In the first difficult years that followed the closure of the Fullerton factory and preceded American Standard’s introduction, Japan not only supported Fender by producing lots of guitars for the American market, but also contributed to Stratocaster’s evolution through the introduction of small "modernities" that were in line with the growing use of the vibrato bar and with rock music carried to excess, thus inaugurating the era of the Superstrats.
Contemporary Stratocasters
Domestic
Contemporary Stratocasters appeared for the first time in the 1983 Japanese catalog under the Squier brand and were only for the internal market.
The first models initially had a "JV7xxxxx" serial number - although these guitars are not considered by music lovers and collectors real JV Stratocasters - after which followed those with the serial number starting with “E”. They were all characterized by a painted headstock with “Squier” and “Contemporary Series” logos, in addition to “by Fender” and “STRATOCASTER” decals in large letters, and were very different from the typical Stratocasters.
Although the alder body was the same as the classic JV’s, they were actually designed for metal lovers - "For the metalist," the catalog stated. There were at least thirteen different models, all of them characterized by a flat fretboard, medium jumbo frets, and many pickup combinations (humbucker Dragster or single coil Hot Rod) and some had the butterfly string trees, while others did not.
The first models initially had a "JV7xxxxx" serial number - although these guitars are not considered by music lovers and collectors real JV Stratocasters - after which followed those with the serial number starting with “E”. They were all characterized by a painted headstock with “Squier” and “Contemporary Series” logos, in addition to “by Fender” and “STRATOCASTER” decals in large letters, and were very different from the typical Stratocasters.
Although the alder body was the same as the classic JV’s, they were actually designed for metal lovers - "For the metalist," the catalog stated. There were at least thirteen different models, all of them characterized by a flat fretboard, medium jumbo frets, and many pickup combinations (humbucker Dragster or single coil Hot Rod) and some had the butterfly string trees, while others did not.
1983 Japanese catalog
In addition to a 6-screw bridge with block saddles, a Floyd-like tremolo system first appeared in this series: the Rox System, composed of the Upper Rox string clamp and the End Rox bridge, equipped with roller saddles, in which the strings locked inside the tremolo block called Bottom Rox.
In 1984 the Rox system was replaced by the Blade Shooter Tremolo, in which the saddle heights were not individually adjustable, but it was nevertheless possible to regulate their intonation, and the bridge height could be modified through the two screws by which it was fixed to the guitar and that acted like a pivot.
Rox System explained in the 1983 Japanese catalog
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6-screw style bridge with block saddles
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Blade Shooter System explained in the 1984 Japanse catalog (domestic Squier Contemporary Series was renaimed as Boxer Series)
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Export
Due to the closure of the Fullerton factory in 1985, and given the temporary unavailability of the American Stratocasters, those made in Japan were increasingly offered in European and US stores.
Until 1984 the only Contemporary Stratocasters were Squier branded and they were intended for Japanese territory only. However, in 1985, the first export Contemporary Strats appeared on the catalog, both Squier and Fender branded, all equipped with at least one humbucker.
The export Squier Contemporary Stratocaster, despite there being five of them, were rather rare. All equipped with at least one humbucker, they had a vintage style bridge or a Kahler Fulcrum.
Until 1984 the only Contemporary Stratocasters were Squier branded and they were intended for Japanese territory only. However, in 1985, the first export Contemporary Strats appeared on the catalog, both Squier and Fender branded, all equipped with at least one humbucker.
The export Squier Contemporary Stratocaster, despite there being five of them, were rather rare. All equipped with at least one humbucker, they had a vintage style bridge or a Kahler Fulcrum.
Squier Contemporary 27-4700
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Squier Contemporary 27-4500
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The Squier branded Contemporary Strats were joined by the Fender branded for the non-Japanese market. Among these are the Fender Contemporary Stratocasters and the Fender Contemporary Deluxe Stratocasters, made as exports from 1985 to 1988.
“Fender” Contemporary Strats were guitars on which big Floyd Rose style bridges were mounted: the Fender System I (FS1), Fender System II (FS2), and Fender System III (FS3), all of them made by Schaller, and, at a later time, the Kahler Fulcrum. The Fender System I was identical to the Blade Shooter featured on the 1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocasters and it was always paired with a string clamp near the nut. The second one was very reminiscent of the Elite Stratocaster bridge (it makes smile that in the manual it was called a "vintage" bridge!). The third model was more complex. It allowed the height of each saddle to be individually adjusted and could also be used as a fixed bridge.
“Fender” Contemporary Strats were guitars on which big Floyd Rose style bridges were mounted: the Fender System I (FS1), Fender System II (FS2), and Fender System III (FS3), all of them made by Schaller, and, at a later time, the Kahler Fulcrum. The Fender System I was identical to the Blade Shooter featured on the 1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocasters and it was always paired with a string clamp near the nut. The second one was very reminiscent of the Elite Stratocaster bridge (it makes smile that in the manual it was called a "vintage" bridge!). The third model was more complex. It allowed the height of each saddle to be individually adjusted and could also be used as a fixed bridge.
