Fender Branded Korean Stratocasters

Fender produced several Korean Fender branded strat style guitars here are some details in no particular order

Fender E7 and E10 Strats

This is Fender branded E10 62 Strat

These guitars are problematic for several reasons. They don't appear in any official documents that I can find. The serial numbers are so prone to wear that they often appear to be blank unless you use a magnifying glass in bright sunlight, this has lead to people assuming perfectly good guitars are fakes or stolen because of the seeming lack of serial number. Very similar guitars bearing the Squier brand are much more common but they don't appear to be exactly the same the tuners at least are different and who knows what else.
This is what I know from correspondence with owners and similar over a number of years. I have owned a Squier E10 but not a Fender E.

Despite some sources the E7 and E10 were both made in 1987, some sources suggest the E10 is later but that's wrong. There were 2 models a 57 and a 62 and they were direct replacements for the Japanese models like the ST362 and 357. As always with far Eastern models these are not reissues just similar to 57 and 62 models. Good quality guitars built by Young Chang. I don't think that there is any difference between those with an E7 serial number and those with an E10 the E10s were earlier.

* Almost certainly Squier Spacing but not sure.
Update Jan 2021
Viking from the Squier forum says As far as I know all the E10/E7 strats whether they had Fender or Squier on the headstock came with the 2 7/32 trem. Fender stamped bent steel saddles, big pot metal block.
Thank you Viking

Serial number going on this one


Gone on this one very common on Squier Es as well Both the above are 62s


This is a 57 headstock


A 57


Bridge same on both models

Fender Stratocaster Lite Ash Model 26-5102

Made in the Cort factory the Lite Ash was introduced in 2004 and continued to 2008 originally released in Natural only. Added Black and Vintage White the following year.

Specifications
Body Light Ash polyurethane finish
Neck Birdseye Maple Modern C Satin Poly finish
Fretboard Birdseye Maple 22 Medium Jumbo frets 9.5" Radius Abalone dot markers
Headstock Natural with Fender Gold Transition Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Diecast Sealed Chrome
Pickups Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro staggered x 3 black covers
Controls 1 Volume 2 Tone black speed dial type 5 way switch
Nut 1.625"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 2 pivot trem Chrome Squier spacing
Pickguard Black Single Ply

Fender Koa Stratocaster Model 26-5106

Launched in 2006 and made for about two years, according to Fender this guitar was the first use of Koa wood outside the custom shop. Made in the Cort Factory


Specifications
Body Basswood or Alder with a Koa Veneer top Polyurethane Finish
Neck Birdseye Maple Modern C Satin Poly finish
Fretboard Rosewood 22 Medium Jumbo frets 9.5" Radius Pearl dot markers
Headstock Natural with Fender Silver embossed Spaghetti Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Diecast Sealed Chrome
Pickups Seymour Duncan Alnico ProII staggered x 3 white covers
Controls 1 Volume 2 Tone White 5 way switch
Nut 1.625"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 2 pivot trem Chrome Squier spacing
Pickguard 3 ply pearl
Colours Light Burst only

Take a look at these two headstocks the one on the left has the normal logo but changed string trees the one on the right whilst certainly from a Koa has a different logo but the correct string trees.

Fender Tie Dye Stratocaster

Band of Gypsies Tie dye

A limited edition model made in 2004/5 in two colours hippie blue model 26-4900 and band of gypsies 26-4901.
Specifications
Body Basswood
Neck Maple Modern C Polyurethane finish
Fretboard Rosewood 9.5" radius 22 vintage frets no dot markers
Headstock Matching Multi Coloured Fender Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Diecast Sealed Black
Pickups 1 Black SC and 1 Black HB
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone Black 3 way switch
Nut 1.625" Graphite
Hardware Black
Bridge 2 pivot trem Chrome Squier spacing
Pickguard None

Hippie Blue



Note the different logo colours for the different body colours

Fender So-Cal Stratocaster model 26-5200

I am sure you have all read the blurb about this guitar being inspired by the So-Cal speed shop hot rod factory and that the look of the guitar is based on the livery of the speed shop cars. This is a limited edition made in 2005 and said to be limited to 600 units. I never completely believe this unless it states it on the guitar as No.56 of 600 or similar. I also feel I have seen too many of these to be only 600 in the world.


Specifications
Body Basswood
Neck Maple Modern C
Fretboard Rosewood 9.5" radius 22 jumbo frets no dot markers
Headstock Matching Red with Embossed Silver Fender Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Diecast Sealed Chrome
Pickups 1 Black hot alnico HB
Controls 1 knurled Chrome Volume
Nut 1.625" Graphite
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Chrome Hardtail
Pickguard None

The headstock

Fender Squier Series Stratocaster Model 33-7100 7102 and 7120

A somewhat yellowed Arctic White

The Squier Series was a relatively low quality guitar the real surprise being that Fender put the Fender logo on this and it's Mexican successor.
Made at the Cort factory from 1992 to 1994 when it was replaced by the Mexican Squier series.
Specifications
Body Plywood
Neck Maple C
Fretboard Rosewood or Maple 12 radius 21 frets dot markers
Headstock Plain 70s style thick silver logo see picture
Tuners Trapezoid Chrome
Pickups 3 unknown single coils
Controls White usual strat configuration
Nut 1.625"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 6 pivot vintage style vibrato Fender stamped saddles
Pickguard 11 screw white 3 ply
Colours Black, White, Torino Red, Arctic White or Pacific Blue

Update August 2020
Stratit from the Strat forum used to sell these guitars and has pointed out that I had the dates above wrong, I have now corrected what was a typo. He also provides some extra information which is as follows:
In January 1995, the following models were available in Europe (Germany):
033-7100-506 FE/SQ STD Strat RW BLK KOREA
033-7100-558 FE/SQ STD Strat RW TOR KOREA
033-7100-580 FE/SQ STD Strat RW AWH KOREA
033-7102-506 FE/SQ STD Strat MN BLK KOREA
033-7102-558 FE/SQ STD Strat MN TOR KOREA
033-7102-580 FE/SQ STD Strat MN AWH KOREA
033-7302-558 FE/SQ STD Tele MN TOR KOREA
033-7302-580 FE/SQ STD Tele MN AWH KOREA
Regarding body wood. I’m not sure if the bodies were Plywood, at least not all. I really remember that we checked several instruments. I'm really sure one nice and very resonant Torino Red Strat and one black J-Bass were solid, probably from basswood. Very soft!

The Headstock


If you see tuners like this consider buying a different guitar