MIJ STRAT: warning content can be GAS inflicting!

[Elliot]

JVs have really dark rosewood necks - I have a 2003 Mex classic and had a 2002 US standard Strat (which was a pig to play and I sold for more than I payed for it) and the rosewood was kinda light.  Is this due to the change over from Brazillian to Indian rosewood?

[Twinfan]

No JV will have Brazilian rosewood.....

[Henk]

If my memory serves me well, dark rosewood is a selection of the best rosewood available, best in terms of looks and tone.

The original '62 strats also had dark rosewood fretboards, the '62 model JV strats were made with it aswell. Fender still uses the darker selection of rosewood in their custom shop reissues, probably the JV scores another point valuewise with this.

I what respect it sounds different from 'normal' rosewood i dont know, but it looks to me it is more dense and has heavier grain then the lighter rosewood i know. The grain has the downside that it collects alot of crud as i found out, it still looks more like ebony then rosewood on my JV.

[Henk]

Hey, i though i should give this thread a final update.

I have been playing SO MUCH on the JV last couple of days, its just such a dream to play when you cant get along with the C shape necks. If you just concentrate on thumb placement on top of the neck instead of palm support like on a gibson 50s neck you wont have any problem adjusting at all!

The pups(japan 'hot' vintage SQ-5) are very clapton voiced, thats actually fine with me for now, ill probably get a vintage 'twang' set on a black pickguard anyway. Apaches would do reight?

The only problem i have with the pups atm is that the japanese pots bleed to the ground which isnt very nice, hence the idea of just putting in another pickguard and keeping this one original.

The JV is just such a good match with my Bluesbreaker, the BB didnt get much use the last couple of years and now its back! I use it in high 1 channel or in 'plexi jump lead' mode, especially the latter sound huge with a strat.

The only irritating thing is that when you are looking for clapton tabs there are like 10 for 1 song and NOT 1 is any good, so i have to tab myself which i dont like much....... :(

If you can find a JV which suits you(many were basswood so mind that) go for it! It just shreds an USA standard to pieces and is comparable(or even cheaper if you get a domestic one like me) in price.

[viking]

I found out (thanks to you,Henk 8) ) that i own a Jv ...It's a black Squier Strat Jv from 82 (reg.n°),it looks very similar to Henk's but in black ,of course..It's in mint condition,though (no paint scratch...).It's EXTREMELY light,really surprising if i compare to my USA strat (70).All specs seems originals.I do like the neck (slim) and the dark rosewood.Hardware seems to be  US' but i don't like the PU's.It's really the weak spot.It needs BNK's..i guess.I would like to know how much it's worth?

[Twinfan]

It's worth about £500....

[Elliot]

The pickups on an export JV are Dan Smith era US Fender (made in the Fullerton factory) alnico Vs - wound to 6k.  Smith refused to let the Japanese make pickups.  I just say that in case you want to go hotter or cooler.

Its light because its probably made of basswood - as were almost all solid colour JVs - this is no problem because having seen a stripped JV we are not talking the poor quality basswood used in cheap guitars but rather the alder like top grade of basswood.  People slag off basswood too much - good basswood sounds like alder, if a little warmer and is almost as tough as alder.

[viking]

Thanks,guys! 8) I looked again and my Jv is from 83 (Jv4).I didn't used it lately but i will check the quality of the Pu's again because when i used it,in the past,it was only with a Mosfet amp.It's surprising (sweet) to find US Pu's in it. :D  Cheers!

[viking]

Hey! One of my main axe is  another Squier Strat Made in Japan.It's a white one but very different then the black Jv.First,it's much heavier,almost as much as my old 70' Strat (the "white"body was stolen by the luthier and replaced by a "natural wood"body,probably Ash.Btw,is there a serie M,like the serie L for Strats?) then,the serial number is not behind the neck but written on the head instead.Mechanics are not "vintage"-like and there are no Fender logo on the bridge.The neck is rounder and the finish is satin-like.On the head,logo says:Squier-Stratocaster/by Fender-Made in Japan-sr.number.  etc. Would anybody know something about this Squier?I would like to know because it's a very nice guitar (it's fitted w/EMG's).

[Henk]

It is very common with Fenders that alot of the original stuff gets replaced.

You can find alot if not all info on MIJ squiers at http://www.21frets.com.

[Elliot]

M is the dating prefix for 1992-1993