2002 Fender Stratocaster ST-80SPL FSR Blue Baltic Vintage, Ash Body w/ USA Pickups, Japan CIJ

Up for sale, a 2002 Fender Stratocaster '62 vintage reissue model ST80-SPL in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. An exceedingly rare FSR (Factory Special Run) Fender Japan Strat virtually unseen outside its country of origin, this Fender features a solid ash body finished in Blue Baltic Vintage, a transparent blue burst that highlights the broad grain of the ash body and transitions to an opaque blue with subtle metalflake at the body edges.Fitted with the stock trio of USA-made Custom Shop Texas Special single coils, which feature black bobbins, staggered alnico magnets, and cloth-covered wire, this guitar delivers the goods both visually and sonically. The time-tested tonewood platform of ash, maple, and rosewood works in concert for an inherent warmth and midrange complexity that translates well through the single coils. Plugged in, the guitar has plenty of sparkle and spank on tap with the slightly overwound push and greater midrange heft of the Texas Special design. The bridge pickup provides biting twang and cut, while the "in-between" positions on the five-way pickup selector switch have a snappy, thinned-out quack. The neck pickup is bold and round with a throaty zing that's harmonically rich and great for lead work. Weight 8lbs 12oz, this Strat has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and solid intonation.The maple neck has a medium C shape at the nut with slight shoulders and rolled fretboard edges, gaining a bit more chunk and roundness up the neck. The profile measures .840” deep at the 1st fret and .950” at the 12th. The thick slab rosewood fretboard sports a 7 1/4" fretboard radius and vintage-style fretwire. These slender frets have good height and meat, with uniform wear on the crowns of frets 1-2, extending exclusively beneath the plain strings further up the fretboard. The neck is straight, the truss rod is responsive, and the guitar plays well in all registers. The scale length is 25 1/2“, and the nut measures 1 5/8" in width. On the headstock, the gold Kluson-style Gotoh tuning machines turn smoothly and hold pitch well. The "Crafted in Japan" text and Q-prefix serial are present above the four-bolt neck plate, while the neck pocket is stamped with the ST-80SPL model and BBV (Blue Baltic Burst) finish designation.On the body, the electronics work as they should, with three original staggered pole piece, alnico V magnet Fender USA Custom Shop Texas Special single coils with cloth-covered wire. The vibrato has a full-size trem block for optimal sustain and resonance, and the vibrato actuates easily with the original gold-plated arm, currently setup with four springs. Plastic parts include a white three-ply pickguard, and uniformly aged cream pickup covers and knobs. All of the original gold hardware is intact with light surface, and the original spring cover and gold screws are included in the gigbag. Cosmetic wear is limited to light marks and scuffs mostly relegated to the lower bout body edge. The neck sports the original ambered gloss finish with a few faint marks that are not distracting to the palm.A gigbag is included.