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Post subject: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:43 pm
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I picked up a Strat new when visiting CA in 1990 from a 'reputable' music store. I have been researching the details of this specific guitar but this has raised more questions than answered. Searching the serial number G037607 tells me it is a 'Strat from about 1980, (Gold hardware, two-position rotary tone switch)', which it simply is not. Other searches tell me it is a Japanese model from 1987 – 1988 but do not provide any further details.

The amp out is on the edge of the guitar, not to mention I'm finding it hard to locate another fender that has somewhat the same configuration of hardware on the plate.

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Any ideas as to how I can identify this one?

Thanks for your time.


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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:13 am
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We need to see the whole guitar to give it an identity, however I think this is from the Japanese contemporary series. This was labeled Fender "Strat" instead of Stratocaster. It was intended to give a modern approach to the name and one of many failed attempts to appeal to the 'alternative' styled guitar market that Ibanez and Jackson dominated during the late 80's & early 90's.

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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:46 am
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Do a search for "THE STRAT" as it is known. Lots of info.


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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:06 am
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SNick wrote:
Do a search for "THE STRAT" as it is known. Lots of info.


No - let's clear this up:

DJWG79's guitar is an HM Strat; it is absolutely not a "The Strat" at all. This is a "The Strat":

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DJWG79 -As I say that is one of the HM Strat models. In their first year of manufacture in 1988 they were 100% MIJ guitars; in all other years they have all the earmarks of MIJ models - including that MIJ "G" serial number - but are considered by Fender to be USA models (I believe they were assembled in the USA from MIJ bodies and necks so that is why they have MIJ-style serial numbers but no "Made in Japan" on them). Eventually there were 4 HM Strat models that had that "Strat" logo on the headstock - in the MIJ year they had an HSS model and one with a single humbucker. When it moved to "USA production" the single humbucker model was dropped and they added both a double humbucker verson and the one you have with the HS configuratrion, the Tele-style pickguard and the angled Lace Sensor as the single coil.

Eventually Fender changed these for the last year or so of production (circa 1992) - they got rid of that squiggly "Strat" logo, replaced the Kahler Spyder bridge with an Original Floyd Rose bridge, dropped all of the previous models except the HSS, and added a model that was pretty similar looking to their Heartfield Talon model (with a pointy headstock, etc.). Also somewhere in the 1991/1992 time frame there was briefly an "HM Strat Ultra" that had a flame maple body, the same Lace Sensor set as the regular Strat Ultra, and a Floyd Rose Pro trem.

Hope that helps.


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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:40 pm
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Thanks for the info everyone, it has been insightful. Here are a couple more pics of the whole guitar. Unfortunatelly the original paint has cracked over time (as you can see at the back) and I'm looking into getting a new paint job. May be hard to match the original though.

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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:49 pm
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TOES!!!
Hahahahaha

Gorgeous guitar though!

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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:20 pm
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Yes, they snuck into the shot! I love the guitar, it has such smooth action and almost effortless to play!


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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:52 am
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Interesting serial number. My Fender Heartfield Talon has no "Made/Crafted in Japan" either, however this is very typical for some of the odd-ball Japan stuff at the time. I can certainly vouch that my guitar was NOT assembled in USA but entirely made in Japan. I can also bet that your Strat was made and assembled in Japan, or I also wouldn't at all be surprised if it wasn't either. If it was n '89- it very well could be MIJ.

So this begs the question: Why is there no 'Made/Crafted in Japan'? Well, an answer to the reason why some later Heartfield series didn't, is because they were an attempt to make an alternative styled guitar that would appeal to the shredders and the munters alike, that Fender had no grasp of in the USA market. It was a market dominated by Ibanez, B.C Rich and Jackson that represented 30% of the market at the time. Towards the early nineties the weak US dollar meant that guitars made in Japan were getting too expensive in the USA and that consumers did not want to pay premium prices for "made in Japan" stuff in a market of traditionalists that demanded the USA made conservative products. So to traditionalists that wanted American made, "MIJ" was taken off the serials- hence why my guitar has none.

For Heartfield, after a last ditched effort to brand them "Fender" along with a marketing campaign featuring Vinny Moore and Russ Parish (aka 'Satchel' of Steel Panther) for a last ditched effort to boost sales, that meant that was the end of the line in 1993. At similar time, HM & Contemporary Strats and some other Japan models had no 'Made In Japan' to try and boost sales in the USA in a market where they didn't appeal to the 'alternative' market that Ibanez & co had. They also didn't appeal to traditionalists either. They had to be shipped and assembled in USA to cut costs and try to keep the line sustainable, which eventually failed. MIJ models dwindled in the USA as cheaper & competitive production ramped up in Mexico and HM models were dropped, along with various Japan exports.

This serial number below is in line with the system used for Ibanez instruments at the time, which is hardly surprising given the fact that they were made in the same factory.
Image Image

What interests me about that blue HM Strat, is that the contoured neck is very characteristic of Fender Japan, the Tuners are the same as on my guitar- or they seem to be. But is that a contour on the rear upper bout?

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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:29 am
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Talons are very RG-lookalike and their headstocks a cross between Ibanez and ESP's pointy designs.


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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:50 am
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Sweet! An old Japanese Fender Super Strat! Congrats.. Check the serial number with Fender Customer service.. Maybe they can help if you haven't already tried that route.

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Post subject: Re: Random strat serial, any ideas?
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:32 pm
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I stand corrected.


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