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FenderStrat86
Bronze Member
USA
79 Posts |
 Posted - 11/20/2009 : 05:52:00
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I have a question about my Strat. I bought it new in 86'. I took the neck off of it today and see the date 3-17-86. I'm sure that's the date the neck was manufactured, unless someone knows differently, please let me know. My question is, what's all the other markings/stamps mean, if anyone knows? Here's a pic of what markings/stamps I'm asking about. The other markings/stamps are: Z, ST and what seems to appear as a "72-55". If anyone would know what they mean, it would be greatly appreciated it you could elaborate on it. Thanks.
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Edited by - FenderStrat86 on 11/20/2009 06:01:15 |
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paisleyfender
Bronze Member
Germany
70 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 08:58:05
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| If it's a Japanese Strat, and that's what I believe, the marking ST72-55 could mean that it's a 72 model (big headstock?), and that it was sold then for about 55000 YEN. For the letter Z, i don't know, maybe the builder initial? |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 09:05:18
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quote:
Originally posted by paisleyfender
If it's a Japanese Strat, and that's what I believe, the marking ST72-55 could mean that it's a 72 model (big headstock?), and that it was sold then for about 55000 YEN. For the letter Z, i don't know, maybe the builder initial?
Looking at the screwholes in the neck it's the classic 3 bolt from the 70's so i think your on the money with the big headstock reissue.....
P.S...I had a Jap '62 reissue from around 86/87 black with a R/W neck one of the best strats i ever had..i sold it in a moment of madness... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 11/20/2009 09:10:15 |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 13:17:07
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| they make diffirent types of strat necks its a model number for the neck |
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FenderStrat86
Bronze Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 17:40:59
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Thanks for all the information. It is a MIJ strat, I purchased it in Japan in 86'. When I remove the neck, the number "55" is also stamped and is visible where the neck connects into the body of the guitar. So maybe it means the model/style number or something, so they can match the bodies and necks accordingly. I've heard different tidbits here and there over the years that some of the guitar parts/pieces that were manufactured in the US were sent to Japan for their production of the same style guitars in the early years of Strat manufacturing in Japan. I was hoping that knowing what these numbers/letters mean would help indicate perhaps where the parts originated from.
Thanks again for the help. |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 19:14:01
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| I can tell you it is has a 7 1/4 fretboard radius |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 16:10:48
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Lots of datecodes can be found: On the pick-ups, neck, body, potmeters, tremolounit.
There is a lot of info on the web, I do not know anything by heart about it, but there is great great info to be found.
Fender is quite good at all those codes, but they made so many variations and all of those will have different codes. |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 17:27:53
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| a pic of the headstock would be nice with serial number |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 18:50:04
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quote:
Originally posted by FenderStrat86
Thanks for all the information. It is a MIJ strat, I purchased it in Japan in 86'. When I remove the neck, the number "55" is also stamped and is visible where the neck connects into the body of the guitar. So maybe it means the model/style number or something, so they can match the bodies and necks accordingly. I've heard different tidbits here and there over the years that some of the guitar parts/pieces that were manufactured in the US were sent to Japan for their production of the same style guitars in the early years of Strat manufacturing in Japan. I was hoping that knowing what these numbers/letters mean would help indicate perhaps where the parts originated from.
Thanks again for the help.
I think what your refering to is time CBS were bought out and the only way they could produce guitars was out of Japan as CBS never sold them the factory and the machinery to go into production in the U.S as part of the deal...I wasn't aware that Fender USA sent over actual US made necks and bodies for assembly,as far as i was aware they gave original blueprints from the 50's for strats and teles to be made and sent over whatever pickups and other hardware they got in the sale,the combination of the excellent Japanese manufacturing to original specs with real USA parts is why the early Japenese stuff including the JV Squiers series are so highly regarded..... |
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FenderStrat86
Bronze Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 19:37:22
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quote:
Originally posted by zerksies
a pic of the headstock would be nice with serial number
Here's a close up shot of the headstock. The serial number starts with an "E", it doesn't show up too good in the pic though. Under "Fender" it says: "Serial Number E635816". I know for sure this guitar was assembled in Japan, not sure if all the parts and pieces were made there as well though. One thing funny was recently a friend of mine who I used to play guitars with in 86' came to visit me from Japan. While he was visiting, I got out the guitar and showed it to him. He remembered me as owning and playing it back then and was shocked that I still had it and that it is in near new condition.
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Edited by - FenderStrat86 on 11/23/2009 19:50:01 |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 20:51:15
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| Its a 70's reissuse from the 80" has a 7 1/4 fretboard radius. a little bit fatter of a neck |
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FenderStrat86
Bronze Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 02:26:06
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Thanks for the info. Yeah, I knew it was a reissue of some type and since I did purchase it in '86, I sort of had a good idea that it was manufactured in the mid to late '80s. When I took off the neck from the body, I did see the penciled date of 3-17-86. So that sort of sums it up. I did want to know where the parts originated from though. I was under the impression that during that time frame, some necks were imported to Japan from the U.S., but I have no real proof of that except for tidbits I've read here and there. One thing I have noticed is that the rod that runs the length of the neck from the headstock to the other end comes out and is exposed at the headstock. I don't usually see it like that too often with these Fender Strats. Usually it's either just a painted shape or not there at all. I thought it was a somewhat unique design for this era of strat. Also something else a bit unique about it is the plate which the neck bolts are in. I've noticed on older SV and JV Japanese Fender Strats that the back plate is about square in shape with four bolts holding the neck to the body, and I've also noticed some Japanese Fender Strats with made after the '80s with the square back plate and four bolts. However, for whatever reason, there are a few years in there where the Japanese made Fender Strats had a triangle shaped back plate with only three bolts holding the neck to the body (as mine has). I've just found all this design differences to be somewhat of an interesting topic, sort of like all the differences in the design of Boss Pedals over the years.
Pic of the back plate on my guitar (triangle shaped with three bolt pattern).
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Edited by - FenderStrat86 on 11/24/2009 02:32:10 |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 02:44:07
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| I know i have one.But lefty |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 11:06:41
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| As i explained in a previous post,Fender gave the blueprints of the original 50's and 60's strats and teles to the people in the japanese factory....original Strats and Teles had a four bolt neck and they reverted to the four bolt after they bought Out CBS.... CBS introduceD the three bolt in the late 60's early 70's.....i think yours is a jap reissue OF that period,jap strats and teles from the 80's are well regarded for their build quality and sound,i have two squiers from 1990 which are excellent guitars and i had a 62 reissue strat which i sold in a moment of madness....... |
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FenderStrat86
Bronze Member
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 07:03:14
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| Thanks for the info about the four and three bolt design. Makes sense to me now. I did like playing this strat when I did play it. It was very comfortable since it's got a tappered top edge in the body. I could hold the guitar up close to my body and it felt really good to play it that way. It sounded really nice also, but my Hamer was actually sounding better then the Strat did in my opinion. But the Hamer didn't have that tappered top edge in the body so after a few hours of playing on the Hamer, my ribs would start to hurt from the top edge of the guitar. If I played the Hamer too long, the next day it would feel as though someone had punched me in the right side of my rib cage. The Strat didn't sound quite as rich as the Hamer did, but it was the most comfortable guitar I had ever played and I could play the strat for hours and hours and never have sore ribs from doing so. |
Edited by - FenderStrat86 on 11/25/2009 07:09:48 |
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Fender Strat Question
