Japanese serial numbers are different than other serial number systems used by Fender(or Squier). E series Fenders/Squiers are generally 1984-1987. As far as the quality is concerned, they have different models so it really depends on which model he has. Overall build quality is usually very good regardless of the model, though. The biggest differences are going to lie in the pickups and hardware. Do you have any pictures of it?
That would help a lot. You can also head over to too for even more help. Anything from the Fuji-Gen factory in that era is going to be a quality guitar. Aside from a few misses that every plant will have.
Fender doesn't have detailed records on anything prior to 1993. Also the neck date and serial number at most ONLY tell you when the NECK was made. That's why a lot of even more recent guitars you can only narrow it down to a year or two range, because sometimes months pass between when a neck is made and when it is assembled onto a body to make a complete guitar. Funny.I am looking at my Fender 75 Reissue Jazz Bass, Made In Japan, and it has s/n before the serial number. The bass pictured is a Japanese Fender,it's a Marcus Miller Bass. Click to expand.
The Fender/Squier label was interchangeable. There is little to no difference in the guitar itself when it is MIJ. IMO a Fuji-Gen guitar from that era is every bit as good as any American Standard - it just doesn't hold the same value. Sadly, value has nothing to do with quality.
From Fuji-Gen in the early 80's, desirability and subsequent 'market value' would be. 1: JV Series 2: SQ Series 3: E Series. Aside from the odd dud, the E series guitars are very nice. Edit to add: There are some variations in 'domestic' vs 'export' models. In this case - North America is the 'export' and that is what I am referring to with my above statements. Further to my OP, it has gotoh tuners, 11 hole 3 ply wbw pick guard, and a 5 way switch! Fender tell me it must be a modified Squier Standard Strat, as it should have trapezoid tuners, 8 hole PG and a 3 way switch!
I beg to differ as my friend got it from the first owner who didn't play, he bought it to hang on the wall! Egalax touch drivers linux mint. So he never changed anything and my friend has hardly touched it literally! I think it probably has the original strings!
I do have pictures but can't upload them as I'm currently not near my computer where they are stored! It's Torino Red, has gotoh tuners, unstamped vintage 6 screw tremolo, 5 way, wbw 11 hole PG and everything else looks original and nicely aged, even the screws look untouched and corroded/aged! So it seems all original, despite what fender says, but they know very little anyway about this era of MIJ guitars! Click to expand.Pictures would go a long way. Define 'Fender' in that statement above. Did you write Fender or talk to someone that knows, or are you talking about their forums? Is it a 'fender' book or third party web site?
The info given to you doesn't make much sense to me, but there are always exceptions. There are many different E-Series guitars. And as I state earlier, there are differences between the domestic and export models. Personally - I have never seen an E-Series with trapazoid tuners but I'm sure they exist. If the tuners were not original, you would likely see additional holes in the headstock. Especially if they were trapazoid.
Same with the pickguard. If it were an 8 hole originally - those don't line up with 11 hole guards. Take the guard off and look for extra holes. Regarding 'Fender', I contacted their customer service/support dept, gave them details about the guitar and its specs and the serial and they came back saying it was a Squier Std Strat that had been modified due to the gotoh's and 11 hole PG and 5 way! The original owner never played it as he couldn't play, it was just an ornament, so never modded it and the current owner (only 2 owners from new) has not modded it either! Fender said it may have been a running change at the factory and that it was an 85-88 guitar, which doesn't match up with anything I have already found out! I'll get pics up later!
But it's an E82 serial and say MADE IN JAPAN on the headstock under the 'by Fender' part of the logo! No extra holes from any other tuners, but Fender also said it should have GROVER tuners! But according to what I've read, they had trapezoids! Dunno what's right or wrong now but the guitar seriously looks untouched! Click to expand.I think this above statement is the key. The UK/Canadian exports of Squiers during this era are different from what the rest of the world saw.