c.1985 Fender Japan Pink Paisley Stratocaster Electric Guitar
This is a customer's instrument that was in for a fret level/dress, cleaning, and setup. It had been used for slide for a long time and it was nice to have it brought back to "normal" play. This is a reissue-style pink paisley Strat that was made in Japan in the mid-80s (the serial specifies a range from 1984-1987) and was this customer's first "real" guitar.
I love me them bullet truss rods and double string trees! The finish on this guy is actually "naturally" aged to a yellow. In the neck pocket slot the finish is still crisp and clear-natural on the neck.
The owner has of course removed the troublesome whammy cover.
Skunk-stripe maple neck and micro-tilt 3-bolt neckplate.
Comments
The Stratocasters made in 1995 and before all had 3 bolt necks, large headstocks and 11 hole pickguards. The ones that were to come afterwards all had the 4 bolt necks, small headstocks and 8 hole pickguards.
Although this model is now back in production (but not officially imported to the US or Europe - 'new' production paisley and flower power Strats are not based on the 70's model), according to the 'Blue Book' they were originally produced in limited numbers and discontinued in 1994 (the paisley and flower power version) and 1995 (the vintage white or natural version). By the way, the recent re-release flower power and paisley Strats are not '72 Reissues as they are based on small headstock Strats. The '72 Reissue is based on the 1972 CBS model and features:
So your Paisley is most likely from 95’ and newer!!
The ones saying “made in Japan” are part of the first original “wave” that Fender made.
I get this result with the serial number at the Guitar Dater Project website: "Your guitar was made at the Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan in 1986 - 1987 Production Number: 25898"
And this at the Fender Serial Number Lookup website: "Year: 1986 - 1987 / Plant: FujiGen, Japan"
According to the data I have available to me; my guitar should have "Made In Japan" at the heel, yet it has "Crafted In Japan" at the heel. I bought it used around 1994 and the finish on the fingerboard was already quite worn, it definitely wasn't made in 1995 or later. It's a mystery I haven't been able to solve. Is it possible guitars made for export had "Made In Japan" and guitars made for the Japanese domestic market had "Crafted In Japan" at the heel? Perhaps mine was simply bought in Japan and eventually ended up in a pawn shop in North Vancouver, BC in 1994.