Fender '57 Strat, made in Japan 1986, black. The tuxedo B&W Strat needs no introduction; this one is a terrific torchbearer in that famed tradition. This is an E-serial example; surely that's enough to set my fellow MIJ-nerds pulses racing. The E stuff dates to very early in the Fender Japan story, between 84-7, proceeded only by the now extravagantly expensive JV serial guitars. The reason for the hype is simple: these are brilliantly made guitars. The quality of build and material on offer is superb. In the hands, you feel it straight away; the maple neck is an absolute delight. The tone is spanky, sparkly and warm; there's that lovely natural attack and brightness we all admire the Strat for. The neck and bridge pickup have been swapped for some Custom Shop examples, which is a handy bonus. It's now got a three way switch and a push/pull to turn the neck pickup on with the bridge to get that Tele-middle sound. It's got some cool natural aging and looks well played, although it's is in pretty good overall shape for 38 years old. Surely, this will tick the Strat box in your heart very well indeed. 

Model: Fender '57 Stratocaster (ST57-55) 
Made: Japan, neck date 12 Dec 1986, Fujigen Gakki factory
Serial: E719302
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, 50s D style shape
Weight: 3.580kg
Mods: neck and bridge pickups replaced, re-wired with 3-way switch and push/pull pot to add neck pickup into bridge switch position
Pickups: Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s single coils (neck, bridge), Fender Japan ST-Vintage single coil (middle, not reverse wound relative to bridge/neck)
Accessories: none

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples, scuffs and dents on the end, dimples and scuffs on the top edge, dimples and a burn mark on the bottom edge, dimples on the back, patina on the tuners and dimples on the front around the decals. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, although there's rub wear on the edges of the board, dimples on the board, as well as dimples and rub wear on the back; no major marks. The back has dimples and scuffs around the whole body as well as some dents in the elbow area and bottom corner. The sides have scuffs on the top horn, scuffs dents and dimples in the elbow area and back edge, a decent dent and some dimples and scuffs near the jack and some scuffs on the bottom horn. The front has scuffs on the top horn, a scratch near the top neck side corner of the guard, scuffs in the elbow area and along the back edge in the trem-arm radius, dimples around the jack and bridge and play wear on the guard and horns. The guard is warped, as is common with single ply guards, so it sits about 1.5mm off the body in some places on the top side.
Overall: good condition (6/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 6/10, normal wear inc some pitting, playing evenly with no major buzz issues