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Post subject: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:35 pm
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Howdy from a newcomer to the site who needs to know if the guitar recently acquired is 'real'. i'm not up on Fenders but took a chance with the idea that i would gift this to a friend.

i have checked the serial numbers which suggest this is a Japan made model (I + 6 digits) but the back of the neck is incised: Made in USA.

i carefully removed the neck and pick guard and took some pics which should be visible here: http://imageshack.us/g/849/dsc05772yj.jpg/.

Re: neck- can't make out the marks, except that there is a stamped black circle on both the neck and mating surface. There is also a hand-written date (in pen) that appears to read 10/08/90.

The body appears to have been notched inside to allow for the switch, something i think that wouldn't have been done at the factory. There is also an extra set of screw holes directly beside those for the pick guard and tuners don't say Fender.

i realize a number of these parts can easily be switched over time so one or the other might not indicate authenticity, but i was wondering if anyone can tell me if i totally blew it?

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!


Last edited by edspaghetti on Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 3:04 pm
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Looks like a Fender Usa strat that was a special run guitar built for export in 1989-1990 and had the heel stamped USA. Looks like your pickguard was changed for sure.
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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 3:59 pm
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Ummm, I am confused as the guitar in the link in the first post is not the same guitar in the second post. Now the guitar in the link (first post) is a Made in Japan with Made in USA stamped on the neck for some reason. The wiring is typical MIJ pickups and pots from the 80s into the 1990s. The paper shim in the neck socket is also common on the MIJ guitars. The Ixxxxxx serial number is a MIJ 1989-1990 date as matched the pen writing on the heel of the neck. Early cheapy MIJ tuners... The bridge has those chrome bridge saddles used on early MIJ guitars which pit really easy. So...my take IMHO...

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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:05 am
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I really know nothing about Fenders. I've owned exactly two of them. One in the mid 80's, the other is due to arrive Monday or Tuesday. They're both MIJ.

What I will say is that Fender is a manufacturer of professional grade guitars. Now look at that "Made in USA" stamp. The first thing I noticed is that it was off center. The second thing I noticed is that the stamp isn't consistent. The bottom of the "Made" die strike is light.

Things like this are usually either automated or have a jig. Presentation is important on an instrument so I would find this stamping to be sloppy and unprofessional and not something that would have been done at the factory. I do know that there are inconsistencies from nearly every manufacturer, but something like that would likely not be done by the factory.

Then again, as I said, I really know nothing about Fender, so if I saw it in a guitar shop I would definitely be suspicious.


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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:05 am
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I never see a "made in usa" stamped there on the neck close to the body

All the electronic are "import" not made in USA Not sure pickups are Fender or they are very very low end ...Squier ?

You say Fender made professional guitar !! Yes, but they also make beginner , low cost guitar too.

Not sure it is a Fender or could be a "part-o-caster"

But I could be wrong


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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:59 am
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stratele52 wrote:
You say Fender made professional guitar !! Yes, but they also make beginner , low cost guitar too.


I meant in the context that you're not going to find duct tape holding parts together or sloppy manufactuer's marks. Logo, serial number and "made in xxx" should be attractive and consistent, no matter who made the guitar.


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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:31 am
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You are right.


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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:06 am
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Well i guess i will not be gifting this after all (perhaps a garage sale)! Thanks for the quick and insightful responses!


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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:47 am
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That body has all of the signs of a Squier, including the saddles and pick guard screw placement.

The "I + 6 digits" serial number wasn't used on the US Strats either. Must be that some joker removed the "Made in Japan" or "Crafted in Japan" from the neck and stamped the goofy "Made in USA" in the place where the decal was. The tuners are not US either.

However, I would like to hear from John C about this neck. There are always a lot of goofy things going on with Fender, and I wouldn't be surprised if the neck was made in USA and shipped to Japan ( Personally, I doubt it, but...). But the body and the rest, really looks like a Squier.

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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:36 am
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I am sure this is a 1989-1990 MIJ Strat. These are really pretty decent guitars, way better then a Squire, IMHO. As pointed out, someone stamped Made in USA on the back of the neck. This could have been done using simple steel number/letter stamps (I have a set used for stamping serial numbers on newly built trailers, etc.. How much did you pay for this guitar. BTW the bigger pot used on the one control was common for older MIJ guitars. Around 1990 MIJ introduced the smaller pots. Interesting this one has both and t look like the solder joints are factory (from what I can see in the pictures)

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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:58 am
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Xhefri,

I didn't realize that the Japanese Strats used those "Squiery" saddles. And, did they also use the pick guard screw locations like those on the Squiers? And the stagger on those pup pole pieces, are the pups Japanese and not Squier? I thought that the Japanese Strats were much better than this. :?:

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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:17 am
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This could be a Squire.. I know some MIJ guitars used the extra magnets glued to the bottom of the pickups and others have plastic frames no extra magnets on them. I have a box full of these pickups from about 50 MIJ guitars I have rewired.. MIJ 5-ways switches have a sticker on the side that says YM-50. Wonder if this one does?

Also this has the green cap on the wiring which was and still is used by Fender Japan too. Then there is the weird route on the body done after the fact....so maybe a partscastor??? UMmm :? :? Something suspicious about this guitar.

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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:51 am
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Hi
Thanks so much for all your insight folks. i'm not much of a guitar techy so this is great help.
i am embarrassed to reveal what i paid. Let's say it was over $500!!

Anyhow, i did not not want to yank on the wiring too much so i may have missed a side but i did not see a sticker on the switch. There was embossed in the plastic a logo that looked like a globe. The pots were marked with what appeared to be stylized lower case letters "dp" back to back in a split circle and all set in a square. They could be seen clearly in the original shots but not in the downloaded pics.

i also wondered about the springs in the back of the trem. Does it matter if two are missing? As it stands, when it is tuned the tension pulls the bridge up such that the action is high at that end.

Given all this, with the markings inside the neck and body, serial number and stock looking solder joints would suggest to me that it would be a MIJ model that someone has simply added the "Made in..."(?)

In either case, next time i won't be so impulsive!


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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:05 am
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edspaghetti wrote:
...wondered about the springs in the back of the trem. Does it matter if two are missing? As it stands, when it is tuned the tension pulls the bridge up such that the action is high at that end...


Normally, they come with only three springs, and if the bridge is floating (factory setup), then the rear of the bridge will be lifted from the body to allow use of the vibrato (tremolo). The rear of the bridge distance from the body can be adjusted by turning the two claw screws above the springs.

It should look something like this, adjust to preference.
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Post subject: Re: HELP NEEDED DATING A 'STRAT'
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:25 pm
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Sorry edspaghetti, IMO you pay twice this guitar worth


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