Help! Japanese or American 62?

Bonjour Doc and welcome to the forum.

I can't really help with your query although my initial thought is that by '96 serial numbers on MIJ stuff wouldn't be on the neck plate any longer but on the back of the neck near the body join.

I believe the V indicates a US build but bear with us and somebody will be along to confirm for you.

Guitarmaggedon (THE Japan, Korea, Squier expert here) most likely.

Do you have any images you can post? We often see genuine parts put together or neck swaps etc. Images now could save you much pain later....

 

If it was Japanese the serial number would be stamped on the heel of the neck, below a "Made In Japan". You'll need to post pictures to get any useful information..

 

If the neck plate is original to the guitar, I wouldn't think it's from Japan.

 

Not by V in 1995/6. V on the neck plate is from US AVRI, if it's a genuine Fender.

 

It's not about the letter in the serial number, it's about where it appears on the guitar.

The point about the MIJ / CIJ Fenders is that the serial number was printed on the neck heel, below the "Made in Japan" or "Crafted in Japan" designation (depending on date of manufacture).

What the guys are saying is that if the serial is stamped on the neck plate then, assuming it's the original neck plate, that's not a Japanese strat, certainly not from the '96-'97 period that a "V-" serial would suggest.

This is a TL62 MIJ Strat, currently on Reverb; this is what the MIJ serials look like:
(This one happens to be a 1989 "I-" serial)

 

Can't you hop in your Delorean and go back to the future when it was built, Doc Brown????

On a more serious note, welcome and I too agree with others that based on the serial number it is most likely an American RI.....

 

What is the asking price? May be worth it if you have the abilities to fix it up- I like trying to give new life to abused instruments. If there is no asking price, try low- balling at first- you can always go higher on your offer but not lower if you are the buyer!

 

Well, with no photos, it might even be fake - so we can't help without them.....

 

Yeah I think the best we can say so far is that it currently appears to be sporting a genuine Fender neck plate.

It's an odd thing to remove a Fender decal. If as you say the neck has been 'sanded off' does that include the area where a Japanese serial (as pictured above) would have been?

And any body with a '62 style guard and 6 point trem looks like a '62 externally.

To assess value you'll need to identify the components to judge both authenticity and quality.

 

The MIJ has the string tree directly below the 5th string tuning post.

AVIR has the tree halfway between the 5th and 4th.


Just beware such guitars with a dubious history are harder to resell and you will lose money unless you acquire it for a price that takes this into consideration. I'd be checking if the pickups were swapped out. You could be getting ceramics.


What about the neck pocket. They usually have a red letter stamped from what I have seen on earlier guitars from Japan

MIJ would have either the Tex Special pick ups or the St Vintage but most likely would have used Japanese components. They had 2 models with the Tex being more expensive (alder body, rwood fretboard,) Vintage ( basswood/ maple).

It could also be a 65 with the small headstock.

 

There's also the lack of a story or explanation due to the circumstance that has to be considered.

Edit. Just missed that last post with the explanation.

Still not much more to add till images are available.

 

How do you know it's not a fake? I've seen MANY convincing ones.....help us to help you, otherwise this entire thread is pointless.....our goal here is to prevent buyers from being ripped off.....

ANOTHER thing, there isn't a clearcoat over the headstock logo on an AVRI, it's put on overtop of the finish on all of them, just like on real vintage Fender guitars....it's easily damaged....

 

Well, you may think that...

 

V signifies Vintage and so is used on both American and Japanese Vintage Strats.