Fender Japan '57 Stratocaster ST57-55 Sunburst 1987
Fender '57 Strat, made in Japan 1987, two tone sunburst. This is a very nice take on the classic sunburst Strat, it's super slick. A previous owner did a couple of slightly oddball things to push the look towards and original 50s model: some relic wear on the fretboard, removing the serial and adding a 50s-style number stamped neck plate. With the naturally worn body finish, golden maple headstock, aged plastics and smoky chrome hardware, it honestly looks pretty 50s, especially from a meter or two away. We had a spare era-correct Fender stamped plate on hand, so we put on to restore some rightness to the world. The other details all check out nicely to verify the age, model and authenticity: neck date, pocket stamps, stamped saddles, pickups, electronics, tuners, decals... it's all original, all correct and denotes this as an ST57-55 from 1987. Like many other 80s-era Fujigen made Strats, this feels and sounds outstanding. It's lightweight and has plenty of hours of play on the clock, so it resonates extremely enthusiastically with the lightest touch. The neck is carved from some very tight, consistently grained maple, and if you like a chunky neck, you'll find this a fast friend. The pickups are still stock, but they are great: clear, snappy, warm and balanced, with a gorgeous gooey midrange and a smooth, sweet treble. You could spend a lot more cash and get a worse sounding Strat, no doubt about it. Super sweet slick smooth sassy Stratty sauce.
Model: '57 Reissue Stratocaster ST57-55
Made in: Fujigen Gakki, Japan
Neck date: 9 Feb 1987
Serial: E######, removed by previous owner
Finish: two tone sunburst, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, 50s D shape
Weight: 3.380kg
Mods: relic treatment applied to fretboard, neck plate replaced, serial removed, back cover removed and missing
Pickups: Fender Japan ST-Vintage single coil x3
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples and dents on the end, dimples and scuffs on both edges, a dent on the front near the 'F' and some clouding and scuffs around the posts and sticker fade marks and scuffs on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, with a couple of small dents, rub wear and some bald patches on the back including where the serial was, as well as the relic treatment on the fretboard as per the pictures. The back has widespread minor scuffs and dimples around the whole body, as well as dents on the bottom horn and bottom edge, scratches along the belly carve area and a bald patch on the edge of the cavity. The back cover is missing. The sides have scuffs on the top horn, dimples dents and scuffs in the elbow area, chips around the rear strap pin and scuffs along the back edge, some chips, dents, scuffs and dimples near the jack and on the bottom horn, as well as a small chip on the treble side of the heel. The front has rub wear on the horns, dents on the top edge up from the pickups and bridge, dimples and dents in the elbow area, near the jack and around the bridge, a small chip on the edge near the rear strap pin and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
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: 7/10, minor wear but playing evenly with no major buzz issues