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Up for sale, a 1997 Fender Stratocaster ‘62 vintage reissue model ST62-53 in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. This very early A-prefix serial “Crafted in Japan” Stratocaster is uncommon outside its country of origin, capturing many finer points of vintage Stratocaster design with a thick, dark rosewood slab fretboard, mint green pickguard and aged plastics, three-tone gloss Sunburst finish with a vintage-correct burst gradient, and a tremolo with a full size block.
Tonewoods include a basswood body, maple neck, and thick slab rosewood fretboard, offering a lively, balanced natural acoustic platform. The original trio of ST-Vintage alnico magnet single coil pickups deliver a bevy of classic Strat tonalities; the bridge has an airy, sparkling cut, the neck has a bell-like fullness and chime, and the in-between positions have quintessential hollow Strat quack, easily accessed via the five-way pickup selector switch. This Strat weighs 7lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.
The maple neck has a chunky C-shaped profile carve with round shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .875” deep at the 1st fret and .975” at the 12th. The slab rosewood fretboard is a dark cut of this particular tonewood with a vintage-spec 7 1/4“ radius, and the slender fretwire is pristine. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1.650” (42mm) in width. On the headstock, the Kluson-style tuners turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch, with clean nickel plating. The “Crafted in Japan” script text and A-prefix serial are present above the four-bolt neck plate, and the neck heel and pocket retain the factory stamps. The neck heel is dated to March, ‘97.
All of the electronics function as intended, with the trio of single coil pickups wired to the stock harness. Controls include a five-way pickup selector switch with Volume/Tone/Tone knobs. The vibrato has a full-sized block, and the unit actuates smoothly, bouncing quickly back to pitch for surfy warbles and broader gestures. The chrome-plated jack cup and bridge base have plenty of shine, with a light dusting of patina on the “Fender”-stamped saddles. Plastics comprise the clean three-ply mint green pickguard and cream pickup covers and knobs.
This is a well-kept example, with cosmetic wear on the gloss Sunburst finish limited to a handful of minor nicks on the body as a whole, largely concentrated along the treble-side body edge. The neck profile retains its smooth, ambered gloss.
A Fender-branded padded gigbag is included.
Tonewoods include a basswood body, maple neck, and thick slab rosewood fretboard, offering a lively, balanced natural acoustic platform. The original trio of ST-Vintage alnico magnet single coil pickups deliver a bevy of classic Strat tonalities; the bridge has an airy, sparkling cut, the neck has a bell-like fullness and chime, and the in-between positions have quintessential hollow Strat quack, easily accessed via the five-way pickup selector switch. This Strat weighs 7lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.
The maple neck has a chunky C-shaped profile carve with round shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .875” deep at the 1st fret and .975” at the 12th. The slab rosewood fretboard is a dark cut of this particular tonewood with a vintage-spec 7 1/4“ radius, and the slender fretwire is pristine. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1.650” (42mm) in width. On the headstock, the Kluson-style tuners turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch, with clean nickel plating. The “Crafted in Japan” script text and A-prefix serial are present above the four-bolt neck plate, and the neck heel and pocket retain the factory stamps. The neck heel is dated to March, ‘97.
All of the electronics function as intended, with the trio of single coil pickups wired to the stock harness. Controls include a five-way pickup selector switch with Volume/Tone/Tone knobs. The vibrato has a full-sized block, and the unit actuates smoothly, bouncing quickly back to pitch for surfy warbles and broader gestures. The chrome-plated jack cup and bridge base have plenty of shine, with a light dusting of patina on the “Fender”-stamped saddles. Plastics comprise the clean three-ply mint green pickguard and cream pickup covers and knobs.
This is a well-kept example, with cosmetic wear on the gloss Sunburst finish limited to a handful of minor nicks on the body as a whole, largely concentrated along the treble-side body edge. The neck profile retains its smooth, ambered gloss.
A Fender-branded padded gigbag is included.
