Pawn Shop Fender Japan Strat - Is this a good deal?

[DonP]

A pawn shop wants $300 for a metalic sky blue / maple fretboard Fender Strat. s/n starts with E94????. 3 singles, white pickguard, V-Trem, I'll try to find a similar pic on ebay while you guys ponder this. A few decent chips in the paint. I don't know shit about Fenders (other than low end MIM Fenders).

Frets have wear. Stupid vintage frets - how I hate them. The have a cheap Ibeenhad with Super Jumbos, but the neck profile was fatter than the Fender (I like thin).

Help?

edit: it was this color, right handed

http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-STRAT-JAPAN-57-Left-Handed-Lefty-UNIQUE-COLOUR_W0QQitemZ7417498117QQcategoryZ621QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

edit 2: stupid chinese forgeries

[jgcable]

I am pretty sure that is called sonic blue. The serial # means its a 1989. It should say Made in Japan or Handcrafted in Japan on the back of the neck right before the heal.
It should have a skunk stripe.
If the frets are worn I would offer them $200.00 and work my way up to no higher than $250.00.
Japanese Fenders are just as good as the USA models. Some people even like them better.
Worn frets mean you might have to sink $200.00 into it for a fret job or a new neck. The whole reason people like the Japanese Fender Strats is because of the neck. Keep that in mind.

[DonP]

Thanks John.

It did have the skunk stripe, but I think the "MADE IN JAPAN" was on the headstock - damn - I can't remember.

The frets might be playable but vintage frets are never to my liking.

Any idea of what the body is made out of? It was heavier than basswood, but not crazy heavy like the 70's.

[jgcable]

The color could also be called Ocean Turquoise.
It should say Made in Japan or Crafted in Japan on the back.
The body could be alder, poplar, basswood (I doubt its basswood) or even maple. Most likely its alder or poplar.

If it has a V trem on it, it might be a reissue model. What does the neck profile feel like? What type of tuners does it have on it?

[DonP]

It's a VERY bright baby blue. It really stands out.

I think it said "MADE IN JAPAN" on the headstock below the s/n. I'm pretty sure there wasn't anything on the back of the neck.

It does have a v-trem, neck profile is a medium slim C shape, not Jackson thin, but still a good feel. Very mild yellowing, gloss laquer. Vintage frets, "roller" tees on the headstock (the string tension things have rollers on them to reduce friction).

Sorry, only thing I remember about the tuners is they are chrome.

[data187]

i had one of these and it's great...
the action was low and had no buzz.
the body was a 2 piece and very resonant.
imo, with a change of electronics and hardware, it's every bit as good as an american made strat.