Up for sale, a 1984 Fender Stratocaster ‘62 vintage reissue model ST62-55 in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced in the third year of Fender Japan production, this "Japanese Vintage" (JV) series guitar is a particularly rare example, representing the transition from the JV line to the first A-serial “Made in Japan” instruments. It was crafted late in ‘84, among the last JV serials ever produced at the Fujigen factory, and is technically a model tier that was not produced during the JV era (the ST62-55 first appeared in the ‘85 catalog).

Tonewoods include a basswood body, maple neck, and thick slab rosewood fretboard, and the instrument has a smooth, balanced natural acoustic quality. The trio of original ST-Vintage alnico magnet single coils deliver a sound that is sparkling and sweet, with ample clarity and bridge position snap. The five-way pickup selector switch allows for easy access to the signature Strat "quack" in the in-between positions on the switch, and the neck pickup has a round, crisp sound. This Strat weighs 7lbs 5oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.

The maple neck has a fast-feeling, slender C-shaped profile carve with just enough shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .830” deep at the 1st fret and .910” at the 12th. The thick slab rosewood fretboard has a vintage-spec 7 1/4“ radius, and the slender fretwire only exhibits a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on the first couple frets. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the bone nut measures 1.650” (42mm) in width. On the headstock, the Kluson-style tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch, and the back of the headstock retains the small “55” sticker, denoting the model tier and original price of this instrument in Japan (¥55,000). The “Made in Japan” text is present just above the four-bolt neck plate, which is embossed with the JV-prefix serial number. The neck heel is pencil dated 10-27-84.

All of the electronics function as intended; the pickups are wired to the stock harness with untouched solder joints and full-size Japanese pots that date to August, 1984. The chrome-plated jack cup and bridge base have plenty of shine, with a light dusting of surface patina on the “Fender”-embossed saddles. Plastics comprise the three-ply parchment pickguard and the uniformly aged trios of pickup covers and knobs.

Cosmetic wear on the gloss Candy Apple Red finish includes a number of minor dings and faint scratches on the body as a whole, most prominent along the lower bout perimeter, and some very limited buckle worming central to the back. The neck profile retains its smooth ambered gloss.

The original gigbag with large Fender text on the pocket is included.