Up for sale, a 1983 Squier by Fender JV Stratocaster ‘72 vintage reissue in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced as part of the highly regarded “Japanese Vintage” series only offered at the inception of Fender Japan in the early ‘80s, this Squier by Fender model was made at the Fujigen factory. Officially an CST-55 model for “Current Stratocaster,” this guitar was produced at a time when the Squier name was first being used for models exported outside Japan, with build quality on par with Fender-branded examples.
Tonewoods include an ash body, maple neck, and a dark, tight-grained rosewood fingerboard, and this Stratocaster weighs 8lbs 2oz. The SQ-5 Hot Rod single coil pickups feature alnico magnet construction with flush-mount pole pieces and an overwound design, yielding more punch and cut than other Fender Japan pickups of this era. The bridge has a chewy twang, the neck is broad while retaining great articulation, and the “in-between” positions on the switch offer plenty of quintessential Strat quack. This Stratocaster benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .830” 1st fret, .910” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood, 7 ¼” vintage-spec radius
-Frets: Medium, no wear
-Scale Length: 25 ½”
-Nut: 1.650” (42mm), bone
-Headstock: Large, block logo
-Tuners: Gotoh Cast/Sealed
-Serialization: JV-prefix stamp on three-bolt “F” neck plate
-Factory Markings: Neck heel pencil dated 5-31-83
Body Specs:
-Wood: Ash
-Pickups: SQ-5 Hot Rod single coil x3
-Controls: Volume, Tone x2, Five-way pickup selector
-Harness: Full-size Japanese pots date to April, 1983, copper shielding added
-Hardware: Six-point vibrato with block saddles
-Plastics: Three-ply white pickguard, yellowed knobs/pickup covers
The finish is a unique Pearl White with subtle yellowing of the clear coat, resulting in a golden hue. The finish exhibits a bit of pick scuffing across the strum path, light buckle wear central to the back, and some dings on the body as a whole, primarily concentrated at the lower bout. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean with just a few small marks.
A modern Squier by Fender gigbag is included.