I have a 1983 Fender Squier Stratocaster that is a made in Japan SQ in every way that I can tell but the neck is 22 frets. The neck is pencil dated inside the heal 10-29 '83. I'm hoping you all can help me out with this.

I can not find any info or literature to support that a 22 fret SQ neck was ever made. What series neck Squier or Fender, Japan or USA would have been a large 70's headstock with bullet truss rod, 3 bolt neck plate and 22 frets? This neck is authentically dated 10-29 '83. Beginning in 1984 22 fret necks were quite common but all had the smaller headstock.

To what extent is it true that Fender Japan was receiving necks and other inventory from Fullerton? I know the 82-84 SQ necks are believed to be of the same build quality as the made in USA necks and I have read that they may have been cut on the same machine. Is it true that the neck I have along with other SQ's and JV's may be a USA made neck from the Fullerton Fak ctory?

I'm interested to hear your take on these things.

Thank you!

Craig

No; the 1983/84 USA Standard and Elite models had 21-fret necks. There were no USA 22-fret Fenders until the American Standards in late 1986 (at least by neck dates; they may not have been shipped until January 1987) - although these would have used up the existing "E4" serial number decals left over from CBS.

Also at that time there wasn't any cross-over between the Fullerton factory and the MIJ facility (which I believe was FujiGenGakki). Any parts shipping probably happened the other way during the early FMIC era - some bodies/necks for oddities like the HM Strats were likely made by FujiGen and shipped to Corona (based on design, hardware, etc.).

I don't have a very good handle on the early MIJ models, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me if they did make a 22-fret, large headstock, bullet truss rod Squier for some market back in 1982.