I was wondering if this "E" series MIJ Strat is the real deal or not. I thought I remember reading somewhere that the end of the neck should have the year of manufacture penciled in. I do not see it on mine. Also I was told that everything is original except for the Surf Green finish which was done later in nitrocellulose lacquer and the tuners ( I was sent the originals ). Paid $450.00 I have posted a few pictures to help out. Thanks in advance for your time and replys. Probably a better way to post alot of pictures but I'm old and feeble.

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An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

Why don't you post all of the photos ?

Funny to hear this

He had inserted the tags twice even if the IMG code was already copied into the clipboard, that's why the pictures cannot be displayed!

I hope he 'll fix it if he need help.

The pots look like they have been replaced by different ones (with VERY sloppy soldering ) Mine are way smaller than that

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Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"

You had double "img" code so I deleted the code for you!

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"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover

penciling the year on the neck did not always happen. nice guitar,what is the year.

Beautiful axe!

From what I recall these were made around 1985 give or take.

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An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

Thank you. I think I've got it now.

_________________
An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

Hi,

body looks strange to me. MIJ pickguard has 11 screws, so you should have 11 holes in the body. I see from your pictures you have 13 holes instead, it looks like a different pickguard with 9 screws and different screw position/spacing was mounted before.
Pickups are ceramic and looks legit instead. Based on what I remember those was mounted in MIJ Squiers by Fender Strat

Ciao

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1984 - 1987

Just a couple of quick comments...please take them for what they're worth...

I have to concur with the general consensus that she's a genuine E series. On the neck not having the date hand written, don't sweat it...some did, some didn't. My '85 with rosewood fretboard had it written, the '87 with maple (like yours) did not. I do have to agree with pretto's comment that there does appear to be an extra pickguard screw hole suggesting that the pickguard had been changed at one point. In theory, the pickguards should be fairly standard with standard screw spacing and such but the reality is...often they're not. I wouldn't sweat this too much either...one extra pickguard screw hole on this instrument isn't going to affect anything at all...not like we're talkin' a '57 where some idiot is going to knock $1000 off the value of the instrument for the extra hole! LOL!!!

Finally, as to the "real deal" or not, I'd look closely at the routing/workmanship...something you can never really tell from a picture on an internet forum. As joaquin stated, the Fender and Squier E series instruments of this era came out of the Fujigen plant. Quite frankly it's been my experience that the workmanship on these instruments is perhaps the finest Fender has ever seen...including with it's American instruments (my apologies to the anal neophytes out there, but it's true!). I've had both of my E series opened up and side by side with my MIM's and I've looked at a great many American bodies over the years...these mid 80's E series instruments win hands down. Seriously...cleanest routing I've ever seen.

In any case, while I could do without the surf green, looks like you have yourself a fine instrument there...enjoy her for what she is!

Okies...hope that helps.

I loved the comment "...(my apologies to the anal neophytes out there, but it's true!)..."

And yes MIJ's guitar generally are really nice axe's. But to me (this is totaly an obsessive problem ) the 90's strats are my most beloved strat!!

I agree with your comment regarding missing date on neck. My '87 E series maple neck have no pencil markings as well.
Regarding the 2 extra holes: someone could have changed pickguard during time, in this case I agree nothing is wrong with the body. The second option is that the body is not the original one, this is my question mark. Body from that period has got markings on the neck pocket but in your case the neck pocket has been covered with the green finish.....so you cannot dowble check.



I noticed also something new for me in the bridge coil routing

This is my beloved one!