Fender '54 Reissue Stratocaster

I just got this guitar off ebay from a seller in Japan. The guitar is a classic 2 tone sunburst with 1 pc maple neck/fretboard and 2pc ash body. Now, I have seen a few (not many though) of MIJ '54 RI strats floating around on ebay for some time, but they all seem to be made after 1997. I knew for some time that Fender Japan made these RI 54s as early as 1984, 2 years after they started operations under the "Fender" badge.

When I saw a "1980s 1954 MIJ RI Strat" on ebay, I knew I had to have it! When I received the shipment, I could not believe that the condition is so good for a 20 year old instrument. It looked like a closet classic, like Eric Clapton's "Brownie". No scratches, no dings, just a little fretwear. I love the V neck and with some adjustment to the truss rod, it plays beautifully and the intonation was spot on.

Next thing I fell in love with was the sound. Pickups from what I understand are US custom shop '54 RI ones. Sweet. After researching for some time before deciding to buy this guitar, I realised that the JDM (Japan Domestic Market) spec Fender guitars are very high standard instruments, unlike the ones Japan exports, which were forced to have lower specs than their own JDM ones. This includes the wood, craftsmanship, pickups and hardware. This one has the engimatic "E" serial number. One of those that Fender Japan used by mistake as "E" numbers were meant for US made Fenders. But it proves this guitar was made between 1984 and 1987, according to dating sites.

Single ply pick guard, 8 pickguard screws, round string tree, Kluson tuners. Everything naturally aged nicely. But it has a 5 way switch, which is not authentic, but good for sound flexibility. The back plate has oval shaped holes and not round ones though.

I am into all sorts of guitar music but mainly play blues rock. I like my sound clean and this guitar cuts through really nicely. It has a classic vintage strat tone, with a brightness unheard of from my other strats.

Ok, it sounded very good clean, so I decided to stress test the guitar by putting it through a few different effects. Drive, Blues, Hi Gain, u name it. It all came out tops! Humming comes about when I add more gain to the amp, but it is to be expected. But even with the distortion effect, the guitar sounds good, with the individual notes ringing clear. The best so far is with the overdrive, imho. Playing Rolling Stones songs with it just got me high...

When the guitar came, it was pre-owned, so I was not expecting it to be in great playing condition. It needed some slight adjustments to the neck and I took the guitar apart. The neck was dated March '84 and the body April of the same year. The ash body was lovingly crafted, with the pickup cavities nicely rounded. Now that was a bonus! I did not expect Japan to replicate this on the 54 RI. Finishing was excellent to say the least and the neck and body fit was air-tight.

The neck is a cross between a V and a U, I think. I could tell that the previous owner did not play much on this guitar, yet it felt so run in with the original frets which led me to reckon that the factory must have made it like that. Really nice action and feel to it, makes me want to pick it up and play everytime I walk past it in my studio.

I have seen quite a few USA, MIM and MIJs in my time and I have to admit that the JDM MIJ ones are comparable to the higher end US made Fenders. Yes, they will last. No one gigs seriously without a backup. Period.

Never tried and hope I never need to.

Been playing for 17 years. I am a composer/songwriter in Asia and I do my full production demos at home. Electric-wise I have a US made 2002 Standard strat, MIM 2000 Tele, 1990 JDM MIJ strat '72 RI and now the 1984 JDM MIJ '54 RI. I would say the '54 sounds the brightest, but it does not match the newer strats I have in terms of sustain.

I chose this particular guitar as it was one of the earliest made in Japan Fenders, before anything was over commercialised. And of course older wood just sounds better some how. But it seems that this is not the case for Japan Fenders. They are still made with as much pride today. But they are not available outside of Japan anymore, so those lower end export MIJ models are not in the market anymore. The only way is to get it used from sellers and from Japan direct. There are online stores in Japan that can sell and ship you a JDM MIJ Fender.

I compared mine with a friend's 1997 JDM CIJ (crafted in japan - after 1996, they changed 'made' to 'crafted') '54 RI and find that though the worksmanship is about the same, mine sounded brighter and has a richer tone and it twangs better. For USD550 including shipping, my 1984 '54 RI cannot be beat and I would have spent a heck of alot more to get this action and sound from a strat. If I see another "E" serial number MIJ '54 RI for sale, I would snap it up first, to avoid crying into my whiskey if this one gets stolen. *touch wood*

This is my review for a 50th anniversarry 1954 reissue Stratocaster made in Japan. The finish/color looks authentic and the Ash body has killer grain. Pickups are USA made 50's custom shops and sound quite good. The volume and tone pots could have been full sized CTS and the switch, which is 5 way modern type could have been a vintage style 3-way but I like the 5-way even though it is not authentic.

