Hello,

So i just got this baby off craigslist tonight. I know very little about it.

Clearly there is a lot of modifciations that have been done to the guitar. It's also not in 'pristine' shape, it's a player.

But overall i am really digging it. Just hoping to get some more info.

The headstock says made in japan the serial number is E5022261

Highly doubt the pickguard is original and not sure about the pickups. Also has three switches that turn each pickup on and off.

Overall she plays really nicely and the pickups have a great range of sounds. AMAZING cleans.

Any help would be appreciated.

Pickups and switches are nor original

+1
I kinda dig that color, and a very nice tweed case. Enjoy

_________________
"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

I agree with the other posts - it looks like this one might have started as a "Contemporary Standard" as opposed to a "Contemporary". The "Contemporary Standards" had the clear finish on the neck, the angled jack plate and the chrome System 1 trem while the "Contemporarys" had the black finished necks, rim mounted jacks and black chrome System 1 trems. The "Contemporary Standards" came with 3 Fender Japan standard single coils and a normal 5-way switch.

The mods I see are of course the pickups/switching, the black chrome tuners, and I think the body might have been refinished as I don't remember these coming in a purple or burgandy mist color (but the other "Contemporary" models did come in burgandy mist).

It's a nice score; the bridge is in pretty good shape as it is only missing the fine tuner knob for the low E string.

Agreed, the finish does look to me like it might not be original.

What exactly is the difference between the Contemporary Standard and Contemporary? Which ones were the better ones?

They were all part of the Contemporary series - the differences were the features. As I mentioned the "Contemporary Standard" had the clear finish on the maple neck, had chrome hardware, had the jack plate in the traditional position, and if I'm remembering correctly only came with sss pickups; they also had the System 1 tremolo. The other "Contemporary" models all had black painted headtocks; most also had black lacquer on the entire neck but the top of the line models had satin finished necks with only the headstock painted black. There were a bunch of models; some had the System 1 trem; some the System 2 and some the System 3. Generally speaking the ones with the System 3 were "top of the line", followed by the System 2, and then those with the System 1. Most of them that I recall were models with the System 1. A few models had 24 frets, most were 22 fret. There were also some interesting Tele models in the lineup.

Here's a decent website on these:

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

You can click on the links to the "Contemporary" page and also a separate page on the "Contemporary Standard 22" which is what you have.

Great,

Thank you for the information. What's the price range for something like this? Ballpark?

Also looking at the color at an angle in the daylight i think it might have been some kind of orange/yellow in it's former life.

But i am digging the current color.

Ok guys so i unscrewed the pickguard and here is what i found. Can someone please comment? I have no clue when it comes to electronics. Are these stock? The stickers are very hard to make out.

Also judging by the giant hole in the wood of the body i take it that is not normal?

Thank you

Hello people,

Just bought a 85 MIJ Contemporary Strat with a Scheller 3 tremolo system. Waiting for it to be shiped. Anyone has one of these? The axe I bought doesn't have a tremolo arm and i can't find one to buy. I'm considering making it, but I need a picture of it and some dimensions. Maybe someone could help out?

Regards