Fender Japan '54 Stratocaster ST54-53 Sunburst 1995
Fender '54 Strat, two tone sunburst, made in Japan 1995 approx. The Strat launched in 1954, and it surely changed the world of guitar and modern music in a profound and long-lasting way. Fender Japan's '54 style model is a little trickier to find than the more common '62 and '57 offerings, but it's a cool take on the guitar that changed the world. You get some '54 style specs: small headstock with the gold spaghetti logo, maple board atop a lovely soft-V shaped neck, a single ply guard and three vintage voiced single coil pickups. This feels great in the hands: lightweight, responsive and lively, and that neck is very friendly and carved from some top notch maple. Our friendly tech installed some new pots, wire and a new switch, which brings the best out of the pickups and ensures this is very sturdy under the hood. It's a great sound: clear and fat, with a glassy top end sheen and a fast. tuneful punch through the lows and mids. It's classic Strat-spank, which is harder to nail than you might imagine, here delivered with understated glory. Very fun indeed.
Model: Fender Stratocaster ST54-53
Made: Japan, 1994-6, Fujigen Gakki factory
Serial: S032249
Finish: two tone sunburst, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, soft V profile
Weight: 3.365kg
Mods: re-wired with new Gotoh 5-way switch, new Alpha 250k pots and all new wire, back cover removed and missing
Pickups: Fender Japan ST-Vintage single coil x3
Accessories: trem arm, no case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end and bottom edge and a scuff on the front near the Fender logo. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, there's some minor dimples and rub wear on the back, as well as a small scratch on the bottom side behind the 7th fret, which owing to the position isn't very noticeable. The back has dimples around the whole outside of the body, some scuffs along the back edge and some surface scratches near the trem cavity. The back cover is missing. The sides have two small chips and some scuffs on the top edge, some minor chips as well as dimples and scuffs on the elbow area, scuffs and small dents near the jack and some dimples on the bottom horn. The front has a scratch near the bridge, a scuff near the jack, dimples along the back and top edges, 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: 7/10