Fender Japan '57 Reissue Strat, made in Japan 1993/4, special order vintage gold finish. This is an absolute killer, it's seriously fantastic. This model was the second most expensive MIJ Strat available in 1993/4, so you get all the deluxe stuff: upgraded bridge, alder body, three USA made Lace-Sensor single coils and a handy active mid-boost circuit. The pickups are great: clean, articulate, warm, full and spanky. The mid-boost really adds another dimension, you can go from a snappy ping right up to throaty growl with absolute ease; it's very satisfying and adds a whole lot of versatility. The more common model with these pickups and controls is a '54 model with a soft-V neck profile, but this '57 model has that perfect mildly-chunky round profile that adds thickness to the tone and feels just right. The neck pocket reveals the famed red 'ORDER' stamp, hence the unusual finish on this usually 'black or sunburst only' model; this was someone's one-off dream Strat. The finish... oh my, what a gorgeous girl she is. The gold has aged with a very slightly green tinge and there's a few nicks to tell the stories of gigs gone by. Combined with the aged hardware and plastics and the golden hue of the aged maple board, it really has the look of a well-loved and played-in Strat; it's seriously quite a sight to behold. Some Strats are special, this is certainly one of them.

Model: Fender Stratocaster, '57 Reissue (ST57-95LS) 
Made: Japan, 1993/4 (serial N015248, MIJ)
Finish: vintage gold (custom order, VGL), 1-ply white guard
Body: alder
Neck: maple, maple board
Mods: strap pins replaced
Pickups: Lace Sensor Gold single coils
Controls: master volume, master tone, master mid-boost
Case: none

Cosmetic condition notes: mild finish wear. There's a pretty big finish chip that's been very tidily re-glued back into place around the rear strap pin. There's some lacquer chips on the edge of the board, you don't feel them during play really but they add a bit of charm to the look. Aside from that, it's just a bunch of minor scratches and marks around the body; there's a lot of them but none are big or nasty. Significant corrosion on the bridge and machine heads, but they work just fine. There's scratches on the guard and the screws are corroded. Overall: good condition (7/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Electronics tested and all working properly. Frets have some normal wear, they're fairly even in height and at about a 6/10 for life left. Incredible Strat!