Fender Japan VSP '62 Strat, sunburst, made in Japan 2012. Here we have a gorgeous 'Vintage Special Project'; the highest-of-the-high-end Strats of it's day. As such, it's got absolutely all the best appointments: nitro topcoat finish, deluxe two-piece premium alder body, premium quartersawn maple neck with a gorgeous prime rosewood board, cold-rolled steel block bridge with stamped saddles and a set of Fender Japan's finest Alnico Custom grey-bobbin style single coils. It's built more or less to the same specs as an American Vintage series Strat, but executed with some exceptional trademark Japanese precision and rolling out of here for around $1k less cash. First up, it looks superb: the nitro finish has a way of reflecting light that just looks classier than a regular poly finish, it's so pretty. The piece of alder on show under the burst is gorgeous: the top half has this interesting 'all-seeing eye' concentric grain pattern on the top half paired with some tightly grained lines on the bottom half... it looks amazing. Paired with the dark choc rosewood board and deluxe quartersawn maple neck, there's some serious wood on offer here. The neck is a slim C shape, it's super easy to get along with and generally the most popular of the Fender Japan profiles. Plugged in, this really delivers the goods. There's a huge, tight, thick bottom end, complemented by a full and singing midrange with all sorts of nuance and complexity and a sweet, melodic top end. This sounds better than guitars at twice the dime, it's really quite something. This is a monster guitar, it'll make someone very happy indeed.

Model: Fender Vintage Special Project '62 Stratocaster (ST62/VSP) 
Made: Japan, 2012, Dyna plant, (serial JD12027494)
Finish: sunburst (3TS), nitro topcoat, 3-ply cream guard
Body: two piece alder
Neck: maple, rosewood board, 7.25" radius, 25.5" scale, slim C profile
Weight: 3.575kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Fender Japan Alnico Custom passive single coil x3
Case: basic non-original gig bag

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a couple of really small dimples on the end and bottom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, very minor dimples on the back only. The back has a couple of little chips on the bottom edge and top horn, as well as some scuffs near the neck pocket as well as some light marks around the back edge, nothing too nasty. The sides have a few little things: scuffs and light scratches in the elbow area and a patch of wear and some dimples near the jack. The front is nice and tidy, just some minor scuffs around the back edge as well as what looks like some minor gig bag burn marks (or something? hard to say!) on the top horn, elbow area and up from the bridge. Overall: very good condition (8/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Electronics tested and working properly. Frets have some minor wear but look pretty good, 8/10 for life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.