Help in identifying this guitar..Japan??

[dfx_pedalpcbs]

Got given this guitar, not sure how much of it is original. Its a strat type with what looks like a tele neck, i think the neck may have been added to it, the old one must have broke or someone just didnt like it. I've taken some pics, there's a lot of space in the cavity under the pickguard. The pickguard could well be original as there aren't extra screw holes that you sometimes find if someone has bought a plate of ebay. We have Made in Japan on the underside of the pickguard and some big ass 24mm pots. Any clues as to the maker?

[willienillie]

The pickguard was made in Japan, and is aftermarket.  The pickups are cheapies from somewhere in Asia.  The CRL switch and CTS pots are probably an upgrade to whatever parts were there before, added some time after the pickups (the tone cap was reused).  The route on the body is unusual, I've never seen a Fender like that, but I haven't examined them all.  The neck is an aftermarket part.

As a whole, it's a "partscaster" with various national origins for the parts.  If it sounds good, play it.  If not, give it to your niece and she can put stickers on it.

[Rob Strand]

The neck route and the spray job makes me think the body is DIY.  They could have fitted it out with various off the shelf parts.
Interesting the pickup selector switch is made in USA.

[dfx_pedalpcbs]

Yea the body surprised me as i too have never seen one like that and I have seen lots of cheapo guitars. Im going to clean it up and put some new strings on it and see how it is. The neck does have a nice feel to it so we shall see.

[iainpunk]

i used to have a broken guitar laying around with the exact same huge pickup route in it, the neck that was on it was quite different tho, it was pained blue by the previous owner so the logo on the head stock was obscured, all the nasty tacky paint has been removed form the neck by now so i don't think ill ever find the brand.
it also had different pickups than yours, it had ceramic blade pickups, white plastic 'enclosure', didn't fit in either a strat or tele pickup hole in other pickguards.

i'd say string her up and just play it, brand shouldn't matter if it plays good.

cheers, Iain

Ps. nice big cavity of onboard effects

[willienillie]

The body route is reminiscent of the 1967 "smuggler" telecasters, cut all the way down into the lower horn.  But I've never seen that on any kind of Strat, I tend to think it once had extra electronics and a battery, or at least some models did from whatever company made that body.

Interesting the pickup selector switch is made in USA.

It think it was professionally rewired at a guitar store at some point (circa 2001), and those parts are just what the store always used.  I say this because I used to do the same thing; put Switchcraft, CTS, and CRL into everything.  It's actually easier to work with quality parts, and it's not really worth the effort to fool with cheap flimsy stuff.

[Rob Strand]

It think it was professionally rewired at a guitar store at some point (circa 2001), and those parts are just what the store always used.  I say this because I used to do the same thing; put Switchcraft, CTS, and CRL into everything.

Makes a lots of sense.

It's actually easier to work with quality parts, and it's not really worth the effort to fool with cheap flimsy stuff.

Agreed.