(SOLD) Fender Japan '62 Stratocaster ST62-770LS Candy Apple Green 1990
Fender ST62-770LS Strat, candy apple green, made in Japan 1990. Oh heavens, this is an absolute cracker. Back in the 80s/90s, Eric Clapton was quite a big deal in Japan, so the Eric-ish Fender Japan model was a black/white '54 Reissue Strat with a V-neck, Lace Sensor Gold pickups and a mid-boost. A stack of those were sold for many years, they're fairly common and very good... but this is the much less common '62 style model, which sports the same electronics and controls and very similar specs, but you get the slim, rounded neck profile, a lovely dark rosewood board... then, add a super rare non-catalog candy apple green finish and an 'order made' stamp on the neck and body, and you've got yourself a very niche creature indeed. And dang, what a sleek animal it is! The finish looks absolutely superb; it's gorgeous. Paired with dark choc rosewood board, golden maple headstock and creamy aged plastics, this is surely one of the best looking Strats I've seen in a long time. The neck is a comfy slim vintage C, which is very agreeable in the hands; it's carved from some lovely tightly grained maple too. The Lace Sensor Gold pickups were and early take on the 'low noise single coil' genre. The tone is great: extremely clear, eloquent and crisp, with a fat, tight bass and a complex, singing midrange. The mid-boost thickens things up nicely too, you can get some big fat wallop out of it when it's cranked up. This is a great example of just how good a Japanese Strat can be, it's truly a stellar instrument.
Model: Fender Japan '62 Stratocaster ST62-770LS
Made: Japan, neck date 7 Oct 1990, order made model
Serial: K027344
Finish: candy apple green, gloss poly
Body: alder
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, vintage C shape
Weight: 3.655kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Lace Sensor Gold single coil x3, active mid boost on 2nd tone knob
Accessories: Hiscox ST-style lightweight hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: the headstock has some scuffs on the end and bottom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has some scuffs near the neck plate and the back side of the trem cavity, as well as some dimples in the bottom corner and bottom horn and some surface scratches along the belly carve. The sides have some dents and scuffs in the elbow area, near the jack and on the bottom horn. The front has some dimples around the bridge and jack and along the back edge, as well as some scuffs in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
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, fairly even with no major buzz issues, some height gone, minor pitting