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Post subject: What to look for in Japanese Strats?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:59 pm
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I don't know the difference between US/Japan models. There are some Japan reissue models on Ebay right now which are in very good condition and at incredible prices. I'd like to know what I should look for.
1. Body sizes the same as US?
1. Neck sizes the same as US?


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Post subject: Re: What to look for in Japanese Strats?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:40 pm
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
cool9 wrote:
I don't know the difference between US/Japan models. There are some Japan reissue models on Ebay right now which are in very good condition and at incredible prices. I'd like to know what I should look for.
1. Body sizes the same as US?
1. Neck sizes the same as US?


I think the question you really should be asking yourself is if you really want to invest in a guitar that you can't touch. There are two classes of MIJ Strats, those made for the domestic market and those bound for export. The export MIJs are not as well crafted as the domestic models and knowing the difference between the two is the difference between night and day. eBay is great for some things, especially for dumping damaged, defective and even counterfeit merchandise. They sell ready made bodies with components fully wired. Look at the price though - starting at under $100.00 for a so-called American Deluxe. Look around and you'll find "Fender" necks with logo starting at $25.00. With tax and shipping it would still be under $200.00 and I could turn it around and try to pass it off as a genuine Fender for a deal at $500.00. You'll be surprised to know how few people there are that really have the experience to tell the difference... especially by only seeing pictures that might not even be the actual guitar.

As for MIJ, if you do find a genuine domestic model the year it was made makes a difference in terms of investments though. I'm seeing more and more early '80s MIJ fetching some sweet prices and they're only going to go higher. Not only that, the older magnets in the coils tend to mellow with age as their magnetic force diminishes. It gives the guitar a warmer tone that can't be achieved through artificial means. So in that regards, if you are actually looking at a vintage early '80s MIJ domestic jump on it... but it won't be cheap. Otherwise I'd say leave it alone.

Honestly, if you are look for a guitar to be a player and not an investment I would recommend going to your local shops and trying out their guitars. Don't think about how much you're going to spend. Just play the guitars and find the one that feels right. When you do find it, if you have to, save your money. Also most music stores offer financing or Lay-Away purchases. It's much wiser to have one good guitar than one hundred cheap guitars.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:33 pm
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Well, I have to worry about how much I spend because I don't have any income or credit. I try to avoid most of the music stores around here because of the salesmen. They don't seem to listen when you say you're just looking.
I know what to look for in a classical but not a Strat.
Usually an Ebay seller who has over 200-300 feedbacks with 99% positive feedback can assumed to be a legitimate seller. And if you do happen to get an item that is not the item represented in the auction you can file disputes with Ebay and Paypal to reclaim your money.


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Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:47 pm
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I jamed with a guy a while back that had a MIJ strat... it looked and sounded really nice. I didn't get a chance to play it.


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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:17 am
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I've got a non-export 96 MIJ 62 RI strat. The craftmanshit is grrreat. The pickups sound really nice, in my opinion better than my friend's SCN pickups on his deluxe strat. I really can't complain. She wasn't very cheap but is in excellent condition so it was worth it. If you can find a nice one, go for it!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.blackman4/index.htm

All the info on MIJ fenders! This is where I learned about them and decided to buy one.


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