80's Strat Question

[SabbathFan0220]

I'm looking at this MIJ Strat on eBay, and by the serial it dates 1986-87, but it's styled like the '62 American reissues. I'm confused because all I've seen of Strats in the mid-to-late 80's are the American reissue '57 (maple board) and '62 (rosewood board), and the Japan 'Contemporary' series. Were they making reissues in Japan too? This one has the vintage style tuners as well as a 6-hole bridge...
What's the story here?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380134572573

Someone who knows their Strat history, take a look. Thanks guys.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: 80's Strat Question

At one point in the 1980's all Strats were made in Japan. Around the time of the sale CBS had stopped making Strats in the US and so Bill Schultz had to get guitars from somewhere until the factory in California was up and running again. The HM Strat was also a Japanese Strat.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: 80's Strat Question

well almost all strats where made overseas during that time... according to my Fender Strat book, they had some builders making about 20 strats a day out of a warehouse while the new factory could be set up... They also had lots of leftover bodies and necks from the past Fender factory to put togther... and then they then had contracts with Japan companies to keep the strat market going...

Some of these Japan Made Fenders from 1985-87 are highly reqarded as good guitars...

some seemed to be better then others... some i have seen are Good and some i've seen are Amazing!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: 80's Strat Question

ps... during that 1986 period i used to drool over a Japan made 62 style strat just like that one except it had a mettalic Blue finnish....

some of the strats from the mid to late 80's are winners for sure... The first wave of American Standards that came out before xmas 1987 into 1988 are prized strats in my mind... even with the super thick finnishes i've not found a bad one...

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: 80's Strat Question

Thanks guys. This is definitely one good looking Strat. I've seen plenty of 80's MIJ Strats, just never reissues like this one. I thought reissues were a MIA thing. Should I be concerned about its authenticity?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: 80's Strat Question

everything looks correct to me... judging on a quick glance of the photos anyways...

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: 80's Strat Question

Thanks for posting WhoFan. This one looks promising.

 

[ErikH]

Re: 80's Strat Question

Dang lucky I don't have any money. I'd be all over that thing if I did. LOVE the MIJ Strats from that era. And yes, there were RI models from Japan, even in to the 1990's. My 1985 Contemporary Tele is an incredible guitar. So glad the wife found that one.

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: 80's Strat Question

Related question...the serial numbers on MIJ Fenders can only give you the date of manufacture as somewhere in the span of two years (1986-87 in this case). Is there a way to get a more exact date on these?

 

[ErikH]

Re: 80's Strat Question

Contact Fender. They *might* be able to give you more details. They can on the USA stuff, don't know about the older MIJ's.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: 80's Strat Question

I had a MIJ Strat from that era. Killer axe. My former bro in law now has it, and he loves it too!