Up for sale, a 1983 Fender Stratocaster ‘72 vintage reissue model ST72-70R, honestly played and in perfect working order, complete with the original gigbag. An extremely early example of this model, which would make its Fender Japan catalog debut in 1984, this Strat is exceedingly rare in the left-handed configuration seen here. An upper tiered model, this guitar was produced during the golden age of "Made in Japan" production at the Fujigen factory, with the exceptional feel and tone for which Fender Japan is known. This model was also offered exclusively to the domestic Japanese audience and select international markets, rarely seen outside its country of origin.

Tonewoods include an alder body, maple neck, and dark rosewood fretboard, ensuring a clear, lively and balanced tonal platform for the pickups. Loaded with the same USA-made single coils seen on early American Standard Stratocaster models, these alnico magnet pickups deliver a broad array of traditional Strat tonalities via the five-way pickup selector switch. From throaty, rich lead tones in the neck position, thinned out squawk in positions 2 and 4, and a bell-like, shimmery bridge pickup, this Strat covers all the classic tonal bases.This Strat weighs 7lbs 14oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar bar with fresh 10-46 strings, low action and spot-on intonation.

The maple neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve with full, inviting shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .800” deep at the 1st fret and .895” at the 12th. The rosewood fretboard has a 7 1/4” vintage-spec radius, retaining the stock slender frets which are in great shape with well-rounded crowns and their full factory height. Fretwear is limited to beneath the plain strings on frets 1-7, and the guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2” scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The stock bone nut measures 42.5mm (1.675") in width. The headstock features a bullet truss rod and chrome Gotoh tuners that function reliably. The "Made in Japan" text is present above the three-bolt “F” neck plate which is embossed with a very early A-prefix serial.

All of the electronics work as intended, with the stock trio of USA-made single coil pickups governed by a five-way selector switch and standard Volume/Tone/Tone controls. The Volume control has been replaced with a modern USA-made CTS pot, and the two original Tone pots date to August, 1983. Hardware includes the stock vibrato with block saddles and a full-size trem block, actuating smoothly for quick flutters and deeper dives. Plastics comprise the original three-ply white pickguard and black knobs and pickup covers.

The gloss Olympic White finish has yellowed notably, and cosmetic wear includes a number of dings, particularly concentrated on the lower bout, and a handful of light finish scratches on the body as a whole. The smooth ambered gloss finish on the neck profile feels fast in the palm with a few small nicks on the profile length.

The original Fender-branded faux leather gigbag is included.