MIJ Malmsteen strat

[blindmuddy]

What is a reasonable price for one of these, and how do they compare to the US model?
Thanks
Chris

[pebber]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

I've added a comparison chart below, a fair marketprice for a US model 2ndH would be anywhere between $1000-$1250, for a Japanese 2ndH between $600-$800. You must take in account that the condition of the (6100) Jumbo fret's is critical, since you can't refret (or at least, I can't) a scalloped neck!
<table width="100%" border="1">
<tr>
<td>Specs</td>
<td><font color="#0000FF">U.S. Signature Stratocaster, 1998 Model</font></td>
<td><font color="#0000FF">U.S. Signature Stratocaster, 1994 Model</font></td>
<td><font color="#0000FF">Japanese Signature Strat, 1995 Model</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Body</td>
<td>Alder</td>
<td>Alder</td>
<td>Basswood</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Neck</td>
<td>1-piece maple with 70's large headstock</td>
<td>1-piece maple with 60's large headstock</td>
<td>1-piece maple with 70's large headstock</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fretboard</td>
<td>Rosewood or maple, scalloped (9.5&quot; radius/241 mm)</td>
<td>Rosewood or maple, scalloped (9.5&quot; radius/241 mm)</td>
<td>Rosewood or maple, scalloped (10&quot; radius/250 mm)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Number of Frets</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scale Length</td>
<td>25.5&quot; (648 mm)</td>
<td> 25.5&quot; (647.7mm)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Width at Nut</td>
<td>1.650&quot; (42 mm)</td>
<td> 1.654&quot; (42mm)</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Machine Heads</td>
<td>Schaller &quot;F&quot; tuners</td>
<td>Vintage Style</td>
<td>Schaller &quot;F&quot; tuners or Vintage Style</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pickup Neck</td>
<td>DiMarzio YJM</td>
<td>DiMarzio HS-3</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pickup Middle</td>
<td>DiMarzio YJM</td>
<td>Fender American Standard</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pickup Bridge</td>
<td>DiMarzio HS-3</td>
<td>DiMarzio HS-3</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Controls</td>
<td>Volume, Tone, &quot;No Load&quot; Tone (bridge &amp; mid), 3-way selector</td>
<td> 1 volume control, 2 TBX, 5-way selector</td>
<td> 1 volume control, 2 tone control, 5-way selector</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tremolo</td>
<td> Vintage</td>
<td> American Standard</td>
<td> Standard</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nut</td>
<td>Brass</td>
<td> Brass</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</table>

[jgcable]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

The major downsides of the MIJ Malmsteen are the lack of a brass nut, no dual stacked Dimarzios and the basswood body is a little dark sounding.

[pebber]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

hey, that was my line in the makin'.. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] .. fully agree!

[LexLuthier]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

[ QUOTE ]
you can't refret (or at least, I can't) a scalloped neck!


[/ QUOTE ]

It depends on how it was scalloped, the Malmsteens should be no problem to refret.
I've seen some bad scallop jobs where there is hardly any wood left next to the frets, refretting one of those could be challenging.

[Deneb]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

I sold my MIJ Malmsteen a few years back for 900$

[Joe_Steeler]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

Damn pebber, nice job on that table!!

I have the MIA white w/maple fretboard and love it.
It took some getting used to, but now I find it to be an asset.
I like so much that in 1997 I bought the MIJ Ritchie Blackmore Ltd. Ed. as well. What a sweet guitar too.
The Blackmore has a slightly different scallop from the YJM.
Love them both.

[pebber]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

Thanks!
How is the scallop of the Blackmore strat different compared to the Malmsteen? I thought they were made less deep and a little bit asymmetrical.. is this correct?

[Joe_Steeler]

Re: MIJ Malmsteen strat

You are correct.
They are a little bit less deep., however the asymmetrical scallop is supercool.
Your fingers do not need to be parallel to the frets to lay in the fret area. The Blackmore scallops are slanted within the fret spaces.

Very cool indeed.