What trem do I have?

[Singemonkey]

I have a V-serial number '90s CIJ Jazzmaster (with the italic Crafted In Japan label). The pickups were already replaced with the Fender vintage reissue pickups. So some stuff was done to it before I got it.

So now I'm trying to set the trem up with .11s and having some issues. But when I looked into it, I'm no longer at all sure this is the original Trem. So searching here and then trying to confirm with pics, Japanese offset trems have (1) a chromed tremlock button without bevelled edges and (2) an oval hole for the arm collet.

This one has a dull coloured tremlock button with strongly bevelled edges and a round opening for the trem arm. Here's a pic. Sorry for not cleaning it up before taking the pic:



And then weirdest of all, has anyone seen these three extra holes through the middle with no screws - one of them in the Fender logo?

Wondering if anyone can shed some light on this.

[Ceylon]

As you say, that looks to be a US-made vibrato. The three holes are almost certainly added by a previous owner to install some sort of buzzstop-contraption or weird behind the bridge pickup setup.

EDIT: although now that I look at it, it seems like the strings "fan out" from the middle of the anchor towards the sides, instead of going in a straight line over the bridge, which I'm pretty sure is a CIJ feature?

[GilmourD]

Honestly, it's up in the air since that trem definitely didn't leave the factory with those three holes in it. Those holes have rough edges and no chrome on the inner surface. It's also entirely possible that the lock button has been replaced, but the edge of the slot for the button does appear to be factory.

What's the spacing on the tailpiece from E to E?

[Singemonkey]

What's the spacing on the tailpiece from E to E?

Looks like 5cm from one E string to the other.

[GilmourD]

What's the spacing on the tailpiece from E to E?

Looks like 5cm from one E string to the other.

Gotta measure down to the millimeter, from the center of one E to the center of the other. It'll not be very different (52mm vs 56mm) but that'll indicate where the trem came from.

[Singemonkey]

Yeah. I couldn't find my good ruler but it's either 5cm or 5.1cm. Certainly no more than that.

[Gavanti]

If it is US, there's a good chance it's an older unit if the screws for the fulcrum plate are flattened on top as they appear to be. I'm not certain when they stopped doing that, but I have a '72 Jag with flattened screw and a '73 JM without. I've also noticed the edge of the top plate is thinner than on the newer units.

[interceptör]

Isn't the logo all wrong? Wrong font, carved instead of stamped? Looks a lot like the fake one sold new in genuine package for €50 that was discussed here not long ago.

[DrippyReverbTremolo]

The collet seems to be offset in the hole. Looks weird.

[andy_tchp]

I'm going with a mix of parts from AVRI/Fender Japan given the string spread from the retainer is apparently around 50mm.

Holes obviously drilled by someone post manufacture.

And whoever put it together clearly only owned a phillips head screwdriver (mis)sized perfectly to damage each and every fastener it touched

[ohm-men]

Indeed 95% Japanese trem with an AVRI buttom on it.
Font is correct for a 90"s MIJ/CIJ trem.
Buttom is def not the original one as this would be a flat non rounded buttom.

Extra holes are indeed non original. probably as mentioned a DIY buzz stop.
If the part that holds the screw is Brass (on the backside) you can be assured it's Japanese.

[JSett]

vibrato.

Thank you.

[Singemonkey]

Indeed 95% Japanese trem with an AVRI buttom on it.
Font is correct for a 90"s MIJ/CIJ trem.
Buttom is def not the original one as this would be a flat non rounded buttom.

Ok. But quite apart from the weirdness of a mix-n-match, all of the '90s trem plates I've looked at in pictures online have a distinctive oval opening for the arm. This one is completely round.

Is there anything definitive? In the internals perhaps?