Guitar
guitarz.blogspot.com:
Although we here at Guitarz may sometimes speak a little disparagingly of the Stratocaster, it's not really because we don't like the Strat - we appreciate its place in the history of the electric guitar - rather its very omnipresence and a plethora of copies both "el cheapo" and boutique mean that the originality of Leo Fender's great design has become so diluted that when we see a Strat we find ourselves hard pressed to get excited by it. This is why we only ever feature the Strat on Guitarz if it is in some way unusual, be it customised, made from unusual materials, or if it has an unusual or particularly eye-catching finish.
Personally, I can categorically state that I do NOT hate the Strat. I have owned eight or nine of them over the years, having been a Strat player since 1987. I still own and play a Strat nowadays, although not my main go-to guitar it does have its uses and I wouldn't want to be without one. If money were no object and I was in the market for a new guitar, a Stratocaster would not be at the top of my list. However, having seen these latest offerings from Fender Japan does get me thinking, "Oh yes, I'd like one - or both - of those!"
The Fender Japan ST62-SPL Stratocaster is available in two quite tantalizing Japanese print finishes reminiscent of Fender's own pink paisley and blue floral designs, and indeed the Fender Japan TL69 SPL Telecaster which we looked at on this blog two years ago. Although I believe these particular Strats are being produced for the Japanese home market only and not for export, it does show how well Fender's marketing efforts work when someone like me sees a few pretty pictures and instantly wants one, even if underneath the finish it is a basic no-frills Stratocaster with all the usual Stratocaster accouterments. In fact, other than the finish the only unusual feature of the ST62-SPL Strat is that the output socket has been relocated onto the side of the guitar, possibly so as not to obscure some of the finish.
It's nice also, I think, to see Fender Japan issue a series of guitars that celebrates their own Japanese-ness.
G L Wilson
© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.
- Fender Custom Shop Gold Over Paisley Heavy Relic Stratocaster
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Guitar
Fender Japan ST62-SPL Stratocaster in a choice of two eye-catching Japanese print finishes
guitarz.blogspot.com:
Personally, I can categorically state that I do NOT hate the Strat. I have owned eight or nine of them over the years, having been a Strat player since 1987. I still own and play a Strat nowadays, although not my main go-to guitar it does have its uses and I wouldn't want to be without one. If money were no object and I was in the market for a new guitar, a Stratocaster would not be at the top of my list. However, having seen these latest offerings from Fender Japan does get me thinking, "Oh yes, I'd like one - or both - of those!"
It's nice also, I think, to see Fender Japan issue a series of guitars that celebrates their own Japanese-ness.
G L Wilson
© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.
- Fender Custom Shop Gold Over Paisley Heavy Relic Stratocaster
guitarz.blogspot.com I've always been clear about the fact that I don't like strats and that I loathe so-called relic finishes. Once in a while though, it's good to have one's certainties shaken, and I really enjoy this Fender Custom Shop...
- A Pink Paisley Les Paul? Surely Not?...
guitarz.blogspot.com: Here's one that could well cause you to perform a double take... it's a Les Paul with a Fender-esque pink paisley finish! But of course, it's not a Gibson. It's a Tokai Love Rock, and Tokai of course are known for...
- Fender Classical Stratocaster - Nylon Strung Strat From Japan
guitarz.blogspot.com: Here's another apparently "pickup-less" solidbody, this time it's a Fender Stratocaster Classical from Fender Japan. It's equipped with piezo pickups in the bridge saddles and is strung with nylon strings. I'm really...
- Never Mind The Paisleys, Here's A 1960s Julio Giulietti/goya Psychedelic Flower-power Guitar
guitarz.blogspot.com: We've all seen Fender's pink paisley and blue floral finishes from the late 1960s (and various Japanese-made re-issues since the 1980s) but Fender were not the only guitar manufacturer to produce a psychedelically-finished...
- Fender Japan Mini Stratocaster Mst-32
guitarz.blogspot.com: For today's second post we could again have done with having a photograph showing some impression of scale for this is another diminutive guitar. From Fender Japan it's a Fender Mini Stratocaster MST-32, circa 1989-90. Unfortunately...