Sunday 14 July 2013

Fender System One Tremolo....

The Fender Contemporary Strats and Teles were the first Fender Japan models to be exported as Fender models. The previous Fender Japan models exported from Japan were all Fender Squier's. The Fender Contemporary models were manufactured from 1984 to 1987 by FujiGen Gakki and these guitars were designed to be Super Strats with humbucking pickups and Floyd Rose like tremolos made by Schaller. There was a lower priced Fender Contemporary Squier model produced as well. The Fender Contemporary Stratocaster and Telecaster models were part of the Fender Japan E series model range.

My favorite guitar for 25 years
My very first guitar, bought used in 1988
When CBS sold Fender to its current owners in 1984 minus the Fullerton California plant, there was a transitional period from 1985 to 1987 where a new factory was being built in Corona, California. During that time, parts and bodies were shipped to Japan for assembly. USA production was limited for 3 years.

The Project
Finally Fender started to realize in the late 80's that these guitars and basses were the same if not better than the US guitars and basses made in California, they were discontinued and manufacturing stopped all together in the early 90's.  These Made in Japan guitars really do play better and sweeter and are just as good if not better than the USA models of the same era....FACT.


My Fender System One Stratocaster Project....I had bought the red sparkle Strat a while back from ebay and had just not got round to starting it....It was in very good condition for it's age with the System One tremolo made by "Schaller of Germany" showing hardly any signs of ware....


It had a few parts missing....The guy I got it off wanted £900 for it when he first put it on ebay...."pissed"....I think I paid £170 including postage in the end with amazing sniping skills...."he was not happy"....took him ages to post it and I think he was hopping I would accept a refund...."remember kids....making a winning bid on ebay is a legally binding agreement for both parties"....suck it up bitches....


The original tremolo arm was missing....two intonation screws and two of the three steel string pads in the string lock were also missing. All the parts are readily available from ebay but you can obtain genuine parts from Kahler Parts or Wammi World....both run by John Cecchini....always a pleasure to deal with and when on the one time he did send the wrong part....the replacement turned up in less than a week and considering it was coming from the US of A, was amazing...."Big, BIG Thank You John....


The Schaller System One tremolo, like a Floyd Rose just will not work without the stringlock....


The tremolo was stripped down to bits, cleaned and put back together with beeswax cream....

considering its age the tremolo look barely used
The site that has the most information on the System One Tremolo and Fender in general is StratConnection....PapaTom knows his stuff when it comes to Fender Made in Japan....His site is full of useful information and he sell's some truly wonderful vintage guitars....his used System One Tremolos and Parts are also first class and compared to ebay show hardly any signs of use considering the age of the System One stuff....Then again if you have a System One Fender you will probably already know about StratConnection....PapaTom pretty much has the whole internet to himself with the hard to find new and used parts....

Tele fitted with Bare Knuckle VHII
This Made in Japan Strat dates from 1985/86....The Tele is one of the first Made in Japan Fenders in 1984.... The body of the Strat is going to be filled, re-routed "H/S/H" and re-finished in reliced "off white"....but that could change to "surf green"....k.j.


http://www.wammiworld.com/
"the first place to look for help and parts"

http://www.stratconnection.com/
"never found Papa Tom be of any help what-so-ever....and his prices are ridiculous....lol" 

http://schaller-electronic.com/hp121090/Startseite.htm

https://www.kahlerusa.com/





15 comments:

  1. I too agree that ptom's prices are too damn high.

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    1. ptom is a great site if you want to know the System One history....but if you want tech info to repair yourself....he keeps that stuff to himself....I mean it's not really secret....so you search some more on the web and end up finding others selling what he sells....but cheaper....k.j.

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  2. Papa Tom tends to ramble on and on and on and on, but never really gets to answering the questions. However if you want genuine, original fender japan parts hes the only source, as all of his parts come from salvaged system 1 tremolos. There are other parts available, much cheaper (and I have used them) but they are reproduction parts, not always the same materials, and definitely not produced or distributed by fender japan. That said, you can rebuild a system 1 with reproduction parts and have it work as good as new.

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  3. Papa Tom pretty much has the whole System One Internet to himself. Looks to know his stuff....Found a market for doing something that he loves....he can name his price....you don't like it tough. I think it's a good job I don't live anywhere near Papa Tom's....as I would have given him so much of my money....Some of his gear looks brand new....then you go on ebay and look at something someone's found in a ditch....lol

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  4. Thank you Kieth, I don't care what they say about ya you're alright with me.. stop by for a discount. I guess they haven't seen my Work Shoppes where I teach you how to do what other's charge you for, I show you on my site for free. I try to stop you from buying rediculious items like O rings to take the place of Ferrules, LOL! you can buy in a hard warestore, or Ferrules you can make your self.. My parts are Vintage authentic parts.. and they cost. You want good, your have to pay good. Rock on.. papatom

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  5. papatom....the dude....I have to say I have just read what I first put up about your site....or not read....the bit I did on your site is missing....I am a member of your site....get your newsletter....and have spoken to you 3 or 4 time's by email and found you very helpful....my piece now doesn't make sense....one lol comment by your link that would read badly....but then sing your praises in another comment....As you can see I am a professional blogger and before you ask....of course I don't back any of this up....I will rectify this ASAP....K.J.

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  6. Papatom is delusional! his prices are ridiculously high, like $1200.00 for a E series Mij Squier for example. He makes a million videos! He even made a video where he showed how to weigh humbuckers! Yeah you really need to know how much the pickups you are putting in your guitar weighs. When he makes the videos where he is attempting to play one of his guitars, he has a big screen tv in the background taping him. I think he plays make believe and likes to pretend he is at some stadium playing.

    Really not much knowledge on guitars besides the System one tremolo versions that he thinks are the best guitars in the world. Many guitars he sell are just partcasters, but he will want prices for the partcasters like they were all original. Sorry for rambling, but he is a flake and iritates the hell out of me.

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    1. Hi Ben....I love the System One and Made in Japan Fenders....Like I've said....It's a good job I don't live in the US as Papatom would have a lot of my money....He seems to be a nice guy and in this world that getting pretty rare these days....k.j.

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  7. I actually have a System III on eBay right now. Ridiculously good guitar and infinitely adjustable.

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. I thought this comment was spam....sorry....k.j.

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  9. Papatom helped me complete my Fender system one trem on my 1985/86 Fender Performer and now its mint

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    1. He is about the only place on the wed you can get System One stuff from....I spent a couple of hours the other week lurking through his site....I really need to sort out and finish my red strat....I never seem to have any time to start it....k.j.

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  10. Hi,
    Last month I scored a MIJ Squier series E strat in good condition, I am having it refinished right now. The bridge is good condition apparently and is a player. What I didn't like too much is the bridge pickup, the other too were better sounding. I would like to use it to play progressive rock in the style of Marillion. John from Wammi World just sent me a tremolo arm and other small pieces missing from the bridge. I cannot wait to play it when it comes back. Maybe a better bridge pickup will be in order, this is a great guitar and I think I just may sell my MIM strat later.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi,
    Last month I scored a MIJ Squier series E strat in good condition, I am having it refinished right now. The bridge is good condition apparently and is a player. What I didn't like too much is the bridge pickup, the other too were better sounding. I would like to use it to play progressive rock in the style of Marillion. John from Wammi World just sent me a tremolo arm and other small pieces missing from the bridge. I cannot wait to play it when it comes back. Maybe a better bridge pickup will be in order, this is a great guitar and I think I just may sell my MIM strat later.

    ReplyDelete