Hello! I switched supposely Strat MIJ from 1980s knowing that the hardware parts are not original but the body, neck and pickups/electronics are legit. Also found that the neck is H. Gastelum verified. What makes me to disbelief that its a genuine strat is that the potentiometer’s radius is 11mm instead of 10mm, and I can’t see the yellow pin that you can see on og strat’s potentiometers. Many more stuff that Im sure you can spot if working with these 1980 decade strats. If I can get any info would be plenty grateful my ppl
It looks like a Squier somebody has messed about with to me. The name on the heel and the Fender logo are bogus.
Fender Japan was producing STM Strats that were 24.75 medium scale in the mid 80's. They were lower end, I believe. This may be an STM and someone added the fake name on the heel. If it was something else, not sure why they would add an STM stamp. Not sure how to explain the decal.
Decal could be explained by a poorly done refin, or maybe water damage... from the looks of that pickguard it's been through a lot. I agree that it would be highly unlikely for the STM stamp to be faked. I think at least the neck is MiJ.
My1987 squier has a black plastic plug like that- also the pickup selector -YM50 was used on 80s squiers
Update: The last owner told me that the decal is not the original but he claims it was a Fender, just wanted to change to the Spaghetti logo. I went to a shop where they sell vintage instruments and told me that the body could be from Squier because of the large "pool" body but couldn't affirm my sorrows. Pickups also don't look like the ones Fender was using at the time but Squier might, Im just hoping its at least not another copy brand kind of chinese. PS: Thanks a lot for all your answers and knowledge on this topic.
