Up for sale, a 1984 Fender Stratocaster ‘62 vintage reissue model ST62-65 in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, sporting a custom color Shell Pink nitro lacquer body-only refinish by Eric Daw. Produced in the third year of Fender Japan instrument production, this "Japanese Vintage" (JV) series guitar is a particularly rare example, with the same pickups used on the Fender USA Fullerton factory reissues from the same year. This JV series Strat is notable for having a very faithful and fast-feeling '60s neck carve, with a bit more shoulder than the Fullerton factory necks.
Extremely accurate to vintage spec and sold only within Japan, this Strat has a resonant alder body paired with a maple neck and slab rosewood fretboard, yielding a chiming, clear natural acoustic quality that translates well through the pickups. The bridge pickup has ample snap and twang, with classic Strat quack in the "in-between" positions on the three-way switch. The neck pickup has quite a bit of breadth and roundness, cutting through with a dynamic sound that has both thickness and articulation. This guitar weighs 7lbs 2oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with low action, accurate intonation and fresh 10-46 strings.
The maple neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve, very representative of early '60-62 shapes, with well-rounded shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .820" deep at the 1st fret and .900" at the 12th. On the dark slab rosewood fretboard, the original slender frets are intact, showing just a touch of wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-3. This guitar plays cleanly in all registers with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The guitar conforms to traditional Fender specs with a 7 1/4" fretboard radius, 25 1/2" scale length, and nut that measures 42mm (1.650") in width. On the early '60s-style headstock, this Strat has the larger "spaghetti" Fender logo seen on the JV models, and there is a small cigarette burn on the bass side of the headstock. The original Kluson-style tuners are intact, turning smoothly and holding pitch as intended. The pencil date on the neck heel reads 9-7-84, and the "Made In Japan" text is present above the four-bolt neck plate, which is embossed with the JV-prefix serial number.
All of the electronics work as intended, with the original USA-made Fullerton-era black bobbin pickups wired to the Japanese harness with full-size pots that date to June of 1984. All of the original plastic parts are intact, including the white three-ply guard and lightly aged pickup covers and knobs. The chrome hardware has plenty of shine, with light patina on the Fender-stamped bridge saddles. The vibrato actuales easily, complete with its original arm and full-size trem block for optimal sustain.
The body has been expertly refinished by Eric Daw (of Pin-Up Guitars and the Fret Files podcast) in nitro lacquer custom color Shell Pink, complete with a light relic treatment which includes extensive horizontal lacquer checking across the body. The neck profile retains its original smooth ambered gloss, with a small finish chip behind the nut and a scant few shallow marks along the profile length that have no impact on playability.
Exported directly from Tokyo and a model that very rarely comes up for sale, this JV Strat is one of the earliest Fender reissues, complete with original Fullerton factory Fender USA black bobbin pickups.
The original Fender Japan black tolex hardshell case is included.