Re: query about MIJ Strats

All Fenders are mass produced.

"Jay" <jay@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:op.td2qbmwe6ea1mk@xxxxxx
From collectors view I guess this is somewhat of a key to go by however
I
am not sure:

There are three levels of MIJ guitars (besides the rare 82-84 JV models
and the somewhat common E series Export models). The latest round is
the
"Crafted in Japan" 2000 on up series, they are very mass produced and
not
so great. The next series back and the most well known is the "Script
Logo" Made in Japan guitars with the serial # on the back of the neck
just
below the logo. These are excellent guitars and some of the best
Fenders
made in recent times. The rarest of the three is the series made
transitionally between the JV models and the "Script Logo", with a rare
and unusual "Block Logo" Made in Japan, and the serial # on the "Pat
Pend"
bridge plate as on real vintage Telecasters.




On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:13:46 -0800, Jay <jay@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


By the time I got my 1991 MIJ strat, it had the pickups replaced with
Mexican ones.

The tuners were HORRID rattling aluminum things.
As my first electric guitar I was amazed at how CRAPPY the parts
were.

I did upgrade many parts.

When I am done I will upgrade the block, trem and input jack.

I put new pickups and tuners.

What you really get is a wonderful body and neck.

Many japan strats are produced to higher standards then the USA
standard
strats of the time.
More research on your part for what year is good.

Mine is Ash body 3.5 pound.
Total weight is 6.5 pounds.

This was expensive by the time I was done.

Best is to search ebay for the pickups in "Search title and
description"
and try to get a Japan strat that has already been upgraded.

I guess I really wanted a sunburst older Japan Ash strat and I paid
quite a bit.

I know if your happy with alder you can snatch up one for $350 on
ebay.
I paid almost twice that for what I thought was a good solid
collector
guitar with
high quality wood something I could keep for life.

Think of for example my Toyota land cruiser from japan....
For example:

Is it good for the average Joe driving back and forth to work?
YES!

But a closer look at an amazing vehicle that cost almost $50,000 new
you find the bumpers, shocks and springs are
very bad and you can kick the bumper and dent it! Its a very thin
little
thing and the shocks are droopy around corners.

You replace that consumer crap (Bumpers, springs = Pickups, Tuners)
and
you have a vehicle that is better then a HUM-V military vehicle.

HUM-V = US
Land Cruiser = Japan.

The HUM-V cost a lot and has that "USA" value but is not a better
value
or better vehicle!



Best to search ebay for a Japan strat with Kinman upgrades because
you
might not be happy with some of the build quality!

If you are a working musician you would want to custom build a Japan
Strat any way or use parts you have already on another guitar?

Remember some years are better then others and I am not very sure
what
years were better.

Japan was very wealthy and at times could afford the best
craftsmanship
and materials for not for import guitars.


By this time I am up to $750 invested in my Japan strat not including
shipping.
Im not entirely thrilled that I paid so much, I did over pay for the
strat.

Try to get one with a case and search for Kinman, callahan, fralin
upgrades in your guitar.

Well if this is local then offer fast cash and try to keep it under
$400
unless its some special wood you think would impress other buyers.

If your an expert guitar builder then you already know upgrades can
cost
as much as the Japan strat:
I kind of got dicked over but I have a strat that I would think I
will
keep for ever!


Its completely possible by the time you get your strat, especially if
it
been around in trade or local guitar trade shows that the stock
pickups
have already been removed and cheap ones installed. I don't think
Japan
pickups are worth that much any way and frankly never had a chance to
listen to them.

My guitar tech said my Block and trem are terrible build quality and
the
block is aluminum.
He suggested I replace both of those at the time of purchase but man
Id
be up to $900~$1000 for an old Japan strat?

lol...

You might even consider building your own Strat with a used older
japan
body?

And try to get a deal!
Ask if the pickup cavity has been routed out as that dings value and
is
not something you will want.

I won a Japan Strat for $350 (Alder) and the seller canceled out the
auction saying the guitar was stolen from his car at the post office.
Blah..blah..


I know there other screaming deals on a Japan strat if you look.

