(SOLD) Fender Japan '57 Stratocaster ST54-500 Sunburst 1991
Fender '54 Strat, sunburst, made in Japan 1991. This one took me forever to clean, but dang... it came up great. Back in the early 90s, the Fender Japan catalog had no less than five '54 reissue models. This one is the simplest of the lot on the spec sheet, but it still has a certain majesty about it. First up, the neck is awesome. It's a soft-V shape, straight and stable, and carved from a really gorgeous piece of maple with some lovely detail on the bottom side. The burst finish has copped a few knocks and scuffs, but all in all for three decades of tunes it's in pretty respectable condition. The heavily yellowed plastics, sticker fade marks, patina on the hardware and aged fretboard give this a delightful streetsmart chic, it's turned plenty of heads in store already. Plugged in, it's aged like a fine wine: depth and detail abound, warm and wide mids pair with a juicy sweetness through the treble; it's a terrific sounding Strat. Big tick from me.
Model: Fender Stratocaster (ST54-500)
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, neck date 1991 (serial J017654)
Finish: 2-tone sunburst (2TS), gloss poly, 1-ply white guard
Body: basswood
Neck: maple with maple board, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, soft V profile
Weight: 3.340kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Fender ST-Vintage single coil x3
Case: basic non original gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end and both edges. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back and edges only. The back has some dimples around the trem cavity and along the belly carve, as well as scuffs along the back edge and elbow area. The sides have dimples on both horns, dimples and some small chips in the elbow area and some dents and scuffs near the jack. The front has some dimples behind the bridge and near the jack, scuffs in the elbow area, dents on the top edge and some play 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 electrics tested and working properly. The frets have some minor wear, including minor pitting, but they're in pretty reasonable shape with no major buzz issues, 6/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.