Unknown (Partscaster?) Strat ID Required

HarrySeven

A friend has acquired a Strat, which he thinks is a 1990 Fender MIJ ST-STD.

However, there appear to be some inconsistencies.

Any thoughts?

https://i.imgur.com/jv7RaDc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KgNO3un.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Aw1C52m.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uvWd0lT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/pgRc5cd.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gbaXstT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vAQWhZ7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LPhvuS0.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Qvdp1bM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E2pUoV2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rdPtG7Y.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Aj8lyJG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/plhIPlz.jpg

Obviously, it’s had replacement pickups and pickguard.
 

The sanded patch on the back of the headstock looks a bit iffy.

Also, most of the MIJ Strats I recall from this era had “Made In Japan” under the Stratocaster text?

IIRC, the machine heads should be Gotoh-branded?

I may be misremembering some of the features I *think* I expect, so please feel free to pitch in with your observations...

randella

I have a MIJ '68 reissue Strat - the 'Made in Japan' text and serial are both printed on the back of the neck.  The flat part of the neck heel that's visible just beyond the neck pocket.

It also has a date pencilled on the end of the neck heel, under the lacquer, that dates it to 1989.

Dunno if that's any help.

Kittyfrisk

Not saying that this is accurate, but this site   https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-fender_eng.php   shows the neck serial number as being Production year: 1988 - 1996 Made by Samick, Korea

Few interesting extra small holes in the body neck pocket, wonder what they are for?

SteveRobinson

There was a special run "International" series in 1989 but AFAIK they had Made in USA stamped in the neck heel.

They were a bit of a hybrid of Mexican, Japanese and US parts I think?

Like this
https://reverb.com/item/1626861-fender-stratocaster-1989-black-made-in-the-usa-for-export-rare-i-series

Zoolooter

Does it sound good?

Philly_Q

SteveRobinson said:

There was a special run "International" series in 1989 but AFAIK they had Made in USA stamped in the neck heel.

They were a bit of a hybrid of Mexican, Japanese and US parts I think?

Like this
https://reverb.com/item/1626861-fender-stratocaster-1989-black-made-in-the-usa-for-export-rare-i-series

It has the same tuners (which I don't think I've seen before), same bridge possibly (not sure from the pics), same headstock decals.  But Harry's has a skunk stripe and that one doesn't.  Weird.

I wonder if anyone's ever tried to make a definitive list of EVERY different Stratocaster model ever made, anywhere in the world?  It must be hundreds.

Funkfingers

Kittyfrisk said:
Few interesting extra small holes in the body neck pocket, wonder what they are for?

Those are for fastening a piece of scrap wood that acts as a handle during the painting process.

Kittyfrisk said:

Made by Samick, Korea

MIK is believable.

Brown streaks in the maple neck. Pale area on the back of the headstock could be differential fading. e.g. Where a dealership sticker used to be. The HSS rout is definitely not MIM or Indonesian.

What is the neck profile like? Some MIK Standard Stratocaster necks were waffur theen.

HarrySeven

Funkfingers said:

Kittyfrisk said:
Few interesting extra small holes in the body neck pocket, wonder what they are for?

Those are for fastening a piece of scrap wood that acts as a handle during the painting process.

Kittyfrisk said:

Made by Samick, Korea

MIK is believable.

Brown streaks in the maple neck. Pale area on the back of the headstock could be differential fading. e.g. Where a dealership sticker used to be. The HSS rout is definitely not MIM or Indonesian.

What is the neck profile like? Some MIK Standard Stratocaster necks were waffur theen.

Not wafer-thin.

There were points when I began to wonder re. MIK, too, but obviously the “I” serial doesn’t stack up...

munckee

My 86 mij 57 had a  cheaper switch. 

Kittyfrisk

I really ought not go out for beer with friends in the afternoon...

I knew what the body holes were for, just didn't process it... 
Similarly, I really ought to have seen the 'I' as an 'I' & not a '1'.
This makes it production year: 1989 or 1990 Made by Fuji-gen,Japan

I need to go & eat something & then engage my brain *facepalm*  

HarrySeven

Mystery solved!

Under quite specific lighting, this was (very faintly) revealed:

https://i.imgur.com/R5nbTqz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YjRA8Mv.jpg

Comparing images and specs with other online examples, it’s as @SteveRobinson said - 1989-1990 “export” model - basically MIJ parts *assembled* in USA.

https://i.imgur.com/rVMLiXx.jpg

SteveRobinson

Eyethangewe!

HarrySeven

SteveRobinson said:

Eyethangewe!

Indeed!

I saw the info online while doing some research, but discounted it because there was no visible stamp.

guitars4you

HarrySeven said:

Mystery solved!

Under quite specific lighting, this was (very faintly) revealed:

https://i.imgur.com/R5nbTqz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YjRA8Mv.jpg

Comparing images and specs with other online examples, it’s as @SteveRobinson said - 1989-1990 “export” model - basically MIJ parts *assembled* in USA.

https://i.imgur.com/rVMLiXx.jpg

I had similar example a few months ago on what I believed was one of the 'International' models that @SteveRobinson mentioned earlier and hard to get a full slant on it when first examined

Philly_Q

I think you're right chaps, but I come back to my point that the black "export" one on Reverb @SteveRobinson posted has a separate maple board, no skunk stripe.  They're consistent in being inconsistent.

HarrySeven

Rather than interweb conjecture and secondhand cut’n’paste (which I’ve seen a lot of online over the past few days), I’d love to know the rationale/story behind this particular model. The neck/body kind-of ‘feels’ Japanese/early MIM (as does some of the hardware). There’s nothing USA about it, really.

ICBM

HarrySeven said:

I’d love to know the rationale/story behind this particular model. The neck/body kind-of ‘feels’ Japanese/early MIM (as does some of the hardware). There’s nothing USA about it, really.

The rationale is very simple - being able to sell a collection of imported parts at a higher price by adding the magic 'Made In USA' stamp and thus making it appear more valuable to fools who think good guitars are only made in the Land Of The Free Illegal Mexican Migrant Worker.

HarrySeven

ICBM said:

HarrySeven said:

I’d love to know the rationale/story behind this particular model. The neck/body kind-of ‘feels’ Japanese/early MIM (as does some of the hardware). There’s nothing USA about it, really.

The rationale is very simple - being able to sell a collection of imported parts at a higher price by adding the magic 'Made In USA' stamp and thus making it appear more valuable to fools who think good guitars are only made in the Land Of The Free Illegal Mexican Migrant Worker.

*sigh*

Yeah, I suppose so...