MIJ 80's Strat

[DrOctagon]

I saw an ad on craigslist (yes, I am addicted) and it said vintage strat 80's made in Japan make an offer. So I asked for some pictures and it's olympic white maple fretboard looks like the serial starts with C00 and says contour body on the tip of the headstock. I looked it up and it apprears this guitar was made between 86-87. Does anyone know how much these guitars go for or are worth. I've been looking for a nice Mexican Strat so I don't have to play my American a lot but if I could snag this for the same price would it be worth it? I know MIJ Strats are supposed to be superior quality but are there any special Serial #'s to look for that are especially well made or collectible?

 

[cratz2]

I don't think I've had one with a C00***** serial number but in general, MIJ Fenders from the 80s are superior to MIM strats from the 90s through 2008 or so. After that, using a nice MIM as the representative... I dunno.

I've had about five or six MIJ strats, all but one from 83-86 and I'd be happy with just about any of them as my main guitar.

One word of caution, if you are sensitive to things like fretboard radius and fret size, be sure to give that some thought. Many MIJ Fenders are more vintage-flavored than most MIM Standards and Deluxes.

 

[DrOctagon]

The guitar also has STD-54 stamped inside the neck pocket with a red L. And on the neck side it has a Made in Japan with the serial (C001933) and ST-54 with another red L and a Z-looking thing (maybe an N) in the corner.

 

[VHS analog]

Japanese Squiers starting with JV and SQ are nice. My '85 SQ p-bass is really nice after a couple of upgrades, and it does have the vintage fretboard radius.
80s Japanese strats with the locking nut were later and they sucked IMO.
It will help if you can post a picture.

 

[Bunn]

I hate i got rid of my MIJ 62RI ... that was the NICEST playing Strat or Fender for that matter that I have ever played... just not a strat guy but yeah ill take a MIJ any day of the week

My 06 MIA tele is not as well put together as that thing was ...

IDK $500-$650 some shops will charge $700 or so depending on your market. I didnt look into the serial # thing but there are some good resources online for all that.

You would be doing pretty good at $500 IMHO

 

[DrOctagon]

Well that's good because I'm supposed to be getting tomorrow for $300. I've been trying to find out about the neck stamps but I can't really find much I guess I'll email fender if I do wind up getting it.

 

[Bunn]

This can be a big help http://xhefriguitars.com/page14.html
http://www.guitarsjapan.com/Fender_Style_Guitar_Archive.html
the latter's just fun for snooping

Funny thing is after i posted got a email about my tele up for sale and the guy wants to trade a MIJ 54 RI strat ... im wondering now if the one you are looking at is a 54 RI ?? Id venture to say yeah and Id also jump on ANY MIJ for $300

 

[Bunn]

Here it is for reference
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[Guitar Dave T]

I've owned a handful of late 80's and early 90's MIJ vintage style Strats and Teles.

Pros: Vintage feel, good QC construction

Cons: Thin sounding pickups, thick, thick, thick polyurethane bodies and "mystery wood" underneath.

At the end of the day, these are great player guitars that can sound really good with replacement pickups/electronics. 6 months ago two MIJ vintage Strats from this era came in and sold within a week from the local GC - both at $400 each.

 

[Guitar Dave T]

I've owned a handful of late 80's and early 90's MIJ vintage style Strats and Teles.

Pros: Vintage feel, good QC construction

Cons: Thin sounding pickups, thick, thick, thick polyurethane bodies and "mystery wood" underneath.

At the end of the day, these are great player guitars that can sound really good with replacement pickups/electronics. 6 months ago two MIJ vintage Strats from this era came in and sold within a week from the local GC - both at $400 each.

 

[DrOctagon]

The one I'm looking at is like an off white/cream color (maybe started out Olympic white but aged?) But that looks about the same other than the color and maybe a pickup change. The pickups are cream too slightly darker than the body. Is yours a 54RI and do you know what the EX stands for?

 

[DrOctagon]

Staggered polepieces but haven't found out if the saddles have the fender stamp. So most likely I'm looking at a 54 Reissue. Anyone have one and like it? I've heard of the gloss on the neck being annoying.

 

[VHS analog]

Cons: Thin sounding pickups, thick, thick, thick polyurethane bodies and "mystery wood" underneath.

Those finishes are indestructible. Forget "road worn", it'll never happen. I wonder if it was a 2 part catalyzed finish?

 

[Bunn]

The one i previously posted was a trade offer here local in NC... i actually know the previous owner and this guy is a 2 hr drive away now.... small world !!

Im NO EXPERT but from what ive read the EX stands for "export"??? Dont quote me though

**quoted from another forum**
"If it has staggered pole pieces and stamped saddles it is a Premium version may be ash/alder body. I read recently the economy model has plain saddles."

Guys over at Strat talk are awesome (as are the folks here) and can help out a lot but Pics would really seal the deal on what your looking at ...

And yes they are awesome Strats I HATE i got rid of my Fotoflame but i wasnt too thrilled about the looks of it and Im really not a Strat guy. The fret job and neck felt better than any MIM/MIK/MIA Fender/Gibson I had ever played. Only thing that came close was a G&L vintage chunky neck that was hand shaped and my old W/F PRS neck !! I used to be really picky with neck profiles and still am to an extent. My current Tele (that I traded the MIJ strat for) cured me of all that but forcing me out of my comfort zone into a different profile and now i really dig it.

To each his own
if you hold it and like it and it plays/sounds good who cares where it came from at that price !!! Ive yet to pick up a CV or VM line Squier everyones raving about that feels remotely solid or as good as any MIJ Ive played FWIW

 

[MKB]

I have a mid eighties MIJ '62 reissue as my main Strat. After a refret and pickup replacement, it is one of the nicest strats I've ever played, certainly the best I've owned. LOVE it. Cost me $125 in a local pawn shop.

The one shown in the pic above for $300, I'd be tempted to be all over it. Gorgeous.

 

[gulliver]

Mine's in pieces right now, drilling to HSS and deglossing.

 

[Guitar Dave T]

The one I'm looking at is like an off white/cream color (maybe started out Olympic white but aged?) But that looks about the same other than the color and maybe a pickup change. The pickups are cream too slightly darker than the body. Is yours a 54RI and do you know what the EX stands for?

One of mine has "54RI" written in pencil in the neck pocket. No idea what the "ex" stands for.

 

[DrOctagon]

Ok so I just got the guitar for less than I was supposed to because there are chips in the wood on the neck (on the frets) I'll post pictures later but I've been looking at what could be used to fill these chips. I've heard wood putty and a mixture or wood glue and wood shavings does anyone think this will work or have any other suggestions?

 

[Pedro Bogus]

Good score. My main guitar is a MIJ 86 62RI. Been refretted 3X, FB radius is around 10-12 now.
Wagner Pups, and the friggin tough as titanium poly surf green finish.

I have wanted to hate this guitar, but can't. Super light, poly finish mystery wood and the thing sounds THICK!
BIG neck, reminds me of the first Jeff Beck sig strat necks.
I have sold a lot of strats, but this one will stay until I go.

 

[bluegrif]

One of the best sounding Strats I've ever owned is my 87 MIJ 57 RI. I bought it back in the late 80s (new) and quickly wore out the vintage style frets. The pickups weren't very good either. But now, with a 6150 refret and Fralins, it has incredible vintage sound and fine playability. It also feels more like a vintage model than most vintage reissues. Since this is the only one I've ever owned I can't vouch for all of them. But it's hard to imagine mine is a rare exception. If you can budget for a refret and better electronics you may just have a real winner.