Questions About Fender Strat 57' Reissue Made In Japan

[Jimmy1877]

I'm planning to get a Second-Handed Fender Strat 57' Reissue Made In Japan

but I have a few questions in mind...

(please forgive me for any dumb questions asked. I'm only an intermediate player and doesn't know much about guitars..)

1) Besides it's a "reissue", what exactly is the difference between a copy of vintage Stratocaster made in modern days (reissue) and a Standard Stratocaster in terms of sound quality, playability, structure, and etc? and which one is more expensive in price?

2) Do you guys have any commentary/review on a Fender Strat 57' Reissue MIJ? could be good or bad. I did google, but would like to know more abt this model if possible?

3) This "Second-Handed Fender Strat 57' Reissue Made In Japan" model I'm buying, the seller said all the parts are original. Nothing has been changed. Should I keep the way it is or perhaps change the pickups?

4) I'm buying this model "Second-Handed Fender Strat 57' Reissue Made In Japan" in Thailand for around 22000 baht. I'm not sure if it's a reasonable price or not..?

I would really appreciate it if anyone could answer my questions. THANK YOU =D

[submaniac]

The reissues are made to the specs of the original vintage guitars. The vintage neck will be a a 7 1/2 radius neck as opposed to the modern compound radius neck. The tuners will be vintage style (most likely Gotoh tuners) instead of the modern style (the vintage the string does not go through the tuners). The tremolo will be the standard 6 point tremolo opposed to the floating 2 point tremolo used in modern stratocasters. The body route underneath the pickguard will be routed for 3 standard single coils as opposed to the Standard American which is now routed with humbucker routes under the neck and bridge.

Japanese made guitars are regarded as very fine instruments and rival the quality of the U.S. made instruments. Fender does not officially import the Japanese guitars to the U.S. because they would compete with the US instruments. The difference between the Japanese versus American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) is that the original fenders used nitrocellulose paint which the US reissues also use, but the Japanese for the most part use polyurethane. The woods generally differ too. A 1950's guitar would use swamp ash and the AVRI uses period correct ash. Generally the Japanese guitars used alder mostly as swamp ash is rare in Japan. The Japanese may also use sen ash which is similar to swamp ash in weight and grain.

If it were me, I don't think swapping pickups would be necessary as the pickups I have heard are good.

[Jimmy1877]

The reissues are made to the specs of the original vintage guitars. The vintage neck will be a a 7 1/2 radius neck as opposed to the modern compound radius neck. The tuners will be vintage style (most likely Gotoh tuners) instead of the modern style (the vintage the string does not go through the tuners). The tremolo will be the standard 6 point tremolo opposed to the floating 2 point tremolo used in modern stratocasters. The body route underneath the pickguard will be routed for 3 standard single coils as opposed to the Standard American which is now routed with humbucker routes under the neck and bridge.

Japanese made guitars are regarded as very fine instruments and rival the quality of the U.S. made instruments. Fender does not officially import the Japanese guitars to the U.S. because they would compete with the US instruments. The difference between the Japanese versus American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) is that the original fenders used nitrocellulose paint which the US reissues also use, but the Japanese for the most part use polyurethane. The woods generally differ too. A 1950's guitar would use swamp ash and the AVRI uses period correct ash. Generally the Japanese guitars used alder mostly as swamp ash is rare in Japan. The Japanese may also use sen ash which is similar to swamp ash in weight and grain.

If it were me, I don't think swapping pickups would be necessary as the pickups I have heard are good.

Hi Submaniac, thanks a lot for the info! that was really helpful : D

another thing I was wondering...

1) how come even when it's "Brand New", some maple fretboard looks brighter (more white) some looks not as bright (more yellowish).

I know guitar and fretboard tends to turn yellow&darker as time goes by, but I mean..

maple fretboard appear to be in different brightness already in brand new?

because the model I'm buying "Second-Handed Fender Strat 57' Reissue Made In Japan"

is a maple fretboard, I wonder what's the neck shape and maple brightness.lol.

2) I know this model I'm buying is all original. In this case do you know what are the pickups names of my model? o.0

[submaniac]

1) how come even when it's "Brand New", some maple fretboard looks brighter (more white) some looks not as bright (more yellowish).

I know guitar and fretboard tends to turn yellow&darker as time goes by, but I mean..

maple fretboard appear to be in different brightness already in brand new?

The color of the maple fretboard is the "neck amber" lacquer/paint that it is applied. Go to www.reranch.com which is a site that sells guitar paint. The paint is called "fender neck amber". There is always color variation depending on how much is sprayed. If alot of neck amber is sprayed it gets darker/more yellowish. Less amount of neck amber makes it more white. The actual "new" color depends on who makes it. USA uses nitrocellulose lacquer like the original models, japanese use polyurethane. Even between the same factory making it, it would depend on who was spraying it. Some people may put more or less on the neck resulting in the change in color.

because the model I'm buying "Second-Handed Fender Strat 57' Reissue Made In Japan"

is a maple fretboard, I wonder what's the neck shape and maple brightness.lol.

The model number, such as ST-57, should be printed on the back of the neck nearest the heel/neck joint. Look for the model number there and you can do a search on the internet to see what model and what specs that model is. You should be able to tell the neck shape just by feeling it-->hard v, soft v, large D, or C neck. Choose what is comfortable to you. I like soft v.

2) I know this model I'm buying is all original. In this case do you know what are the pickups names of my model? o.0

Pickups used (assuming that they are original and not changed) would depend on year of manufacture and the model. Very early Japanese fenders, from the early 1980's actually use USA pickups. There are too many variations of the japanese strat reissue that I don't know unless I know the specific model number.