USED Fender Contemporary Stratocaster Red 1988 MIJ System One Electric Guitar w/Fender molded case

When this guitar was made in 1988, Fender production in the US was extremely limited. In addition, music was getting heavier and Fender products were looking a bit stodgy and dated compared to the likes of Ibanez, Kramer and others. The Contemporary Stratocaster was an attempt to modernize the Strat and make it more appealing to hard rockers. The Fender Contemporary Strats were the first Japan models to carry the name Fender instead of Squier, and are an unusual mix of vintage and updated hardware. They have a locking nut and a Fender-Schaller vibrato bridge with fine adjustment knobs, but vintage frets and a bottom adjust truss rod. The pickups are also vintage in nature with DC resistance in the low 5K range and traditional Fender volume and tone control assignments. The guitar is a very good player and while the bridge looks out of place on a Strat, it's very functional. And you don't have to clip the ball ends to string it. For history buffs the Contemporary Strat is an interesting transitional guitar straddling the period when CBS sold Fender to private investors, and the opening of the Fender plants in Californian and Mexico. 

The serial number matches Japanese production circa 1988, while Fender fans will point out that the Contemporary Strat production ceased in 1987. Not being the original owner, we don't have an explanation other than guitar production dates are not an exact science and model years can be somewhat approximate.

This guitar is in very good condition with no noticeable fret wear, but a few dings in the body, mostly on the top. Electrically it's fully functional. The case is unlikely original, and has a lot of stickers on it, and the latches are a bit sticky. 

Specs on the Fender Contemporary Stratocaster:

• Fender model 27-4300
• Made in Japan by Fuji-gen
• Alder body 7.8 pounds
• Tinted maple neck
• 1-11/16" width locking nut
• 12" radius Rosewood fretboard
• Vintage type frets
• Bottom adjust truss rod
• 3 Fender Japan single coil pickups
• Fender-Schaller System One vibrato bridge with fine adjusters
• 5-way pickup switch
• Fender molded case (fair condition, lots of stickers)