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Post subject: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 1:58 pm
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Hi everybody, I just bought a strat that I love but the seller's comments and the guitar itself leaves me puzzled. The main thing is that the headstock is so worn that the serial's rubbed off.
This is what the seller said:
"Late 80's Japanese made (I believe) Fender 57 reissue. Yes I know that there are no official reissues made in Japan but they do create guitars with the same attributes as reissues.

This one has seen some years but has great mojo as well as some very nice sounding late 80's fender USA black fiber backed pickups which are probably worth more than half of what you're paying.

Why I believe this is Japanese is 2 things: 1) the body is drilled for and has the specs for a 57 but has a 62 control cavity route, this would be typical of a jv strat. 2) the neck radius is 7.25" and it is a single piece of maple NOT CAPPED which would give it 57 specs but it is not a soft V. This means either it is a USA Fullerton reissue neck or a MIJ reissue neck. It is dated 28-11-61 but I highly doubt it is a 1961 neck, but perhaps you'll get lucky and it'll either be a Fullerton neck or a real vintage neck and you'll have paid half of what the neck it worth.

I've put inside guts pics for you fender nerds so you can verify what I am saying is absolutely true

In any case, its a fender reissue, it's old, it's cool, it's cheap. No haggle price, parts are worth many more dollars than the price."

So my question would be, if there are any inconsistencies in what he said, and what you guys can see from the pics he posted. I'll put up some of mine, after I take it apart


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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:15 pm
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Neither the neck nor the body are Fender-Japan. Fuji-Gen mounts their string tree in the correct position relative to a actual vintage Made-In-USA Strat. And their '50s bodies do not have the "shoulder" within the control-cavity rout for the extra pickguard screw.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:46 pm
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Pickup wiring is very messy. Never seen a factory install that sloppy...

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:48 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Neither the neck nor the body are Fender-Japan. Fuji-Gen mounts their string tree in the correct position relative to a actual vintage Made-In-USA Strat. And their '50s bodies do not have the "shoulder" within the control-cavity rout for the extra pickguard screw.

HTH

Arjay

Thanks Arjay
I see what you're saying, I checked photos of both necks, and this one is different than the Japanese. But it is a 57 neck right, reissue or not?
What could it be then? Were there a lot of 57 reissues made?
Or I'm totally wrong and it's a 62, or something else?
Sorry about all the questions but now I really don't know what I have here :)


Last edited by Sev Grey on Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:51 pm
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DetroitBlues wrote:
Pickup wiring is very messy. Never seen a factory install that sloppy...

You're right, the pickups were changed, I'll have to clean it up as soon as I open it up, to which I have to get soon, now with Arjay's revelation


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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:13 am
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Sev Grey wrote:
...But it is a 57 neck right, reissue or not?...


No, it looks like a fake. The twelfth fret dot spacing, the truss rod plug, as well as what Retroverbial pointed out, all mean that it isn't American, or Japanese, or anything even close to a 57 Reissue. :(

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:55 am
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Sev Grey wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
Neither the neck nor the body are Fender-Japan. Fuji-Gen mounts their string tree in the correct position relative to a actual vintage Made-In-USA Strat. And their '50s bodies do not have the "shoulder" within the control-cavity rout for the extra pickguard screw.

HTH

Arjay

Thanks Arjay
I see what you're saying, I checked photos of both necks, and this one is different than the Japanese. But it is a 57 neck right, reissue or not?
What could it be then? Were there a lot of 57 reissues made?
Or I'm totally wrong and it's a 62, or something else?
Sorry about all the questions but now I really don't know what I have here :)


It's hard to precisely determine the origin of the parts.

As my colleague shimmilou discerned and noted, the neck's 12th-fret dot spacing is incorrect (too far apart) to legitimately qualify it as MIA, MIM, or MIJ '50s re-issue. It does seem to be of one-piece construction (does it have the customary walnut skunk stripe at the rear?).

There's no way to definitively peg the body's pedigree with any degree of certainty either. It does seem to conform (generally) to the traditional Strat paradigm. Many companies producing aftermarket Strat bodies use the '62-style control-cavity rout as their default spec (Allparts is one such company).

That said, the guitar would seem to qualify as an acceptable "six-footer" parts-o-caster. And if it plays well and sounds good, enjoy it for what it is.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:55 am
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Thanks guys, you all are geniuses, wish I've done this before I paid 500 for it. The upside that it really plays nice, sounds great, and the neck is beautiful flamed maple. So my last question would be, do these guitars have any value?


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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:21 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Sev Grey wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
Neither the neck nor the body are Fender-Japan. Fuji-Gen mounts their string tree in the correct position relative to a actual vintage Made-In-USA Strat. And their '50s bodies do not have the "shoulder" within the control-cavity rout for the extra pickguard screw.

HTH

Arjay

Thanks Arjay
I see what you're saying, I checked photos of both necks, and this one is different than the Japanese. But it is a 57 neck right, reissue or not?
What could it be then? Were there a lot of 57 reissues made?
Or I'm totally wrong and it's a 62, or something else?
Sorry about all the questions but now I really don't know what I have here :)


It's hard to precisely determine the origin of the parts.

As my colleague shimmilou discerned and noted, the neck's 12th-fret dot spacing is incorrect (too far apart) to legitimately qualify it as MIA, MIM, or MIJ '50s re-issue. It does seem to be of one-piece construction (does it have the customary walnut skunk stripe at the rear?).

There's no way to definitively peg the body's pedigree with any degree of certainty either. It does seem to conform (generally) to the traditional Strat paradigm. Many companies producing aftermarket Strat bodies use the '62-style control-cavity rout as their default spec (Allparts is one such company).

That said, the guitar would seem to qualify as an acceptable "six-footer" parts-o-caster. And if it plays well and sounds good, enjoy it for what it is.

HTH

Arjay

Thanks for the detailed answers, that even I understand
Yes, it has the stripe on the back of the neck, so it is a one piece
Do these guitars have any value?


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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:57 am
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Sev Grey wrote:
Do these guitars have any value?


That's difficult to say.

Of course, if it plays well and sounds like a Strat it will have the intrinsic value and utility of any electric guitar. Whether it's worth more that a few hundred bucks or even as much as a Squier model, only a prospective buyer and your skills as a salesman would determine that.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:28 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Sev Grey wrote:
Do these guitars have any value
only a prospective buyer and your skills as a salesman would determine that


Well said.
I know the seller so I will renegotiate, but the guitar really sounds good and stratty and the slim neck is way too comfortable for my short fingers too give it up, besides that it is a pretty one.
Thanks again for helping me clear it up this fast. There is a lot to learn here


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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:52 am
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Sev Grey wrote:
.... before I paid 500 for it. ....


:shock:
Ouch!

Anyway, if you love it .... don't bother!
If you're disappointed, go renegotiate.

I just bought a Gibson Firebird lately, about 250 bucks over price, just because I liked it and there was nothing like that available in Germany.
Sometimes you just burn bucks to get something you really like if there's nothing comparable available.

Same with this axe: if you love it, it was worth the price.
Next time: ask first, before you burn additional money. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: MIJ 57 reissue/Parstcaster?
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:41 am
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Smokin' Frets wrote:
Sev Grey wrote:
.... before I paid 500 for it. ....



Anyway, if you love it .... don't bother!
Next time: ask first, before you burn additional money. :wink:


Yeah, I really like it so it will stay with me. At least it's unique, right :lol:
I wanted a maple neck with the distinct sound so I got it.
Thanks for sharing that, all of this proves where our love for guitars take us, and we're the happier for it!


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