1993 Japanese Fender Stratocaster . ser# N034993
by Christopher D Marvin
(Taylor .PA)
My Strat is I think a 1993, on the head stock it has the fender logo followed by the stratocaster then under that it has the with synchronized tremolo, At the end of the head it has the Floyd rose then in cursive under the Floyd it has the squier series. The body is a Foto Flame finish , its kinda dark purple and black. It has the 2 single and 1 humbucker pickups and only 1 tone and 1 volume controls and the 5 way switch. the trem is a Floyd Rose 2( not a licensed by Floyd)its a real Floyd. The body has a few cracks, they're only in the finish . I hope my info is good cause I'm not good with computers and don't have any pics any info on what its worth or what it really is would be great. Thank You.
ANSWER
Hi, Christopher--
The serial number does, in fact, indicate that Your guitar was made at the Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan in the 1993 - 1994.
The Blue Book does not list the Squire series. It does say this:
"In the early 1980s, the Fender guitar empire began to crumble. Many cost-cutting factors and management problems forced CBS to try various last ditch efforts to salvage the instrument line. In March of 1982, Fender (with CBS' blessing) negotiated with Kanda Shokai and Yamano Music to establish Fender Japan. After discussions with Tokai (who built a great Fender Strat replica, among other nice guitars), Kawai, and others, Fender finally chose Fuji Gen Gakki (based in Matsumoto, about 130 miles northwest of Tokyo). In 1983 the Squier series was built in Japan, earmarked for European distribution."
I was able to find a couple of 1993 Japanese stats available on the internet for around $400. All indications are that these are very good instruments, just not in great demand by collectors at this time.
Lynne