The ash body and maple neck are as tightly fitted as possible, the neck has a mild-V shape and feels just great. The frets are well done with thr exception of the slightly sharp fret ends which I already corrected. The finish on the fretboard is heavier than an old vintage Strat but at least it will last longer.

The body finish is typical 2 tone sunburst and flawless. The comfort contours are very well done just like a 54 Strat. All vintage hardware, tuners etc. The only part not authentic is the tremolo cover which has the typical elongated string holes instead of the round ones found on the very early Strats.

The case is a 1954 style Fender reissue Guitar case with plush, all-cotton red-poodle Interior.

I play lots of blues tunes and this Strat has what I need for the tone I want. The hum level is typical Strat hum and could be quieted down with some body cavity shielding but then you kill the authenticity of this superb reissue from Fender Japan.

This Strat can tone up deep blues to wailing rock in different switch positions and tone control adjustments, the way a Strat should.

The finish as I said is impeccable. Fit is very good, the one-ply pickguard is not buckled like some I have seen from misaligned pickguard screw holes. All parts are fitted with superb craftsmaeship.

I expect this guitar to last forever, probably will wear better than the original but in time will show some wear witch is very desiarable. I would use this one without need to worry about a backup even though I always have one with me.

Customer sales from Fender-Japan is excellent - very very plesent people to deal with. I hope their customer support follows suit should I ever need it. However that is unlikely being I am a guitar tech myself.

I have been playing for 30+ tears on and off, I have owned many Strats and Les Pauls, Hagstroms and a even Gretsch and Tokai.
I am always looking for that special guitar and those are the ones I keep. This is a Keeper!

My Strat is the 1954 R.I. Fender Japan model ST54-80AM. Made sometime after 1997 as it is marked ?Crafted in Japan?. The body is a 54 style, nitro finished, 2 tone burst, 2 piece ash. The one piece maple neck is patterned after the ?56 style soft V. Rather thick. It starts at .850 at the first fret and picks up a bit more thickness as you move up the neck.
It has the traditional thin frets and 7.25? radius. The tailpiece is the traditional 50?s style whammy bar complete with steel trem block. The pickups are the new American Custom Shop ?54s.

First the good points. I?ve never played a nicer Strat. The neck shape suits me and I believe it has a very positive effect on the overall tone. The neck is super straight and the action is perfect. The frets are well polished and perfectly set. Plays like butter. The neck to body joint could not be better. The overall feel and acoustic tone of this guitar is exactly the way I think a vintage style Strat should be. Another thing that I?m particularly fond of are the beveled pole piece CS 54 pickups. I can?t imagine that anyone looking for a vintage sound would feel the need to replace these. Whether by chance or design I?m not sure, but the 2 piece ash body is exceptionally well matched. You have to look very closely to find the joint. The quality of the finish is also first rate.
Now the bad points. The shielding is inadequate for these pickups. This is not a difficult problem to fix, but I still think it should have been addressed at the factory. Maybe they?re carrying authenticity a bit too far. Then, there?s the potentiometers and cap. Not terrible, but noticeably less accurate then the CTS pots and Orange Drop caps I have in my other Strats. The one thing that really bugs me is the relief cut on the front of the body. It starts (as you hold the guitar in playing position) about 2 inches below the lower strap button and stops at a point straight up from the lower edge of the tailpiece. Where your arm rests against the body there is no relief at all. This spoils the top line of the body and makes it look chunky. For all I know real ?54s are shaped like this. I just don?t like it.

Those picky things aside, I love this guitar. It?s now my main stage axe.

Its an MIJ 54' Ri Strat, sweet neck, sweet body, sweet tone.
What more could you ask for?

On my strat I like to play Pink Floyd, Hendrix, and some Skynyrd.
It nails those tones perfectly, I run it through:
Strat>Crybaby>Boss SD-1>Vintage Rat>Big Muff>Dan-Echo>Boss BF-2>Tweed Fender Blues Jr.

Used-no flaws

I haven't gigged with it yet but I plan to, I put on strap locks so thats an issue and its built like a tank, I could rely on it but I always need more than one guitar.

