"Crafted in Japan" label confusion

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jtwang

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(I posted the below over at TGP, but didn't get any replies. Hopefully there are more MIJ/CIJ Fender experts here.)

I've noticed that the some CIJ Fenders have the words "Crafted in Japan" written in a elegant, handwriting-esque kind of style. It's very different from the more common font used on these guitars. (See examples below.)

What's the deal with these differences?

Examples:

"Elegant" label:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-62-REISSUE-STRATOCASTER-GUITAR-FIESTA-RED-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ110459058590QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuit ar?hash=item19b7df799e

"Standard" label:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Stratocaster-62-Re-Issue-CIJ-Japan-3-Tone-NICE_W0QQitemZ300359363111QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuita r?hash=item45eed02a27
L
 
Dunno mate. My guess would be natural evolution of the font used over time. The red one that you linked to is a pretty early CIJ.

The thing to do with Japanese Fenders is to work out what specs you want and then look for a guitar that fits, eg:

- what kind of pickups? (Japanese, Texas Special, USA 57/62s etc)
- What kind of wood is the body made from (ash, alder, basswood)? How many pieces?
- Steel trem block?
- Pickup rout type?
- Finish (poly or nitro)?

etc, etc
 
youami said:
Dunno mate. My guess would be natural evolution of the font used over time. The red one that you linked to is a pretty early CIJ.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
Yeah, the red one was a '93-'94. Strange thing is that according to conventional serial number wisdom there were no CIJs until 1997, only MIJ. However, that doesn't seem to be entirely true; that red strat is not the first CIJ with a pre-'97 serial I have seen. Which brings me back to the font in the "Crafted in Japan" label: Maybe this handwriting-styled font was used only on these (somewhat unusual) pre-'97 CIJs..?
 
I always thought cij are manufactured in a different factory, the mij cij transition marked moving away from fujigen or tokai to dyna or something like that?
I have two '54 Lace Sensor Strats, one is mij (ST54-77LS) and one is cij (ST54-95LS).
Only based on my limited personal experience of two guitars, I rate the mij way over the cij. But maybe my mij was a lucky shot. It has a flamed (not foto) neck, and sounds like heaven. The cij is a great guitar but a little less creamy soundwise. Mij has nickel bridge and steel block, the "old" flat Lace Sensors and the 16dB Midboost instead of the 25dB. I will never let her go.



http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCMGJ9_mFwID82QE&feat=directlink
 

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