Mystery S-type MIJ?

[2097]

I have a mysterious S-type guitar that my friend gave me 15 years ago after returning from a trip to Iceland where she had found this in the trash. So she found it mid 00s but it could be older.

Three-tone sunburst, white pickguard, maple-looking (as far as I can see) neck.
It has no logo, serial numbers, or text on the headstock (ether side) or bridge. (Could've been removed by a previous owner but I don't know that.) I haven't removed the neck or looked inside.
Neck metal plate (no plastic lining) says MADE IN JAPAN.
It has the S-type style headstock (right handed).
No logo on tuning heads. They are hexagonal underneath.
No skunk stripe. The underside of the neck is one solid piece, with the headstock. The fingerboard matches the neck, i.e. not rosewood style. I'm not even sure there is a seam.
The pick up switch has only three positions and there is no push or pull on the pots.
The whammy bar is missing.
The pickup switch is just metal, no plastic handle. (Could've been lost or maybe it was always this way.)
Fret height and action is good but the fret sides are sharp and catching and I plan to sand them down in the future.
SSS pickups.
Pick guard has 11 screws (plus the six by the pickups). Four on the bass side of the strings and seven on the treble side.
A d-shaped hole in the pick guard just by the neck (for truss purposes maybe?)

Does anyone know what make or model this might be?

 

[Bob the builder]

Without pics I don't see you getting a answer.
Welcome to ST

 

[systolsys]

- Without pictures, it's very hard to tell.
- Blade switch tips fall off regularly. They're not quite a consumable item but close enough.
- Japan had a lot of excellent guitar makers during that period, but like all businesses, catered from the low-end to the high-end market.

 

[3bolt79]

Welcome, and please post pics so we can help you!

 

[2097]

It's daytime here in Sth and you all know what that means! Bright enough to take pictures!

That pitch key on the third brightest string I put there. Also the nut broke near the bass string, that was also on me. Everything else that's busted up, scuffed or broken is how we found it. But I'll try to fix this thing up♥

Edit: Oh, that checkerboard strap I also added. But it falls off all the time.

 

[FrieAsABird]

It's daytime here in Sth and you all know what that means! Bright enough to take pictures!

That pitch key on the third brightest string I put there. Also the nut broke near the bass string, that was also on me. Everything else that's busted up, scuffed or broken is how we found it. But I'll try to fix this thing up♥

To me, it looks like a generic Strat Style guitar from the mid 70s to 80s- there were countless brands that sold these guitars. They are quite well- regarded in my corner of the world, and the neck looks pretty nice to me. Maybe someone else will give more Information, but it’s definitely a nice project to fix up

 

[2097]

I love the underside of the neck, and the general solid feel of the neck, if I only can file down these frets somehow. And convince someone to fix up the electronics. I need to replace all three pots for sure, and probably the jack and pickups too.♥

 

[2097]

To me, it looks like a generic Strat Style guitar from the mid 70s to 80s- there were countless brands that sold these guitars. They are quite well- regarded in my corner of the world, and the neck looks pretty nice to me. Maybe someone else will give more Information, but it’s definitely a nice project to fix up

Thank you for your guess♥

Yeah, getting an approx age/era on this thing will be really interesting.

So your guess is around the age I am hoping for. IDK why but I'm really into the thought of this thing being seventies or eighties instead of just like thrown away after just one year or so.

 

[Voidoid56]

Could you post pics of the electronics and body routs, please? That could really help with identifying the manufacturer.
It doesn't look like there's any trace of a removed logo on the headstock? This generally indicates a guitar exported directly from the manufacturer with a blank headstock. This was common in 70's, the guitars were usually budget models, which yours seems to be. Bursts with the black portion covering the elbow and tummy cuts indicate a plywood body and the tuners are also budget items.

So, there might not be an actual brand to discover but we might be able to figure out which factory made it. The only small clue in the pics posted is the position of "Made in Japan" on the neck plate. It's towards the lower end of the plate, which could indicate a Fujigen build. But more to go on would be nice.

 

[2097]

Thank you so much! Also hej in case you understand Swedish!

I've never opened it before; I'd have to replace the strings, right? I just got a new set. (I mean I need to open it eventually anyway, once I've found someone who can solder.)

You're right that the headstock does seem to always have been blank. Either that's the case, or the label was extremely surface level, or they re-varnished it.

I'm really happy at the thought that this guitar might possibly maybe hopefully potentially be from the 1970's.♥ I'll try to get inside pictures.

The back, I could open more easily since I wouldn't have to remove the strings. But it's just the trem bridge under there.

 

[66musicmaster]

THat bridge block looks like the original one in my late 70s earlu 80s "Aspen" branded Strat. Instead of a die cast solid block it was a u shaped piece of steel? It worked but I changed it and the bridge at some point. Mine also had "made in japan" on the neckplate, but it was higher on the plate. Mine also had a cover over the truss rod adjustment at headstock instead. Yours looks like a heel adjuster. With all that said, it looks like one of the multitudes of Japanese- made clones. And that isn't really a bad thing - they were good guitars. New standardized parts don't always fit. A standard strat pg leaves a gap at bridge on mine.

Body is routed all the way through to trem cavity. Not sure about that.

Looks worth keeping to mess with.