MIJ Stratocaster

[ippon20]

Allright guys, here's the dilemma. I have seen a ton of conflicting stories on Japanese Strats and their quality/materials. Can someone be specific as to what exactly I have? Here are my specs:

1996 "made in Japan"
'62 reissue (maple neck w/rosewood fretboard)
3 Tone Sunburst

My questions are: what kind of wood is the body? Alder or Basswood?
I would like to change my pickguard to Black, yet I've heard that there are issues with holes matching up to USA 11-hole pickguards, is this true?
I have also heard sometimes Texas Special pups won't fit as well...is this true?
What are general feelings on these models/years?

Thanks for helping me clear the air on this everyone.

D

[Jemwielder]

If I remeber correctly the body is alder. The pickguard issue isn't anything an experienced tech can't come up with a solution to. Pickups too. I have a jap strat that i plan on having a lot of things done to it. Any time I take it out to disscuss the mods with the guy at the shop I go to, he never mentions any potential problems.

[Earthrug]

Got a pic? The sunbursts are more than likely Alder like Jemwielder suggests. They also used poplare on the re-issues guitars in the 80's-96 but usually on solid colors. I dont know if the specs are the same, but I have an 80's MIJ squire (large headstock) that I put a WD pickgaurd on loaded with some early 90's U.S.A. strat pickups. Didnt have any problem loading it up on the body. From what I have read here and there MIJ Re-issues from all the years seem to be highly regarded. Personally, I have not played a single MIJ Fender/ squire made strat that I didnt like. I love the necks on MIJ strats. I prefer MIJ guitars in general.

[ippon20]

ok, let me try posting these pics...







see if that works...

[Flobanez]

Beautiful strat, Ippon , I own a Mexican made strat, white with a maple neck and though I rarely play it (It's the only guitar in my collection that's a 6-string), it's nice to have and it sounds great, I think every guitarist should have a strat in their collection.

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by ippon20

Allright guys, here's the dilemma. I have seen a ton of conflicting stories on Japanese Strats and their quality/materials. Can someone be specific as to what exactly I have? Here are my specs:

Well, the quality of the first MIJ reissues from 1988 (approx) stopped Fender from producing guitars in the USA for a couple of years, because the US factory just couldn't match the quality - almost certainly an Alder body, and you shouldn't have any issues with replacement pickguards or Fender pickups. The only issue with the guard is that Fender changed the location of one screw hole sometime I think in the mid - sixties.

Cheers

David

[ippon20]

Thanks for the help guys (and flo for the compliment). Yeah, think I'm gonna throw some Texas specials in there and put on a black pickguard to change up the look a little (I've had it for all 10 years).

You guys are right about the sound, I run it through a Boss se-50 with no distortion and a tad reverb mostly on the neck p/u and it sounds phenomenal. Would probably compare to "Lenny" tone. I definently think everyone should have at least one strat. Funny thing is when I first started playing, I hated it cause I was playing most heavier distorted songs and the action seemed high for me but everyone raved about the "strat". After about 4 years, I came around and now mostly play it clean and just let those strings ring out.

D

[rastachild]

yep, i have one i bought in '95 ('62 reissue, black body, with the vintage faded pickups and pickguard). it played and sounded better than any of the american reissues at the time and was about $500 cheaper, lol. too bad they don't offer them in the states anymore, i'd probably pick up another one.

[ippon20]

you can say that again rasta...I had to lower the action a little once I learned how to set it up after a couple years, but other than that I have had no problems. I still find it hard to believe I've had it over 10 years and it doesn't have one scratch or chip in it (I admire a guitar that looks like its been played a lot), but this one just won't show hardly any wear.

[Earthrug]

Thats a sweet looking axe. With sunbursts the easiest way to tell if the guitar has say an alder veneer top over a Pop' body is to look at the back contour. If the black color covers the entire contour then it's def' Veneer. Throw a pic up of the back if you want.

[ippon20]

allrighty, here's the back....think it's definently alder...



gotta excuse the fingerprints on the edge though...hee hee

[mi2tom]

nice strat Ippon!!! I want to get one myself too

[Earthrug]

Def' NOT a veneer top. as you all' can see by the pic of the back, the black doesnt cover the entire contour. I would agree that it looks like aldure. Now all you have to do is sit back and Enjoy it!