(SOLD) Fender Japan '62 Stratocaster ST62-53 Green Flame Burst 1994
Fender '62 Strat, green flame burst, made in Japan 1993-4. Wowee, this one is a bit different! the neck pocket is stamped 'ORDER', so this was most likely a one-off customer order. There's a couple of practical differences from a regular catalog model ST62-53: modern style Gotoh tuners, truss rod adjuster moved to the headstock end, single ply guard. Then, there's the finish. 'Fotoflame' was a Fujigen-plant patented process that involved printing an image of highly flamed maple and wrapping it around a body using some pretty advanced techniques for the day. THe fun this is that over a few decades it tends to crack or chip, so this one has some blacked-out chips that lend the already spooky finish a certain haunted-house-shabby-chic attitude. It holds up beautifully in the hands; the neck is a delight and it's very responsive. The tone is a bright and lively take on the classic Strat-spank; heaps of clarity and cut is on offer. If you like your Strats a little offbeat, this one is surely a friendly ghost.
Model: Fender '62 Reissue Stratocaster (ST62-53)
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, 1993/4 (serial M026446)
Finish: green to black 'fotoflame' burst
Body: basswood
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 7.25" radius, 25.5" scale
Weight: 3.450kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Fender Japan ST-Single single coils
Case: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock has a mark on the end and a little scuff near the low-E peg. Back has a handful of dings and scuffs scattered around the body, no major marks though. Sides have a few things to note: a dent/chip on the shoulder, little chip near the rear strap pin, few little marks near the jack, dents on the bottom horn. The front has a few chips in the Fotoflame finish near the jack, behind the bridge, on the lower horn and on the shoulder, as well as some little marks near the jack, along the back edge and on the shoulder and some normal play scratches on the guard and top horn. Overall: good condition (6.5/10).
Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Frets have some minor wear, they're in pretty nice shape; 7/10 for fret life left. Setup with fresh 10/46 Mooonshiners strings.