stripe, the 07 doesnt

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I have a 1986 MIJ '72RI Strat with a rosewood fretboard and a skunk stripe.

I also have a 1986 MIJ '68RI with a Maple fretboard and no skunk stripe.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


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

GO AWAY MIKE. :p

The $@! guitars are great. Keep meaning to get my hands on a $@! one at some point, but not quite managed it yet...

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."