Nope

It sounds fantastic and has the lowest action I could ever dream of. if it were stolen I'd be heartbroken because its a rare guitar in the U.S. most are 57's not 54's, anyways i would go out and buy a custom shop reissue hoping it might compare to the build quality

Mine was produced in '95 or '96 according to the serial number and the gold label on the back of the head. It is one of these relatively rare '54 Japan reissues with a light swamp ash body and an aged maple v-shape-neck. Pick ups are most likely the (American) Vintage passive type, if I can trust my multimeter. The finish - and oh boy what an excellent finish it is indeed - corresponds with my most favourite strat finish, namely "claptonesque" black and white. As one would expect from a guitar like this, the pickguard is oneply, tuners are klusonstyle and the countour is a deep, beerbelly friendly "swimmingpool", as it should be, because we all do grow older... :-) Thank the lord 7ender Japan built in a five way switch and a reversed middle-pu. PU-cuts are individually done, thankfully there's not one big hole turning the guitar virtually into a terrible semiacustic, a bad habit gaining more and more ground nowadays... I've locked the vintage style tremolo using a clapton-style woodwedge, like I do with all my Strats, enhancing the sustain dramatically!! The tremblock, however, is made of solid steel and not of cheap cast metal. By professional standards I will give it an "8" in this category - lace sensor or vintage noiseless pu's would be the roof of the pudding...

I've been looking for a guitar like this for ages. When I first saw this baby, I immediately fell in love with her, touching and playing her meant loosing my heart. I would call myself an allrounder playing the guitar since about 27 years now, with longer pauses, "net weight" about 17, 18 years. For about 5 years I worked as a semipro in a commercial dance band. Today I play mostly classic and avantgarde Rock('n'Roll), blues, a little jazz and some contemporary stuff in a fine aged combo, none of the members younger than 35 :-) I try to develop my skills constantly, right now having some kind of a "jazz-period". And this guitar has it all, from glassy bell-like and whisteling tones over crunchy, meaty sounds to moderate, classic distortion - tell her with your fingers, and she will obey you like a well-trained dog. The dynamics are woldclass, and the sustain ist - thanks to the woodwedge - excellent. Raping the axe with an equalizer or some other preamplifying device would even produce high gain supertrashmetal, if you like that kind of noise. However, I would not recommend you to do things like that with a classic beauty like a '54 Stratocaster. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing I dislike at all. A plain 10.

I could not find any flaws worth mentioning even though I bought the guitar used from a friend in financial needs, giving him a buyback-option should I ever play with the thought of selling it. This, however, most likely will never happen. As another reviewer wrote before - MADE IN JAPAN, there's nothing more to say.

Since I own this Strat, it is my first stage guitar - my '54 US-made waiting in the background as a most wonderful backup axe. (I never play without a parachute!) I think, my grand-grand sons and daughters will still use this one with joy... I've changed strap-buttons for Schaller Security Locks - please, all of you readers out there, do this with all of your guitars !!!

I once needed some at least in Europe very hard to find screws for my '96 US-Telecaster - 7ender Germany gave them to me as a gift, without even charging me for p&p...

I am not only a lifelong player, I am a collector as well, so I own 18 guitars now - from Teles to Paulas, from Strats to ES's. As far as amps are in question, I use an Engl tubepreamp on a Rocktron Velocity 250 poweramp in the 19"-rack, a Marshall DSL201, a 7ender Twin Amp, an older Princeton Stereo Chorus, a Champion 110, a '67 Blackface Champ (original), and a H&K Zenamp.

I own a mexican surf-green 1950's reissue with 21 frets, solid top, 1 volume 2 tones 5 way selector,three single fender coil pickups, maple neck, non locking tuners thin neck no accessories included.

It suits my style cause i play alot of punk i use heaps of distortion pedals played thru a marshall valvestate vs65r amp. bright sound i like it because i can use it for tinny and deap sounds the only thing i don't like about it is that the disdortion isn't realy mental enough.

The guitar was set up well, the pickups were ajusted well, properly bookmatched top, properly routed bridge. my lead input and the things you put youre strap onto keep coming loose

I play in my room like i would play live and its ok. the hardwere should last. the finish should last. my strap buttons keep coming loose but i can depend on it and would use it on a gig without a back up.

