need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

[Young Angus]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3754964416&rd=1

What do you all think...very seriously thinking about it

 

[pm12]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

mij is good stuff a lot of them were better than the u.s versions in the 90s because of some of the things being done to the guitar (veneers) instead of using better wood and remember if you dont like the sound theres the duncan pickups and people to help you make a good choice.im not too familiar on how the currency rate is for australian to american but it seems good and if the price isnt bad for you i say go for it you can always resell.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

Cheers, and im in australia anyway, hence why im so interested cos its not often i come across great deals in Aus...usually all the awesome deals are overseas.

 

[Grandor]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

Alrite price i guess from what pm12 said.

looks cool ,take it.

 

[rinse_master]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I know a guy with a MIJ Strat, and it plays real good, not sure about the electrics, but playability is def. good.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

Anyone notice the sunken pole piece under the b string on each pickup.....what would that be all about?

 

[Grandor]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

yeh i can see what ur talking about.

No idea about it, maybe the guitars pups are crap/damaged?

 

[Young Angus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I asked him about it in an email but he hasnt got back to me

 

[Zerberus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

Anyone notice the sunken pole piece under the b string on each pickup.....what would that be all about?

That´s the way "standard" strat pickups have been made for the last 50 somewhat years.

In other words: Absolutely normal

In a Nutshell: The reason is the differing core strengths of the wires, and exactly this design is also one of the reasons so many strat players hate their G-string. Light strings (10s and under) only came around in about the last 30 years or so IIRC, and on a modern light set the G-string has the thickest core, ergo the "piercingness" it achieves thanks to the pole being so close. 50 years ago, it was wound and had a thinner core, and needed that "extra", wheras the B was the "overdimensioned" one and needed the pole farther away

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

The MIJ heydays were really the first couple of years. Fender Japan apparently felt they had something to prove and made just stunning guitars in comparison to the MIA counterparts.

For that sort of money I would hold off and look for an earlier one. The price difference wouldn't be all that much and they're certainly available.

...and in a year or two it'll be officially "vintage"!

 

[Zerberus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

....
...and in a year or two it'll be officially "vintage"!

Although "Vintage" and "Import" are 2 things that seemingly cancel each other out. Currently most "vintage Imports" don´t really command even a player´s price, much less one that would make them a viable investment.

Although the older Tokai "Love Rock" Lesters and some of their brethren are slowly starting to make some headway, so I guess we´ll just have to wait andsee

 

[Norman_T]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I am highly suspicious of this guitar and where it was made. To me it looks as though it may be one of those "Crafted in Japan" strats and actually assembled in Korea. I would ask for some detailed and better pictures of the headstock (back and front) and the neckplate as well before you commit yourself. Whilst the price seems to be in order I am sure that there are better guitars out there. Sit this one out if you can!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I wouldn't buy it. It's an arguable thing, but I think you'd be much better off buying a used Am Std or Am Series. I see the debate between Crafted in Japan vs USA being fought mostly by guys with parroted info, or trying to justify why they spent $300 less. What you get with US strats is better hardware that sounds better and has thicker chrome plating, better pickups, better pots and wires, better cuts of alder or ash, flatter radius so your action is better with no fretout, better neck wood, and overall, a sturdier and thicker tone. MIM and Jap quality has it's moments, and Am stds have a few turds, but if you're buying a strat to use as a serious player, Am Std or Am Series is where professional quality BEGINS. It just goes upward from there to the Deluxes and CS Classic Players, on up to the masterbuilt strats.

My advise: Buy a used American strat that has a nice solid alder body, and change the pickups out to Duncan Surfers, Fralin Vin Hots, Fat 50's, 69's or whatever sound you're after.

 

[Tweed]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

$800.00 AUS=$580.00 US. I would be all over that guitar. Many of the "Q" serial numbers were not exported to the US. MIJ/CIJ Fenders exported to the US were built to different specs to hit a particular price point. Generally, they are not regarded as equals to the domestic Fender Japan guitars which were sold in Japan. The seller says, "Japanese market quality NOT like the ones imported here". He may well be correct. One tipoff that suggests it's a domestic Fender Japan Strat is the staggered polepieces. Many of the guitars Fender imported to the US and elsewhere had cheaper, non-staggered polepieces. Are there exceptions? Probably so. I'm guessing the pups in this guitar are Fender pups, probably Vintage 54s or Texas Specials. I would email and ask specifically what pups they are. The pots may be minis...no biggie, and easily replaced if you want CTS pots. Also be aware that domestic Fender Japan Strats (and teles...can't speak for other models) almost always have the 7.25" fretboard radius. I would ask the seller about that as well. If you can't hang with a 7.25" radius you might want to look for something else. Personally, I don't mind that radius. A proper fret redress takes care of any problems with string choking. The body should be alder, not basswood or poplar or whatever. As for "early" Fender Japan guitars being better, I think it depends on how you define "better". If having a nitro finish makes it better, so be it. Anyway, Fender Japan did start using poly finishes later on, but they never abandoned nitro finishes, and it's not unusual to find "Q" series or later models with a nitro finish. Bottom line...they are great guitars, and a great value. I owned 2...a '54 RI Strat made in 1994 (that I truly regret selling...one of the nicest Strats I've ever had my hands on) and a '62 RI custom Tele made in 1999 which is another outstanding axe. I've played others, and always walked away impressed. There is also no difference in quality beween domestic MIJ and CIJ Fender guitars. That's just a bogus rumor that floats around. The price on that guitar is good, IMHO. I paid about the same for mine. I know of one UK dealer who has a few domestic Fender Japan strats he's selling for around $800.00 US. I'd ask the seller some questions and go from there. Looks to be in great shape as well. BTW, Fender Japan is still building guitars. The US doesn't import them anymore since they can be made more cheaply in Mexico and elsewhere.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I wouldn't buy it. It's an arguable thing, but I think you'd be much better off buying a used Am Std or Am Series. I see the debate between Crafted in Japan vs USA being fought mostly by guys with parroted info, or trying to justify why they spent $300 less. What you get with US strats is better hardware that sounds better and has thicker chrome plating, better pickups, better pots and wires, better cuts of alder or ash, flatter radius so your action is better with no fretout, better neck wood, and overall, a sturdier and thicker tone. MIM and Jap quality has it's moments, and Am stds have a few turds, but if you're buying a strat to use as a serious player, Am Std or Am Series is where professional quality BEGINS. It just goes upward from there to the Deluxes and CS Classic Players, on up to the masterbuilt strats.

