[NGD] 1996 MIJ Shell Pink Strat

Hi everyone, you might have seen my post about identifying a certain MIJ 62 model strat yesterday. And well... it's mine now! For a guitar that's almost as old as I am, it's hilariously clean. I haven't opened it up yet to see what pickups are in it, or removed the neck to confirm the exact model. I have to say, the rosewood neck is the best feeling neck I've ever played. Love the thickness of the rosewood slab board, and all the frets are wonderfully dressed.
The guitar has staggered-pole pickups, which I hope are Texas Specials but think are Fender Japan's "ST-Vintage" pickups. It has Fender-stamped saddles, It weighs about 7.5 lbs, which is almost exactly the same weight as my MIM Classic Series 50's.
I'll be taking the thing apart tonight so I can determine once and for all what it's made of and what it's got in it, but I'm already floored by the fit and finish.
Thanks to everyone who chimed in on my thread yesterday, the wealth of knowledge on here never ceases to amaze me!

Full view:

Headstock (The tuning keys seem to be plastic, which is strange. Maybe not, feel free to chime in on this)


How this thing only picked up one ding in 22 years is beyond me!

Back view (I removed the backplate, but it was original and included)


Back of the headstock (the Fender 50th emblem is in incredible shape!)


Bridge (sorry for the harsh lighting, florescent lights are the bane of my existence) Note the Fender-stamped saddles. Some slight corrosion, but they work just fine


And finally, the Fender family! ('17 MIM Classic Series 50's Strat in Daphne Blue, '16 MIM Classic Series '72 Thinline)


I'll update the thread with pictures of the innards tonight!

 

That's what I assumed, but I was comparing with my other strat last night, and I noticed that the buttons didn't feel as cold as my MIM... upon closer inspection, they were in fact plastic (or at least non-metal) tuning knobs! It's the only weird thing I've noticed about the whole instrument. The rest of the tuners themselves are metal as normal, but the knobs themselves are plastic. Very strange. They definitely should be Kluson-style Gotoh.

 

Curious... I'll give it a closer inspection tonight. In any case, the tuners might be one of the only things I replace, they seem much more imprecise than the stock vintage style tuners on my Classic Series 50's and the '72 Thinline Reissue.

 

I'm almost certain this is Shell Pink, I read a couple things about there being CIJ/MIJ Salmon Pink guitars produced in this era as well, but there's so much conflicting information that who's to say. The lighting in my basement could definitely be the culprit though. Could you post pictures of yours?

 

Wow, I love your Strat - so much character!

I think it might be a combination of poor florescent lighting in my basement and perhaps aging of the finish that's causing mine to look different, I'm going to try and take some natural light pictures later on.