The company were really good cause i used to own a ibanez gio as my first guitar but my dad got a complete refund and another #60 off it so i got it for way cheaper

Ive been playing for a year and 4 months but i can play things
like eric clapton and gun's and roses. If it was stolen my dad would be strait in the shop and buying it quiker than you could say strat.
I love my beutiful surf-green strat and would never sell it. but i do pefer gibson and i'm soon purchasing a gibson les paul gold top and youll see the reveiw on that soon aswell

Bought mine in 1995 - Japanese made - 21 frets, standard 5-way selector, three passive pickup with no i.d. on the front... maple neck, no separate fretboard, darker wood fillet down the back of the neck. Body wood? No idea. This is the photoflame finish (ie they've taken a photo of some lovely flame maple and stuck it to the front and back! I can't see the join and after 7 years it still looks very striking! I didn't by it for the look but it has grown on me...) standard tremolo bridge which I've blocked rigid with strips of paxolin in the rear compartment. Vintage looking tuners. The neck is 7.5" radius which feels way different to the more common 9.5" (the higher the radius, the flatter the frets) but I prefer it. No accessories.

I play in a soul band, and modern Christian worship material in church. Amp is a Fender Princeton Reverb II or Princeton 112. Pickup are a little noisy of you get too close to the amp (except the out-of-phase settings). The Strat sounds are all there, especially enjoying the hollow bridge+middle out of phase combo which cuts through a band without needing a lot of volume. Lots of natural sustain. I wish it could be made to sound more jazzy but you can't have everything.

I think the high E string sits a little too close to the edge of the fretboard. It was perfectly set up for medium action and since I'm the only guitarist in my band I have to do chunky rhythms as well as the occasional solo, therefore I've left the action where it is. Everything else on the guitar is just right.

I've broken one selector switch - them modified the gig bag with some foam so the switch doesn't bear the brunt of any pressure on the front of the gig bag. Replaced the tiny strap buttons with locking ones. This guitar has been gigged hard for 7 years and shows no signs of giving in. Also it has and almost supernatural power to hold tuning; I once took it to Paris for a gig (I live near London, England) and realised at the next rehearsal back home that I hadn't touched the machine heads since the previous rehearsal. I don't HAVE a backup guitar and barely ever think about it.

Fender UK's phone order people sent me a new selector switch in a couple of days. Warranty was one year. No other contact with Fender necessary.

I've been playing long enough to know better. If the guitar were lost, would definitely seek out another Strat with 7.5" neck radius. Maybe look for pickups with a more 'glassy' top end.

This is a made in Japan Fender '54 Reissue Stratocater. I think that this is one of the best put together strats that I have ever played. It has the usual setup. It has three active EMG pickups. It has the "V" neck, which I love. It is in Seafoam Green.

Once again, I think that this is one of the best sounding strats that I have ever played. I love the EMG pickups. I love it through my Marshall, though I am considering purchasing a Fender Ultimate Chorus. I think that it has a great clean sound, but it can get a dirty as the rest of them.

I have to do alittle minor adjusting and now the guitar plays ever better. This guitar looks like it has been through a hurricane and back, but the sound is so amazing. I think that that is how it is on all guitars, the worst they look on the outside, the better that they play. I think that the person that I got it from tried a Relic job on it, to make it look like a real '54. I think that it gives it character.

I think that this guitar is very reliable. But you should always have a backup. I just got another great strat has a backup. It is an American Fender Deluxe Plus Strat.

Never dealt with Fender and from what I hear that is a good thing.

I think that this is a great guitar. Not to mention that '54 reissues are not that common like a '57 reissue. I think that along with my other Strat I will be fine. Now I need another good amp.

Incredible guitars, my baby for many years. I add somme Rexas special pickups on and a special wiring to prevent noise and bass lost with volume.

The most versatile guitar on the market!

Great, Fender vintage logos are great for the mucho !

Problemes with strap buttons, be careful!

Great here in Canada

2 Tone Sunburst Bird Yey Maple Neck 3 single pickup . 5 selector ... like most stratocaster...

I'm Rock, Funky, Blues Guitarist in Korea I'm using these guitar into Bogner Ecstasy. hmm.. about noise? same as over 10000 strat in ther world.. but I don't mind about noise... I don't care! It's very bright sound guitar and has a neck position twang, hendrix like sound... I'm very happy with neck position. but bridge position are bit bright to me. half position are very mellow and sweet... (but don't set too high gain at these position)

wow... very thick neck... I have a small hand.. it's bit uncomportable to me... but some people will like it

no problem

It's a very good guitar... If you want vintage sounding strat in under 1500$ .. buy it you will be happy with it...
If I have a 2000$... I'll buy Don Grosh Recto Calssic but don't get me wrong... Grosh is Grosh... Fender is Fender... I think... 'Fender' Logo Brings some FEEL to player.. When I play Fender.. I'm very happy ...
Sorry for my poor english...