If you pay local and can get it for under $400 with hard case or even
one upgrade, tuners or better pickups then a winner.

These are getting sucked up by collectors so getting an excellent
guitar
for $400 or under will soon be a thing of the past.

Good luck and these are far better then Mexican or Korean guitars and
some will tell you better then the USA standard strats.

I know a Mexican Tele body that went for $250 because it was obvious
the
build quality was exceptional, flame burst top, quilted this or
that...

All country's did at one time build a kick ass strat.


Its only time before people buy a Chinese Strat for cheap and get
excellent build.

Im very happy with my Japan Strat.

(When I take it to the local dick head guitar store the sales staff
drop
their jaws and have quite a bit to say about it, tone, build, custom
work)

In the end they always show me a brand new USA standard and try to
sell
it to me and Im always why the hell would I want that?



Any way, good luck and having "Japan" stamped on your guitar is
nothing
to be embarrassed about and in a few years will be something
collectors
will be taking advantage of that good name.

I know people have gone as far as scratch out the word "Made in
Japan"
and many auctions.

I do not know the difference in quality between CIJ (Crafted in
Japan)
and MIJ (Made in Japan)

I can guess (Made in Japan) during the 80's early 90's was Local
Japan
consumer guitars.

Best regards from a very happy Japan Strat owner that I would gig
with
out worry.

I do not like the Poly they used on many Japan Strats. It keeps a
nice
shine but I though a strat is supposed
to look good faded and used over time. I just love real paint! And
Poly dings kind of weird and can even chip out.

This looks nice!


http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Japan-1971-Stratocaster-Reissue-Strat_W0QQit
emZ280015162156QQihZ018QQcategoryZ38082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZVie
wItem

On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:39:30 -0800, rct <Ron.Thompson@xxxxxxx> wrote:


ChristoMephisto wrote:
Hey All ,

I heard lots of good things about 1988 MIJ Fender Strat, and
looking to
maybe getting one, but couldn't find too much about them.
Mostley USA and Mex Strats. Are the pups the same pups as the
others,
or does it have different pups? What other h/w is there?
Also heard Fender pups are pretty cheap, should i upgrade? What to?
Any comments on these, i know these are 'collectable', (but not
important) anything good or bad to say about MIJ Strats?

Some good, some not so good, same as it ever was. No sweeping
generalizations apply to any of them.

rct







--
1991 Ash 6.5 Pound japan Strat with noiseless pups,
Fender De Ville Hot rod. 2X12
Sperzel Sound Lock Tuners
Guitar Cord.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Fender
    ... Nice guitar and I don't know why in the hell I sold it. ... Since then I decided to add a Strat to the collection and bought a '74. ... Sounds merely okay, plays fair, and will never be the first guitar I pick ... It used to be that the price of Fender equipment ...
    (alt.guitar)
  • Re: Fralin strat pickup follow-up (was "Steel poled")
    ... I'm a Strat newbie, ... Fender parts whatsoever in it's first iteration) that was jig-sawed ... electric guitar I own; and it has been for almost 10 years now. ... Warmoth 7/8 sized "Strat" body and matching neck. ...
    (alt.guitar)
  • Re: Main axe
    ... Guild, Fender, Gibson etc. ... My favorite guitar for decades was my 1972 Stratocaster. ... recreate the tone of my old strat till recently. ... I bought a QMT strat copy by Jay Turser a couple ...
    (alt.guitar.beginner)
  • Re: Gibson vs. Fender no question about it...
    ... in comparison I picked up a Strat DLX...from another planet. ... Hell, I've always been a Gibson man, so many things about Fenders bug ... The Fender 'Squier' brand is also putting out some great playing Strat guitars ... and eventually you have a mess of a guitar at the end of the hand built line. ...
    (alt.guitar)
  • Re: Poll: One guitar, one amp (lotsa words)
    ... *had* to give up all your toys except for one guitar, one amp and just ... (damn this is a hard choice between the Fender Prosonic ... Fender Lonestar Strat (HSS Strat with Dimarzio Area pups in neck/middle and ...
    (alt.guitar)