My advise: Buy a used American strat that has a nice solid alder body, and change the pickups out to Duncan Surfers, Fralin Vin Hots, Fat 50's, 69's or whatever sound you're after.

While all of this is true (in most cases), I must say that when I bought my strat, I went into the local shop, willing to spend up to $1200 on a strat ( I really liked the finish on the 40th Ann. model they had) and walked out with my MIJ 62RI for $400.

Why? It was the best strat in the shop. I played all of them through a Marshall JTM 60 and a Deluxe reverb and this one came out on top. Even better sounding, feeling, and playing than the 40th Ann. model.

Maybe I got a particularly good MIJ strat. If that's the case, i'm glad I did. :burnout:

 

[Young Angus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

This was written to me in an email by the MIJ strat seller...sounds promising i must say:

"THIS GUITAR IS A NEW SHOP DEMO.....its NEVER been played hence NO playing marks on the pickguard. The pickups are the same as Texas Specials/57~62s......one pole is lower and this is NORMAL with vintage pickups. However they are NOT below the covers. These old Jap Strats are BRILLIANT, I have sold over 200 in the last 18 months alone.......what more can I say other than.......you WILL be happy with it! "

"In answer to this question....its strung with 9~42's and bends very easy. NO FRETTING OUT can be found and has an awesome overall sound. "

 

[Young Angus]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

$800.00 AUS=$580.00 US. I would be all over that guitar. Many of the "Q" serial numbers were not exported to the US. MIJ/CIJ Fenders exported to the US were built to different specs to hit a particular price point. Generally, they are not regarded as equals to the domestic Fender Japan guitars which were sold in Japan. The seller says, "Japanese market quality NOT like the ones imported here". He may well be correct. One tipoff that suggests it's a domestic Fender Japan Strat is the staggered polepieces. Many of the guitars Fender imported to the US and elsewhere had cheaper, non-staggered polepieces. Are there exceptions? Probably so. I'm guessing the pups in this guitar are Fender pups, probably Vintage 54s or Texas Specials. I would email and ask specifically what pups they are. The pots may be minis...no biggie, and easily replaced if you want CTS pots. Also be aware that domestic Fender Japan Strats (and teles...can't speak for other models) almost always have the 7.25" fretboard radius. I would ask the seller about that as well. If you can't hang with a 7.25" radius you might want to look for something else. Personally, I don't mind that radius. A proper fret redress takes care of any problems with string choking. The body should be alder, not basswood or poplar or whatever. As for "early" Fender Japan guitars being better, I think it depends on how you define "better". If having a nitro finish makes it better, so be it. Anyway, Fender Japan did start using poly finishes later on, but they never abandoned nitro finishes, and it's not unusual to find "Q" series or later models with a nitro finish. Bottom line...they are great guitars, and a great value. I owned 2...a '54 RI Strat made in 1994 (that I truly regret selling...one of the nicest Strats I've ever had my hands on) and a '62 RI custom Tele made in 1999 which is another outstanding axe. I've played others, and always walked away impressed. There is also no difference in quality beween domestic MIJ and CIJ Fender guitars. That's just a bogus rumor that floats around. The price on that guitar is good, IMHO. I paid about the same for mine. I know of one UK dealer who has a few domestic Fender Japan strats he's selling for around $800.00 US. I'd ask the seller some questions and go from there. Looks to be in great shape as well. BTW, Fender Japan is still building guitars. The US doesn't import them anymore since they can be made more cheaply in Mexico and elsewhere.

Thanks for that info, what exactly would the 7.25" radius be? What exactly does that mean...forgive my ignorance but im not that technically profficient yet.

 

[Grandor]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

lol, dude your making me wanna buy it...

 

[B2D]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I think it's a little overpriced but it's a nice axe. I'd hold out for a slightly older one though or get an American one from the same period.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: need quick advice on this ebay MIJ strat - are MIJ good?

I've found with strats that if I pick up 10, no matter where they were made, I'll end up liking 3.

I'd suggest going to a music store and playing vintage reissue strats with 21 small frets and the 7.25 radius, which has more curvature between the two E strings.
Then, play a brand new American Series strat, and see which one you prefer.
I think the best playing strats, for my taste, are the modern American Series necks.
I've had reissues from Japan and US, as well as a bunch of Am Std's. The brand new Am Series with 'rolled edges' really feel great in my hand....much better than the others. Just my opinion, of course.