Fender '54 Strat, gunmetal blue, crafted in Japan 2002-4. This glorious creature came from a tiny little slice of the Fender Japan catalog dubbed 'Craft Premium': the modern style takes on vintage classics, built to an outrageous standard. This model was the almost-Clapton-signature model, so you get some of Uncle Eric's favourite appointments: a soft V neck with a tasty maple board, 22 frets and 9.5" bend friendly radius, crispy clear Lace Sensor passive single coil pickups, an active mid boost circuit on the second tone knob and a hefty steel block bridge. It cost a small fortune in JPY when it was new; around double the price of a Japan Standard Strat. All that adds up to a massive tone: there's a really sweet chiming eloquence and note separation to the pickups, offering a clarity that'll slice perfectly through all the gain and amibient effects you can throw at it. The mid boost adds a comical level of heft and punch when maxed, but set at 3 or 4 it really fattens up the Strat-spank perfectly. The soft V neck won't please everyone, but serial thumb overhangers will love it as it perfect for those Jimi chords, plus it's slim enough to really get around quickly and it features some really lovely maple. This model came in black (no surprise there) and white, but the non catalog gunmetal blue offers a cool halfway point between blue and grey really has a classy aesthetic to it. This will punch harder in the feel and tone departments as some very expensive USA Strats, so if you're after a superbly built Strat with an understated chíc to it, this will definitely deliver.

Model: Fender '54 Reissue Stratocaster (ST54-95LS) 
Made: Japan, 2002-4, Fujigen plant (serial Q041958)
Finish: gunmetal blue, 1-ply white guard
Body: alder
Neck: maple 1 piece inc board, soft-V profile, 25.5" scale, 10" radius, 42mm nut
Weight: 3.705kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Fender USA Lace Sensor single coil x3
Case: basic non original gig bag

Cosmetic condition notes: minor cosmetic wear. Headstock has no major marks. Neck has some light glossing from play but is clean and smooth in the hands. The back has no major marks, just some very light scuffs around the body. The sides are also nice and clean, just a couple of tiny dimples in the elbow area. The front has no major marks, just a couple of dimples near the bridge and some play scratches on the guard and top horn. Overall: excellent condition (9/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Electronics tested and all working properly. Frets have some normal wear, plenty of height on deck and they're pretty even, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.