NGD coming up: 1986 Fender Japan Contemporary strat

[Blazer]

Well, I always said that those eighties Japanese made strats were the best ones from that era and so if you find one for a small sum, you should go for it.

I was going to buy a similar one in black in March which thanks to a world wide event fell through.

This time, I hope things will be very differently indeed.

Those Fuji-gen made strats are real gems, and I can't wait to have this one in my hands.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Congratulations! I hope you get it soon!

Is that a System 1 Tremolo?

I’m not much of a whammy bar user (as in “not at all”), but I’ve always been a little curious about them...I know they were an in-house answer to Floyd Roses, but have never heard how well (or poorly) they operate...

 

[Blazer]

Congratulations! I hope you get it soon!

Is that a System 1 Tremolo?

I’m not much of a whammy bar user (as in “not at all”), but I’ve always been a little curious about them...I know they were an in-house answer to Floyd Roses, but have never heard how well (or poorly) they operate...

Actually, no, it's a Kahler.

What I do know about those is that you don't need any hex keys to string it. The stings go in from behind, like a toploader bridge.

 

[John C]

Actually, no, it's a Kahler.
View attachment 775418
What I do know about those is that you don't need any hex keys to string it. The stings go in from behind, like a toploader bridge.

For what its worth Fender swapped in that Kahler trem for the System 1 trem at some point during 1986, but they kept using the System 1 string lock (the System 1 was made for Fender by Schaller).

Then around 1988 Fender switched these over to the Kahler Spyder trem, the same unit they used on HM Strats.

 

[Slip Kid]

Sweet! I have one like that except it has the System I. I got it the summer of ‘86. My parents drove me to Manny’s in NYC to buy it. My 17 year old mind was blown that day!

I’m interested in hearing how the Kahler is. I always had a problem with the G string returning sharp with the System I. I even looked in to seeing if it was possible to put a different system in but was told nothing would fit it. I ended up having it blocked years ago and did some other mods. This is mine, complete with the Earth III strap I got the same day. I’m going to have to get reacquainted with it this weekend.

 

[KT89]

I have an 86 MIJ strat as well that my dad gifted to me. Research puts it as an ST357V. A real player for sure

 

[Ringo]

One of my buddies has a MIJ Strat like what w/o the locking nut and tremolo, over the years he replaced the switch and pots but it still has the stock pickups, single bar magnet ceramic, and the guitar plays and sounds great.

 

[blue metalflake]

I’ve an 86 MIJ 68RI which I picked up about 20 years ago.
Finally stopped a loaded pick guard into it, but a really awesome guitar.

 

[mijstrat72]

Congrats on the new aquistion. I have an '86 MIJ 72ri strat. I replaced the switch when it went bad. Same pots. Tossed in a set of 57/62's. I've owned it since 2006 ish, she's a gem. This is the only pic I have of it and it doesn't look anything like that. It's sunburst. The pic is from my album cover.

 

[Blazer]

Congrats on the new aquistion. I have an '86 MIJ 72ri strat. I replaced the switch when it went bad. Same pots. Tossed in a set of 57/62's. I've owned it since 2006 ish, she's a gem. This is the only pic I have of it and it doesn't look anything like that. It's sunburst. The pic is from my album cover.

Actually, the deal fell through, something concerning medical issues happened and slurped up the money I had set aside for that.

And yeah, my own health comes first.