Squier Japan Stratocaster SST30 Black 1987
Squier SST30 Strat, made in Japan 1987, black. This is a very enjoyable guitar, it plays so well. Squier kicked off in 1982, and for the first few years, from 1982-8, Squier branded guitars were made in the same illustrious Fujigen Gakki factory as their Fender branded cousins, using many of the same parts. The earliest examples from 1982-5 carry the blessed 'JV' or 'SQ' serial numbers and fetch very significant cash, but these E serial examples were the next horses out of the gate, made from 1985-8 and can be scored for pretty reasonable sums. There's a reason folks love these MIJ-Squiers: mostly, it's mostly about the necks. This has a gorgeous neck: beautiful golden maple, super tight and consistent grain pattern, carved to an enjoyable vintage C shape, neither too thick nor thin, with great fret and finish work... it's just kinda perfect. The pickups are pretty simple, just the stock ceramic stuff, but they sound great: clear, warm, airy midrange, plenty of punch... they're very good. The bridge is the same as you'd have gotten on the Fender models at the time, and the tuners are a Fender Japan branded Gotoh, which work really well; it's all very sturdy in the hands. This is a fair bit cheaper than the going rate on a new Player Series Strat, and in my mind, it's so much better in the hands it's silly.
Model: Squier SST30 Stratocaster
Made: 26th January, 1987
Serial: E746973
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, slim C profile
Weight: 3.675kg
Mods: switch replaced, rewired with second tone control wired to bridge pickup instead of middle
Pickups: Squier Japan SQ-3 ceramic bar single coil x3
Accessories: no case, no trem arm
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end, scuffs on the bottom edge, scuffs on the front near the decals and surface scratches on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has scuffs on horns and near the neck plate, a bald patch and some surface scratches around the trem cavity and some dimples and scuffs in the elbow area, back edge and bottom corner. The sides have dimples on the top horn, some dents and dimples in the elbow area, scuffs along the back edge, dimples near the jack and rub wear on the bottom horn. The front has scuffs and dimples around the jack, bridge, back edge and elbow area, a chip on the back edge up from the rear strap pin, rub wear up from the guard and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear but playing evenly with no major buzz issues.