No, it isn't...... https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us...my-Japanese-made-instrument-was-manufactured- Fender Japan only used V in 1996/97...... Fender Japan doesn't even make 'vintage reissue' Strats...they're more like replicas with different pickups and body woods and finishes....
I've never seen the letter V before the serial number as a standard thing on Japanese Fenders, except for the letter designation, and in this case it would not be on the neck plate. JV Squiers had a JV prefix which is not a V.
The JV was on the neck plate but not the other eighties models eg Exxx Axxx etc. It will be US with the string tree between the 5th and 4th post..
What? Now you're trying to say you can tell a US from Japanese guitar by the position of the string tree? You can't.....
The 96 MIJ had there trees directly under the 5th post for the Vintage series. The standard 62 standard series had them between the 4th and 5th. It's quite a common thing with the MIJ stats to have these differences in their earlier 80s Strata. 21fret website the Bible for JVs mentions this regarding the 80s models and I have seen the brochures for Strats for both 96 AVRI and MIJ showing this.
NO sir, the position varies guitar to guitar even the ones built the same day on the same assembly line....string tree placement is NOT an indicator of USA vs Japanese.....not at all.... 21frets has TONS of incorrect information, it's not the bible for JV's, we're the bible here..... we know much more..... @Thrup'ny Bit would agree
Im I'm saying you can because I have both read it and seen it. Do you know how you can tell the difference between a US Toyota Camry and a MIJ Camry?? It's a simple tail sign difference.
21 frets also mentions that there are always exceptions to the rule. But how often do U seen US Strats with trees out of place. You make it sound as if placement is random and could end up anywhere but it's not. They will either be one or the other. If I had nothing to go by I would refer to the the tree placement because that is the rule rather than the exception by far. Looking at MIJ Strats for sale indicates this to be true for a particular given series and year.
I would urge caution in using string tree placement as an only characteristic to authenticate a guitar. Just like decal placement, there's simply too much variation. None of my US Strats are in the same exact location.
I pulled over 60 adverts for MIJ reissues on Reverb and found this to be true as well as for every US Strats reissue advertised apart from one which was a limited edition reissue. As a last resort I would use it if no serial number was present. Otherwise you would have to check if US or MIJ switches, pots were used at a guess.
Ok gentlemen, sorry for the wait... here are a few pics : I bought the guitar anyway (sounds great !) but I still want your expertise on this as the poor girl had been heavily damaged... Thanks a lot !
Neck isn't MIJ/CIJ, as we expected. I dont have experience with MIA reissues but I'd say this is one of them. Congrats, HNGD! I'm sure it's already a great guitar, and with some love will shine even more.
Yeah I'd say the 'reliced' hardware might well clean up OK. Someone will come along to tell you what to mix to soak it all in... or google it. Nice looking strat. Take it to pieces, clean, sort electrical issue then reassemble with particular care to the 6 screws securing the bridge. Lovely. How does it feel to you?
