Cool Z ZST-1R Lake Placid Blue 2011
Cool Z ZST-1R, lake placid blue, made in Japan 2011. This is so cool, I'm a big fan. Cool Z is a house brand for major Japanese instrument chain Shimamura, who have stores all over Japan. They're made at the legendary Fujigen Gakki plant, the very same factory that made all those famous Fender Japan guitars from 1982-96 as well as producing Ibanez Prestige and other spicy dishes to this day. This started life as a pretty standard Strat-style wearing a flash coat of pearl blue, but the previous owner has done some fun mods: gold hardware inc locking tuners, rails pickups in two positions and a new guard. Frankly, it looks superb. The rails pickups sound more like an overwound single coil than a humbucker, and you guessed it... the hum is gone, praise be. The tone is very convincing, it's rich and sparkly with a fat and satisfying low end. Being so well made, it feels great in the hands too. Buy it before I put the $2500 on it that it deserves.
Model: Cool Z ZST-1R
Made: Japan, 2011, Fujigen Gakki plant
Serial: B111149
Finish: lake placid blue, gloss poly
Body: alder
Neck: maple, rosewood board, 9.5" radius, 25.5" scale, modern C shape
Weight: 3.625kg
Mods: locking tuners installed, guard replaced, gold hardware installed, bridge and neck pickups replaced
Pickups: Fujigen STD-FAT single coil x1, unknown brand rails-style humbucker x2
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: The headstock and neck are pretty clean, no major marks. The back has some dimples in the top horn and elbow area The sides have some dimples near the knobs. The front has some dimples in the elbow area and some dimples around the bridge, as well as some play wear on the horns and guard.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)
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: 8/10, minor wear only