Japanese 80s Strats

[Drubbing]

I was in my local lefty guitar store (Yes! there is) yesterday. An '87 MIJ Strat caught my eye and we made friends immediately. I also played a Squier for comparison (there wasn't one) and a few LPs copies, which only confirmed I'm probably going to be a Fender dude. I'm a beginner 4 months in, and have a chinese Tele, so just testing the waters for my what will be my first quality guitar.

Can anyone tell me anything about 80s MIJ strats? My basic google-fu tells me they upset Fender in this era by making better guitars than their American factory, but that's as far I can get.

Not really trying to establish its $ worth from a US perspective, as I know these will ebay for around $500. I'm in Australia, and we usually pay more for, well... everything, and this guitar costs more than that here. More looking for some general info on its creds as a guitar.

[rangercaster]

generally, MIJ is very good build quality (on par w/MIA) ... some people may choose to upgrade pots, pickups, switches etc . ... but maybe they work just fine !!!

[sneakyjapan]

Really?... `cause the `80s was the decade when F/USA approached the Japanese looking for a factory to build MIJ versions of their guitars even though there had been lots of brands for decades doing just that. They settled on the Fujigen factory possibly because the Greco brand had been built there for some time with many very high end models. So, really hard for me to generalize about all the MIJ guitars made at that time, there were so many brands not to mention levels of quality. If you could find out what the model number on the guitar is that would be very helpful to you in figuring out how much to pay and just where he guitar fit in the pecking order of the time.

[Drubbing]

This is an 86-87, so the factory was up and running for a few years by then, so it would be an official Fender product.

I can't get the number, I'd have to ask the guy to take off the neck, as that's where they're supposed to be. It wouldn't be helpful to establishing a local price anyway, as US prices aren't representative of those here. Our RRPs on new MIMs are $900, MIAs $1800+.

Was really trying to establish whether these guitars really do stand up the the asking prices 25 years later - they're pretty high wherever they are, for what isn't really considered a 'famous' vintage guitar.

[Jim Sams]

The MIJ reissues (VJxxx serial number) were pretty good.
Also remember it is rumored that some MIJ Fernandes strats were made on the same assembly line. The MIJ strats well built but $900 is a pretty steep price.
Especially since the AUS $ is worth a little more than the USD right now.

[Arbiter]

I collect them, hunt eBay for cheapies, every now and then you find someone unloading one for real cheap.

I always catch a lot of crap for this, but I think those eighties Japanese Strats - Squier brand or Fender, they are both awesome - are by far the best guitars Fender's ever made.

[Modern Saint]

Originally Posted by Arbiter

I collect them, hunt eBay for cheapies, every now and then you find someone unloading one for real cheap.

I always catch a lot of crap for this, but I think those eighties Japanese Strats - Squier brand or Fender, they are both awesome - are by far the best guitars Fender's ever made.

No crap here Arbiter. All 4 of my Strats are MIJ's and are from the 84-87 period. They are what I seek and will only buy if I come across a great deal and great condition.

[SamClemons]

My son has a mid 80's MIJ strat I purchased for him. Fine guitar.

[Jellyblaster]

The only guitar I regret selling was a Squier JV Strat, a 1962 reissue made in Japan around 1983. If you see a Squier model that says "Made in Japan" on the headstock and the serial number (on the neck plate) starts with JV, you've got a quality instrument, and you won't need to change the pickups.

[VK7HSE]

I owned a red 88 MiJ strat Between 1993-2010. I paid $450 AUD from a (then) 2nd hand shop in Hobart (Tasmania)

Now I was searching for the picture of the headstock that I forwarded to the shop that I traded it (the strat) in, but I can't locate the picture! Anyway it was only to show the serial number, but iirc it started with GG.

I liked this strat for many years, until I was seduced! by the Tele :-D

The only thing that I could fault with the one I had was when I was much younger I decided to modify the tuners for the Kluson style, I made the mistake of not realising that the stock (gotoh) had a 10mm hole through the headstock but the Klusons were just slightly smaller (imperial size) and thinking I was being clever I packed out the the difference with (of all things) cardboard! I also swapped the 1ply pick guard for a 3ply.

Although the mods I made were done rather crudely, I got $600 AUD trade in.

So this long winded history lesson was supposed to be how the MiJ strat was quite good, but as you can see I got a little bit side tracked :-D

Sent from my HTC Desire using TDPRI

[Drubbing]

Originally Posted by Jim Sams

The MIJ strats well built but $900 is a pretty steep price.
Especially since the AUS $ is worth a little more than the USD right now.

Thanks.

Nothing to do with Xchange rates, we pay more for everything to begin with, including guitars. As mentioned, a new MIM here is $950.

We're a small market compared to the US and Eur, so bulk prices aren't as good, freight and import duties are high, and retailers need to cover slow turnover of stock. Plus some are just having a lend... Plus - us left handers pay more too.

This '87 isn't an ebay item it's in a store, with 12 month warranty. Even on ebay, I've seen one locally asking $700.

[Ringo]

One of my best friends has a mid 80s MIJ Standard Strat that he bought new.
Sealed tuners, bar magnet single coils, the only thing he has done is changed the pickguard out ( white guitar, tortoise guard) I think he did have to replace the selector switch, and a few years ago he had the frets dressed and a pro set up.
It's a great sounding and playing guitar, those MIJ bar magnet Strat pickups sound really really good.

I owned one each of the MIJ 50s and 60s RI style Strats , the 50s model came with the same bar magnet pickups, the 60s had MIJ alnico pickups, both guitar played and sounded great.

And the MIJ Squier Strats are also very nice guitars.

[Lowbassnotes]

When I was working at a guitar shop in the 80's I remember a traveling salesman guy stopping in the shop one day offering japanese Strats new in the box for $100. I said I'll pass but my buddy said let me play one. He played one and said I'll take a couple off your hands. I think we sold them for $200 as I recall. If I only would have known what I know now I would have bought a bunch. The guy had a van packed to the gills full of the things and was driving shop to shop up the west coast.

[Telenut62]

80's Fender and Squires made in Japan are great geetars...JV's are the best and in those they are different quality of models. If yours is after '85 then it'll be an E series. You'll prob find that the pickups are ceramic with full size pots, the body will prob be Basswood and the overall quality of guitar is as good as you'll get for a guitar around that price bracket.

[Drubbing]

Thanks all. Most of this seems to confirm what I've read on the topic.

Just a shame I bought my first guitar 3 months ago, it's way too soon to get another, even though the Strat's clearly better, I can't yet play the one I have. If I was a year+ down the track it'd be different.

Same store also has a '99 MIJ Squier Strat, which I didn't like as much. Don't know what it was, it just didn't seem as good. Priced at $700 too, which I think is optimistic for a Squier - even if a MIJ one.

[blue metalflake]

I've an 86 MIJ Strat E Series. Great guitar - excellent value for money.