Everything looks legit to me but I'm not really familiar with MiJs.
The only thing I wonder about is the trem cavity in the back!

Could this be a fake body or did they do that on Japan strats in the 80s??

I think about bidding on it for a new strat project, but the routing throws me off a little.

All Fenders I know have top mounted backplates (if any at all)!
This one's flat with the body (when installed). Very strange.

I probably leave my fingers from this one!?!?
Watcha think, folks?

Auction:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/181044426547?ssP ... 1438.l2649

Here's the pic I wonder about:


OK, now I got pics from the seller (additionally to the pics in the auction I linked to above!).
It's definitely re-finished and still doesn't look like Fender Japan to me. The trussrod hole on the headstock doesn't look Fender either, at least I don't know black(!) trussrod holes but as I said, I'm not familiar with MiJ from the 80s.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

It could be me, but I think the body may not be original. I say this because the guitar is too 'white'..

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I've never seen that recessed backplate before. Also, my white '88 MIJ has yellowed considerably on the exposed areas. Do you have some more pics?
...Mark.

Yes, me neither!
More pics in the auction I linked to.
It also seems to have a more 70s like back contour. The horn shapes look strange to me as well.

I asked for pics of the stamps in neck pocket and on the neck heel but haven't gotten anything yet.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Could be arctic white, which doesn't age as much as oly white.
Always difficult to tell from pics.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

The small-dot position markers and their spacing at the 12th fret suggests a Squier neck......

I know of only one custom builder who recesses a trem-cover plate like that (he also recesses the neck plate and jack boat). AFAIK he has never worked for Fender -- either in the US or Japan.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

What constitutes a question like this as, "URGENT!"?

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You dig?

The soon ending auction I linked to and which I was thinking about bidding on, as I said in my post.
There were only 6 hours left when I posted. If it takes a day before I get advice, it would be too late. Does that constitute my question as being urgent? Kinda like "time is running out"?

Well, the seller replied. He's got lots of pictures which he will send me via mail.
That'll certainly help.

He claims the body is original but I'm still sceptic! I'll wait for the pics, still 3 hours left.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

I see plenty unusual about that guitar but nothing that strikes me as too quirky for Japan.

The only problem I see that would put me off were the price right is the mile high action. Whats going on with that?

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No no and no

I just checked my 1986 MIJ Contemporary Strat and the trem cavity is recessed (as shown in your picture) so that the trem cavity cover is flush with the body..

I added more pics to my first post!! Just received them from the seller.

As far as the price goes: still pretty normal for Germany. Japan Fenders go for up to 450 €.
Mexicos go for 350 - 400€ and 550-700€ is pretty much standard for used USA models.
They're all more expensive over here!

I'd say, we always pay in € what you pay in US $.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Thank you!
Well, now that I received the pics and I see the holes in the headstock, it looks like there was a locking nut installed.
I used to have a contemporary Strat from Japan and if I remember right, the layout of those 4 screwholes matches those of the contemporary strat locking nuts? I gotta check my old pics ....

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Dang! Looks like I deleted them!

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Well, in this context, yes. I stand corrected and apologize.

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You dig?

No problem, Martian!

Okay, I managed to find my old thread with the pictures of my contemporary strat.

Yes, the holes on the headstock match the locking nut they used on contemporaries.

To me, it looks like a contemporary neck on a non-Fender body!
The stamps in the neck pocket look non fender. Fender used ST stamps with numbers (ST = Strat).

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!