Fender System I
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Fender System II
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Fender System III
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Kahler Fulcrum
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Leveler activated locking nut, also known as Cam arm nut lock
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System I string locks
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Comparison between the two string lock systems of Contemporary Stratocasters
HM Strat
The fathers of the HM Strats: Dan Smith and Nick S. (Courtesy of Scott Zimmerman).
Some years later the HM Series, made up of guitars with a decidedly more metal look, was born. These "Heavy Metal" Strats, that sported a slightly smaller basswood body, black hardware, headstock and plastics, and usually no pickguard, were designed by Dan Smith and Nick S., a Japanese luthier who had worked for twenty-three years in R&D, custom guitar building and engineering at Fujigen factory. The Strat logo was designed by Mr. Kimura from Fujigen.
There were different HM Strats, each with a different pickup configuration (but that always included one or two humbuckers) and a floating bridge similar to the Floyd Rose and able to allow an exaggerated use of the vibrato bar.
The first to enter the Fender catalog in 1988 were the Japanese HM Strat, followed in 1989 by the US HM Strat, and, a year later, by the new HM Strat made in Japan. They were all available in different and mostly bright colors.
The first guitars of this series, the 1988 Japanese HM Strats, were equipped with a Kahler Spyder Tremolo bridge; the neck plate had a “Fender USA” engraving, a detail that created a lot of confusion because it erroneously implied that they were American guitars, in conjunction with the fact that the serial number frequently began with “E”, like the others Fender made in USA in the '80s.
The following year production was moved to the United States. It’s not easy to distinguish the HSS type made in the USA from the Japanese one, as the "made in Japan" decal is not always present or reliable and as they are identical guitars, except for the Di Marzio and American Standard pickups in the American ones and some different finishes. Among the US HM Strat we should mention the HM Strat Ultra, with an ebony fretboard with triangular markers, Lace Sensor pickups and Kahler Spyder Tremolo.
In 1991 the HM Strat’s production returned to Japan; the new guitars were still equipped with the Di Marzio humbucker, but also with the Floyd Rose bridge.
There were different HM Strats, each with a different pickup configuration (but that always included one or two humbuckers) and a floating bridge similar to the Floyd Rose and able to allow an exaggerated use of the vibrato bar.
The first to enter the Fender catalog in 1988 were the Japanese HM Strat, followed in 1989 by the US HM Strat, and, a year later, by the new HM Strat made in Japan. They were all available in different and mostly bright colors.
The first guitars of this series, the 1988 Japanese HM Strats, were equipped with a Kahler Spyder Tremolo bridge; the neck plate had a “Fender USA” engraving, a detail that created a lot of confusion because it erroneously implied that they were American guitars, in conjunction with the fact that the serial number frequently began with “E”, like the others Fender made in USA in the '80s.
The following year production was moved to the United States. It’s not easy to distinguish the HSS type made in the USA from the Japanese one, as the "made in Japan" decal is not always present or reliable and as they are identical guitars, except for the Di Marzio and American Standard pickups in the American ones and some different finishes. Among the US HM Strat we should mention the HM Strat Ultra, with an ebony fretboard with triangular markers, Lace Sensor pickups and Kahler Spyder Tremolo.
In 1991 the HM Strat’s production returned to Japan; the new guitars were still equipped with the Di Marzio humbucker, but also with the Floyd Rose bridge.
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Late '80s HM Series advertising with Greg Howe
US Contemporary Stratocaster
Finally, the US Contemporary Stratocaster were guitars designed by Fender as a modern evolution of the Stratocasters. Unfortunately not much is known about these guitars. They were assembled in U.S.A. using mostly Japanese components. Indeed, both the neck, without any decal indicating the origin, and the figured maple top and back body really look as if they were made in Japan.
These guitars featured a twenty-two fret fretboard, Gotoh tuning machines, contoured neck plate with the "Fender U.S.A." engraving and equipped with micro tilt, Kahler bridge with the locking nut, and a split-able humbucker at the bridge along with two single coils.
These guitars featured a twenty-two fret fretboard, Gotoh tuning machines, contoured neck plate with the "Fender U.S.A." engraving and equipped with micro tilt, Kahler bridge with the locking nut, and a split-able humbucker at the bridge along with two single coils.
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US Contemporary Stratocaster (Courtesy of Davide Crippa)
Note
Don't forget the Contemporary Strats made by the USA Custom Shop in the '90s, to which a separate chapter has been dedicated, and the 2020 "reissue" Limited Edition HM Strat.
Antonio Calvosa
