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Post subject: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:06 pm
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Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and have a question. I have a chance to buy an Fender Japan Strat (serial number starts with E, so I think it's from the 80s), but there is one thing about it that has me stumped--it has a hardtail bridge. I didn't think Fender Japan ever made a hardtail Strat. Am I wrong about this? Any info anyone could provide me would be much appreciated! Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:42 pm
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Hi,

Fender Japan most definitely did make a hardtail (non-trem) Strat - I remember seeing one at my local dealer back in the mid 90s. You are correct about the serial number... E = 80s.

Here's a link to a photo... http://www.telecastergallery.com/new/displayimage.php?album=10&pid=545#top_display_media (Click on the photo to enlarge.)

A better link... http://www.sheltonsguitars.com/2009/3-13-09/fender-strat-japan-50s-ht-3-13-09.html


Last edited by gpd36 on Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:46 pm
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They certainly did, as I own one. :mrgreen:

(Well, partially, at least - the body is currently away being stripped and refinished. :lol: )


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:55 pm
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Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure what I was looking at when I saw that guitar. And gpd36, the first link to a picture you posted is exactly the guitar I'm looking at (except this one is black). It has the double string trees. The next question, then, for anyone who might know--how rare are these mij hardtail guitars? Were they precursors to the Squiers that started coming out around then under their own Squier label? Are they reissues of or based on any other models?

And for both of you who have them, what can you tell me about the pickups? Standard strat pickups? When I played the guitar I'm thinking of buying, it didn't seem to have quite that Fender chime that I love in strats, and I wondered what pickups those guitars used. (FWIW, my favorite Fender pickups are the ones in the MIM Robert Cray).

Thanks in advance for any info. I really can't decide whether or not to buy this guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:13 pm
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Just bumping this back up to the top in hopes that someone has more info. Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:18 am
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"When I played the guitar I'm thinking of buying, it didn't seem to have quite that Fender chime that I love in strats, "

fuse23

If this guitar don't have the sound your like / looking for, why buy it ?


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:50 am
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stratele52--you bring up a good point. The reason I'd consider buying it is because I can always change the pickups. From what I've read, the 80s E series Fender Japan strats were very well-made guitars, and I can get this one for about $350 (w/c). From there, I can just put in a set of pickups whose sound I like. The thing is that I'm not sure how hard these guitars are to come by if I pass this one up, so that's why I'm asking about rarity and stuff like that.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 12:09 pm
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The OE pickups in my Japanese hardtail were utterly awful (ceramic bar magnets on the base, etc) and the rest of the electronics weren't that great either - it really came to life with any of the assorted sets of aftermarket pickups which have lived in there over the years.

As for being rare, well - I've never seen another one in person!


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 12:20 pm
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Fuse23 I understand , but don't forget ;

1- If you replace pickups you could need to replace pickgard . Not sure American made pickup will fit in Japan pickup hole .

2- You will never sure before if you'll get Fender chime with pickups you bought .

3- It is an old guitar , could need a fret job like crowning ( $100 ) or more $$$.

4 - Just some years in Japan made are sought after , not all made in '80 area.

5 - Without seeing picture , this guitars could worth the price you paid , not more. Tremolo Strat ask for higher price

6- Be carefull about fake .


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:30 am
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Thanks for all the replies everyone. Vulpinity--you were right on about the pickups and electronics in general. I got the seller to take off the pickguard and let me have a look at the inside of the guitar, and it was really not impressive. Cheap pickups as you described, but beyond that, the rest of the electronics just looked flimsy. So, yes, new pickups and electronics would definitely be in order.

Stratele52--thanks for pointing out several things to keep in mind. The serial number on it is E747xxx (sorry, don't remember the last three digits), so it was made between '84-'87, and it is a Made in Japan rather than a Crafted in Japan, which, as I understand it, means it was made in the Fujigen factory. From what I could determine, standard Fender pickups would fit in the pickguard. I also got the seller to take the neck off, so I got a good look at it (the frets are in decent condition, btw). One odd thing, though, is that while the neck is marked ST-462 (so it's based on a '62 neck profile), there were no markings or writing anywhere in the neck pocket itself. That seemed a little strange to me, although I don't have any reason to believe it's not the original body. The seller said that he'd been told that the body was Japanese mahogany, but I'm not good enough with wood identification to know. It seems more likely to me that it would be basswood.

Anyway, that's the story with this guitar. It became available for sale today, and I know there was a collector interested in it, so I imagine it's already gone. And maybe that's just as well. With an initial cost of $350 and then an additional $200-$250 for new pickups, electronics, and labor, I'd be a little more invested in that guitar than I'd like to be. I mean, for a couple hundred more, I could just buy a used American Standard Strat or a Robert Cray (although paying $600+ for a MIM strat doesn't appeal to me either). Oh well, another day, another strat to think about buying, right?


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Fender Japan Strat?
Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:00 pm
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Fender-Japan at one time produced a limited number of '50s re-issue hardtail Strats. I've seen one or two listed on Ebay -- both were 2TSB over basswood furniture.

Arjay

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