What wood is the body of my 85 MIJ squire?

[NewStratLover]

Can anyone tell me what wood was used on the 84 or 85 MIJ bodies? I think it's an 85 if memory serves me when I looked up the serial number awhile back. I no longer have that neck and have just purchased a new neck from Warmoth to complete this beast as well as installed a pickguard with 3 EMG SA's.. I can't wait to wail on it.. Just bought a graphtech black nut today and need to get some string tree's and maybe play with the bar to see if I can wrap it with some plumbers tape to get it to not wobble as much. Might replace the bridge later, but it has a decent sized cast block and all steel bridge and saddles it looks like to me.. The bridge measures 2 and 7/32nds I understand. I had a rule and it didn't go to 32nds so I measured it as 2 and 3/16ths..
Anyway, if anyone can tell me about the body shape and wood used I"d really appreciate it.. Is it a reproduction of the older 60's or 50's strats? The body seems small, but I don't have another strat to compare it too!
Thanks in advance everyone. Love this forum! When I'm finished with it I"ll post pics!
Tim

 

[Will Lefeurve]

All I can say about the wood that maybe used in your guitar is.. I had a 1986 MIJ and it was most certainly Basswood. A lot of people look down their noses at this particular wood, I certainly don't. That was a Stratocaster though.. not a Squire.. unless we're talking JV.

From what I can remember it wasn't over heavy, the guitar itself was a pretty classic shape with a deep body cutaway, the ceramic pickups were a bit thin, but overall it was a quality guitar. Oh.. and the neck was just something else..

 

[tonedesign]

From my understanding, most solid color bodies were basswood, and sunbursts were mostly alder.

 

[Apache49]

I own an 86 Squier MIJ, it has a Basswood body. Weighs just under 8 pounds. Lots of very high end guitars use basswood so nothing to worry about there.

 

[Apache49]

Basswood Body

https://www.suhr.com/instruments/modern-plus/

 

[Mentor]

If it is a MIJ E Series Squier it is basswood

 

[stratmanshow]

Usually don't group 84 with 85... 83-4 (SQ) could be alder, basswood or "Sen"

 

[drp146]

All I can say about the wood that maybe used in your guitar is.. I had a 1986 MIJ and it was most certainly Basswood. A lot of people look down their noses at this particular wood, I certainly don't. That was a Stratocaster though.. not a Squire.. unless we're talking JV.

From what I can remember it wasn't over heavy, the guitar itself was a pretty classic shape with a deep body cutaway, the ceramic pickups were a bit thin, but overall it was a quality guitar. Oh.. and the neck was just something else..

Yes, the necks! It's a shame he no longer has the original neck, maybe his was damaged or something.

 

[Will Lefeurve]

Yes, the necks! It's a shame he no longer has the original neck, maybe his was damaged or something.

Yes, I particularly remember the neck on the MIJ 1986 Contemporary E series Candy Apple Red Strat that I had.. it was simply sublime. So well crafted, with of course a 12" radius that suits me down to the ground..

 

[drp146]

Yes, I particularly remember the neck on the MIJ 1986 Contemporary E series Candy Apple Red Strat that I had.. it was simply sublime. So well crafted, with of course a 12" radius that suits me down to the ground..

It was probably pretty much the same neck as my 1985 E series. I love it.

 

[NewStratLover]

From my understanding, most solid color bodies were basswood, and sunbursts were mostly alder.

Thank you.. Mine is solid white, so Basswood it is probably!

 

[Will Lefeurve]

Thank you.. Mine is solid white, so Basswood it is probably!

Yes.. its a pretty sure bet, and those MIJ 80s bodies are pretty damn good too.. well shaped/sculpted..

 

[NewStratLover]

Yes.. its a pretty sure bet, and those MIJ 80s bodies are pretty damn good too.. well shaped/sculpted..

Indeed. I was shocked at how good the routes were. It looked like they had used CNC's and I'm pretty sure they didn't use them back then.. Great work on the routes and attention to detail. I'm still trying to get the guitar put together. I have the 3 EMG SA's installed on the body, and I have my warmoth neck I ordered with a maple fretboard and stainless 6100 jumbo frets and need to install the nut and tuners and string trees, all graphite from Graphtech. So, then just have to bolt neck on body and setup the bridge, etc.. and set action and I'm off to the races.. Just been really busy.. First time I've even had the chance to look at this forum, so sorry to answer so late man.. Thanks brother!