Deal or No Deal?(Craigslist/MIJ content)

[ShortBuSX]

I browse the Craigslist a couple times a day looking for a Blues Jr at a good price locally...Craigslist should really change its name to "Strats R Us" though, cause I find tasty Strats there daily, today I awake to find this:

Electric Fender Strat with pick guard design - $150

Fender Strat that was made in Japan has the picture of the 8 ball on the pick guard comes with case. Any question please call Gerald

I called the owner, he lives near by(duh) says hes had "several calls from people who wanna look at it after work". I ask "what times work over? ...Im there". I then ask, "whats the deal with the pickguard? Any other mods?" He says "no just the pickguard, but I have the OEM one still."

I get there, it needs new strings and badly! And the 8 ball pickguard fits poorly with a couple of screws missing because it doesnt line up just right.
I plug it into his Marshall "Tubestate" and it kinda sounds like hell because of the strings...its hard to tell.

Whudya do? Deal or no deal???

[ShortBuSX]

Whudya do? Deal or no deal???

What? No takers???

Yeah, sorry bout that, I needed time to get my pics uploaded...of course I bought it! It was only $150!!!


I mean look at it, in all of its pool hall glory...bask in the magic 8 ball!


Shes got some battle damage, the urathane is thin compaired to a MIM, shes got some nice long cracks between the trem cav and the strap button, but Im really diggin the lightly reliced look. Also I noticed the trem block is much thicker than a MIM


Note, no truss rod adjustment on this end(how fun is that?)


Goteh tuners...ones missing a gear cover(replacement ideas, please?)
Love the way the neck meets the headstock


FREE!! To a good home, fits MIM

[ShortBuSX]

Lil research tells me its a Standard
Fender Straocasters Made In Japan - Models
Fender Straocasters Made In Japan - Standard

And the serial number E9 + 5 digits says its 1989
Dating Fenders(best source Ive seen yet)

And she aint no Squier:

[ShortBuSX]

And she aint no Squier:

Interestingly enough, this looks like my guitar("E" series)...and IT says Squier
Fender Japan 57 Style Stratocaster

Thats okay...yall sleep, I just keep posting and quoting to mahself

[hubberjub***]

$150 for a made in Japan Strat is always a great deal. It would have been worth it at twice the price.

[mrmudcat]

Hell to the yeah!!!!

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool! I hear great things about the Japan strats. Congrats from another MIM fan!

[player***]

I have this one probably made in Japan but with HSS pup config it rocks.
as well as the one used in my avatar 1966 MIA Coronado Wildwood as listed.
under the $150 price too for below.

to ease my own doubts just looked at her says Manufactured and backed by Fender.found in teeny tiny print it says a product of Indonesia but hey it still rocks.originally bought to mod until I plugged her up and heard it.That changed me mind so guess MIJ is out but it is still Asian

[SuperSwede]

MIJ and CIJ are usually awesome instruments! (especially my strat )

Congrats ShortBusX!

[warren0728]

Cool! I hear great things about the Japan strats.

same here....me thinks you got a great deal....

heck the custom pickguard is woth almost as much as you paid for the whole guitar! :

ww

[tot_Ou_tard]

Cool score! What does she sound like with new strings?

FREE!! To a good home, fits MIM

Someone should grab this, just to ask it questions.

[duhvoodooman***]

Good score, Short! An MIJ Strat for $150 is grand larceny! : : :

Further kudos on immediately removing that "what the h*ll was he thinkin'?" pickguard....

BTW, a black MOTO p/g looks real good on a black Strat with a maple neck. Not that I'd be biased in any way....

[tot_Ou_tard]

BTW, a black MOTO p/g looks real good on a black Strat with a maple neck. Not that I'd be biased in any way....

Ah, yes Strat Vader.


...if I only had a vote.

[duhvoodooman***]

Ah, yes Strat Vader.


...if I only had a vote.

Buy yourself one, and you'll have the only vote that counts!

[ShortBuSX]

Thanks for all the comments/compliments everybody

Cool score! What does she sound like with new strings?

Well Im a lil disappointed with the setup and string/saddle radius...normally used gear is dialed in. But right away(unplugged) I can hear a difference between this and my MIMs, maybe its the single ply pickguard Im hearin...but everything is pretty much different in compairison from head to toe. Goteh tuners, c shaped neck, heel truss rod adjustment, beefier trem block, thinner urethane, basswood body.
Having said that Im not totally in love with the electronics, and Im debating with myself if I should replace the (almost 20 y.o.)import switch which is scratchy(may try and clean it first), and the jack is a lil iffy(ground noise, buzzy at times)...I just worry bout replacing this guitars mojo with newer Switchcraft parts, so Im gonna try and work with what I got first.



Sorry if the "Magic 8 Ball" pickguard made any of yall ill, induced vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea...maybe thats why nobody has asked to she what she looks now????

[duhvoodooman***]

Sorry if the "Magic 8 Ball" pickguard made any of yall ill, induced vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea...maybe thats why nobody has asked to she what she looks now????

We knew you'd show us without having to ask! Now, I wish I could see it, but they block Photobucket here at work!

Yeah, try cleaning up the existing electronics before you go changing stuff. Might just need a little TLC....

[ShortBuSX]

Yeah, try cleaning up the existing electronics before you go changing stuff. Might just need a little TLC....

How the heck do I clean that switch though????

And where can I find that tuner gear cover????

We knew you'd show us without having to ask! Now, I wish I could see it, but they block Photobucket here at work!

Well if you cant see them at work...I'll just have to wait till later to post them then. Nobody else really seems interested anyways

[duhvoodooman***]

How the heck do I clean that switch though????

And where can I find that tuner gear cover????

For switch: http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/Brand/DeoxIT.html

Tuner gear cover? Don't know offhand. Maybe your favorite local guitar shop that does repair & maintenance work might have some?

[ShortBuSX]

For switch: http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/Brand/DeoxIT.html

Tuner gear cover? Don't know offhand. Maybe your favorite local guitar shop that does repair & maintenance work might have some?

Thanks for the suggestions. I dont really have any cool local music stores that have been in business long enough to have one of those "random small parts bins" that would be worthwhile to visit...I'll probably have better luck finding it online. Im gonna try a couple of other forums and see if theyve got any resources though.

BTW DVM is that black Strat pictured above your "'89 Fender Strat Plus"...how come no "MIJ" in your signature???