Hello, just got a MIJ Strat, V serial number(96-97)and was wanting to know how to tell what kind of wood the body was made of. It is Shell Pink color. I have owned alder body USA Strats, but this feels lighter to me. Could it be basswood? Is there any way to tell? Thanks guys.

Sweet. Shell Pink is a pretty rare color even for non-vintage instruments.

It might be Ash or a light Alder. I would think that it would Alder over Ash.

Take it to a guitar or wood guy and remove the neck. There should be some exposed wood under there.

I remember shell pink and sonic blue MIJ reissue Strats being sold off cheapish just as the MIM reissues were being phased in.
They were specced as having basswood bodies, but who knows for certain what they are.
I have two MIJ sunburst Strats, specced as basswood, but I am sure they are alder.
I have a MIJ reissue blond Tele, which I reckon is probably basswood.

Your sunburst Strat may still be a basswood with a vaneer of a better and more visually apealling wood. There was a time (late '80s/early '90s I believe) when Fender did this.

You can always tell these capped sunburst guitars because of the solid black rib contour on the back of the guitar.

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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

My MIJ reissues are solid wood, and not veneered.
You can see that they are both made from three peices.

What is the value of this if I were to sell? The pink seems to be a rare color, but you either like it or hate it, I guess. To tell the truth, it has kind of grown on me since I've owned it, I traded a guy an outboard motor for it. Has Texas Special pickups and plays great.

i like it. keep the darn thing.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Most likely basswood if it's CIJ.

And CIJs never really had veneers, they had the foto finishes, where it was literally a photo of nicer wood laminated on the body.

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That is a really nice guitar. Always nice to see another shell pink owner.

Basswood is no indicator of light weight, i have a basswood strat and its the heaviest of the 3 i own the lightest being an alder bodied CIJ burst (reissue.)

YMMV

It's a MIJ V serial number 96-97.

There's not a thing you can take for granted with Japanese bodies. They could be poplar, ash, basswood, alder, agathis, mahogany. The Japanese plants have used anything they choose over the years.
The only real chance you have of telling is to take a look at the neck pocket. If possible photograph and post the picture here. Maybe that will yield more info to one of the woodworkers here.

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No no and no

Hi Niki



Your right of course, i say the basswood model is just that as it was sold by Fender as being basswood with the veneer coat on top. (korean) Thats the weighty one.

As for the CIJ job that could be anything but its touted by the seller etc as being alder so like you say who knows.