MIJ E-Series

[Scat]

New to the forum and looking for info on MIJ e-series strat . I looked through a collection of these guitars and purchased one that was beat up a bit , SSS , loaded with original (pre 1993) lace sensor pups (blue,silver,red,orange and white wires only). I intended to build a partscaster since I believed this guitar had already been modified and needed some TLC . I removed the black poly paint to find Ash body with Alder caps , #s 562 and red letter F stamped in the neck pocket . The tremelo is vintage style and measures 56mm mounting screws , and 56mm string spacing , ( I get very close to 57mm with my ruler ) . I'm wondering why alder caps over ash , I know American models did just the opposite on strat plus deluxe in 1991(along with other years probably)? Anyone see a problem with filling the tremelo screw holes and installing a modern American Fender tremelo ? My vision is a aztec gold with a baseball neck , locking tuners and the new trem , new electronics and early custom shop Texas Specials , will keep all original parts for safe keeping . Input as to what model this MIJ guitar is would be appreciated . Headstock does not say Squire and Fender lettering is in silver (not spaghetti lettering) . Thanks in advance .

 

[Guitarmageddon]

New to the forum and looking for info on MIJ e-series strat . I looked through a collection of these guitars and purchased one that was beat up a bit , SSS , loaded with original (pre 1993) lace sensor pups (blue,silver,red,orange and white wires only). I intended to build a partscaster since I believed this guitar had already been modified and needed some TLC . I removed the black poly paint to find Ash body with Alder caps , #s 562 and red letter F stamped in the neck pocket . The tremelo is vintage style and measures 56mm mounting screws , and 56mm string spacing , ( I get very close to 57mm with my ruler ) . I'm wondering why alder caps over ash , I know American models did just the opposite on strat plus deluxe in 1991(along with other years probably)? Anyone see a problem with filling the tremelo screw holes and installing a modern American Fender tremelo ? My vision is a aztec gold with a baseball neck , locking tuners and the new trem , new electronics and early custom shop Texas Specials , will keep all original parts for safe keeping . Input as to what model this MIJ guitar is would be appreciated . Headstock does not say Squire and Fender lettering is in silver (not spaghetti lettering) . Thanks in advance .

Hey Scat! Welcome to the forum and hope your Holidays are awesome! ST-562 is a Contemporary, but it wouldn't have a vintage bridge....so....

I won't be able to tell you a thing about your guitar or its history, which model based unfortunately only on verbal description. I could tell you about maple caps over alder, back and front, on KOREAN built circa 1987 Squier stuff by Young Chang, but never heard of it otherwise. Don't worry about me having mentioned Squier, the MIJ stuff churned out both decal'ed models during the entire 80s run or most of it. Fender and Squier.

The best way to find out any information if you want it, would be to show us detailed photos of your instrument....

Lace Sensors never came on an MIJ Squier or Fender E serial....that would have been done later by someone who owned it....

There is also a chance that the neck and body are from 2 different models of guitar....

 

[Scat]

Ok , I have to figure out how to upload photos . There was no ST in pocket if that matters and for the record a Luthier examined the stripped down body and saw ash and alder for whats its worth . Glad to know about the pups , I thoght they were changed out , thats why I took it . Will work on photos .

 

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[Guitarmageddon]

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Hey Scat! It ALL makes sense now....This originally began life as a Fender ST-557, Contemporary model (they would use 557 and 562 bodies interchangeably on the assembly line, the 562 was a rosewood fretboard model). It has a flatter fretboard radius than the other models. Somebody has removed the original bridge, filled in the main body with some kind of wood or filled, and did their own back and front veneer to cover up the work. It's not factory in this state...and as stated before, the pickups aren't original....but the pots and switch are....

It USED to have a bridge like this

The body is possibly ash, but more likely highly figured alder as they weren't using Ash by 1985 when the E serials began....it was painted BLACK originally at the factory

 

[Scat]

Ok , I was wondering about the filled and redrilling of the outside screws of the tremelo and the fact that the bridge seemed out of place for this guitar . So this neck is not original either ? When you said filled in the main body , can you explain how extensive that work was please ? I'm still pleased I'm not corrupting an original guitar , and that was my mindset from the beginning . Thanks for all the help, had a great Holiday and hope you did too ! By the way the body all stripped down weighs over 5 lbs and the black poly seemed quite thick . These Lace Sensors are getting hard to find so that was a plus along with a period case , it will all workout in the end .

 

[Guitarmageddon]

Ok , I was wondering about the filled and redrilling of the outside screws of the tremelo and the fact that the bridge seemed out of place for this guitar . So this neck is not original either ? When you said filled in the main body , can you explain how extensive that work was please ? I'm still pleased I'm not corrupting an original guitar , and that was my mindset from the beginning . Thanks for all the help, had a great Holiday and hope you did too ! By the way the body all stripped down weighs over 5 lbs and the black poly seemed quite thick . These Lace Sensors are getting hard to find so that was a plus along with a period case , it will all workout in the end .

I explained already sir, that the neck and body are original together - factory mated, and an ST-557 Contemporary. I explained that when they made them at the factory, they used both bodies - stamped 557 and 562....

Are you saying that veneer back and front was there on the original painted body and you yourself stripped the finish off it? If so it's factory but one I've never seen.....

 

[Scat]

I explained already sir, that the neck and body are original together - factory mated, and an ST-557 Contemporary. I explained that when they made them at the factory, they used both bodies - stamped 557 and 562....

Are you saying that veneer back and front was there on the original painted body and you yourself stripped the finish off it? If so it's factory but one I've never seen.....

 

[Scat]

Ok I got what your saying . I just stripped the paint on Thursday last week and this is what I found and the caps threw me thats for sure . I dont know if it was painted after factory paint but I know its been sitting idle for 20 years or better in a friends collection .