Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

[C-Martin]

Hey guys, might be able to score a decent deal on this “E series” MIJ Strat. I don’t know much about MIJ so I was a bit skeptical when I saw a few things like the pick guard being a bit off on the horn and the neck plate. Everything else seems in order according to my research, but could not find much info. The guy has never popped the neck to confirm the year or model. It has been obviously modded but he claims only the bridge pickup was changed to an old 80s Duncan Rail (I believe all 3 pickups were). He’s the second owner and says the original owner from a local store did the mods and estimated the year to ‘85.

To me it all seems right, apart from the quirks i mentioned but seems from my googling would sill fit MIJ of the era. Is there any experts around that could help confirm I’m not getting screwed over? Always wanted an old 50s style aged white with maple neck like this. I heard great things about the early MIJ. I haven’t tried it yet, he lives rather far from me so I am waiting to be sure before I make the trip.

[C-Martin]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Also the nut seems to have been improperly filed and then fixed on the small E.

[Ayrton]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Are you asking if it is a legit strat?

The "E" numbers were only used from '84 until '87.

[C-Martin]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Are you asking if it is a legit strat?

The "E" numbers were only used from '84 until '87.

I guess my post is a bit unclear hah. Yes, I’ve heard there’s a lot of fakes so I want to make sure.

[Ayrton]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Nobody fakes older MIJ strats. Everything looks legit from what I can see in the pictures.

E series are desirable but don’t pay crazy money.

[C-Martin]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Nobody fakes older MIJ strats. Everything looks legit from what I can see in the pictures.

E series are desirable but don’t pay crazy money.

How much would be too much?

[Silence Kid]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

No obvious signs of it being anything other than a modded MIJ Strat. Here's my thing; I really don't think MIJ Fenders are that great. I've had examples with sub-par fretwire and other quality control variances on the neck concerning wood quality, finish, dot application etc. Most of them have thin chrome, cheap electronics/pickups/hardware (do those tuners have a ton of slop?) and they don't age well IMO. Certain things on Japanese guitars (not the Strats as much but other models) are more likely to be off-spec from a traditional Fender. The thick, plasticky finishes don't A/B well so to speak. Things like body contours are usually different. They're screwed together fine and usually have a more sculpted neck heel vs. other Fenders, but that's about it for the pluses IMO.

You can pick up a used American Standard Strat for $600 , or a G&L Legacy US for about the same; I bought a US Strat Deluxe for $500 used, and a US G&L Strat for $400 in the last couple years. Yeah, terrible resale value if you buy new, but those are twice the guitars any Japanese Fender beyond the initial early eighties batch are, in every respect. I would never pay over $300 for a Japanese Fender Strat as a result, but I know others feel different. They sure go for more.

I really would rather have an MIM Strat or a nicer Squier model and save a lot of cash vs. MIJ.

[C-Martin]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Hmmm 500-600$ is what most used MIM seem to go for here. Prices seem to differ quite drastically it seems depending is where you are. For example, a brand new MIM Classic series is 1200. Never seen a US go for less than 900-1k used. Thanks for the input though, might reconsider wether or not to go for it.

From the research I did, if this is indeed a ‘85, this would be one of those early MIJ from the Fujjigen factory that are supposed to be the really good ones. They start getting cheaper components later on.

[Silence Kid]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

MIM Standards are on US eBay/CL in the $200-$300 range used. There are for sure more expensive models and a premium for buying new. I see MIJ guitars (thinking non-modded) go for $700 to $1k, where $500 was once common. Depends a lot on the color too.

[Ayrton]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

I can’t say what that guitar brings in Canada, but based on just the pics it would be in the $4-$500 range here. Overall condition and a case make a difference. You can’t play it before buying it, so take the leap if you can buy it right. Should you decide it’s not for you, then sell it

[Silence Kid]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

^Good point with the mods being applied I'd negotiate less for that. Now that I played devil's advocate I'll at least say if you can grab it for under $500 you can get your money back and possibly more, but I still think there are just better guitars to focus on getting unless that one is a steal.

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

I like MIJ Strats from that time.

I usually replace the pickups tho.

And the frets will be little vintage style frets most likely. Makes string bending a bit difficult...especially if they’re worn down or need a fret level.

My favorite $400 - 500 used Strats are the MIM Fender Jimmie Vaughan. Those have a nice neck shape and have larger frets.

But they also benefit from a pickup upgrade. SSL1’s sound nice. Maybe a SSL5 bridge pickup.

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

I wonder how is MIJ Fenders are inferior. As far as I know in general they are:
1. Made by Fujigen, which should mean quality assurance in most cases.
2. Come with Gotoh hardware.
3. Reissues of vintage Fenders, hence models such as ST-62, TL-54, etc. So, vintage correct, like single-ply pickguard such as this one.

[Silence Kid]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

Fender Japan Offset "reissues" in particular are quite inaccurate. Bridges with poor qc, string spacing etc. Yeah strats are better, but the argument that "it's made by _____ so it must be good!" Doesn't really impress me. Whatever gotoh hardware is on those guitars seems to corrode and wear much faster than expected. Just my experience.

(Also: I think some are/were made by Tokai and Dyna Gakki.)

[jeremy]

Re: Need help confirming this MIJ Strat

i had a mij strat for years and while things might not have been fender correct as far as specs, it was a great guitar. i swapped pups but that was it and happily played it for years.