Fender 60's Reissue Stratocaster

1986 Fender Japan 60's (62) re-issue Strat, alder, 5-way, volume ,tone, and tone.knobs. 3 stock singles and vintage trem. Black w/ the best neck Fender ever put on a guitar! Neck heel serial number. Vintage slotted tuners. This was how I got it, beat to shit but the neck was perfect. I'll give it an 8 the way it WAS.

Sounds great, a little bit of hum, I run it tru a 5150 w/ a Randall XL 4X12 w/60 watt Vintage 30's or a Soldano 50 watt R.O.S.

Everything was great involving the fit, finish and action but....I couldn't leave well enough alone so I hot rodded it. Added Van Zandt Strat Blues pick-ups, a Wilkinson Trem w/string savers and a beautiful C.A.R paintjob. Also added distressed knobs 5-way and pick-guard.Now it's the best sounding strat I've ever owned......which says alot since I've been playing since 1968!

This guitar is eye candy yet will hold up to anything thrown at it though I baby it. I would definatley gig with out a back up...she's just so damn reliable! Put strap locks on it ant the slotted tuners are just awesome, very stable with ZERO slippage. She's my #1.

Who needs it?

I put $300 into all the modifications and paint job it it will rival CS Strats and many high end axes. It was a jewel in the rough, all she needed was some TLC. Been playin' since 68 and I will never part with it, she's just a flat out tone machine! I love everting about it especially the neck, it is just a joy to play. Fits like a glove.

'04, Mexican, 3 Singles, etc.

Bzzzzz-note-zzzz-note-zzzzzz-chord-zzzz Yup, it's a strat. I like the single coil bite, not the buzzzzzz. It's okay through an amp, but I can't record direct.

As one other mentioned, the high E string is quite close to the edge of the fretboard. I re-aligned the neck for some improvement, but it takes some awareness not to slip over the side. I lowered the action and it plays quicker and smother than I do. The low frets are what sold me this guitar.

The pots feel like cheap crap. They work as intended, just don't feel very smooth. The trem stays in tune for days.

I wish I'd have shopped more before buying this one. It's a good guitar, but I don't like it.

OK, I laughed when I started reading some of the reviews about these Mexican 60's strats because I felt the exact same way, too. I couldn't believe I was playing a Mexican strat. In fact, they had a REAL 1962 strat at Guitar Center and i got to play it side by side with this little import... I couldn't tell the difference!!! The workers in Mexico are out to prove something. This guitar has the jumbo frets, 60's rosewood neck, flawless sunburst finish, and is heavy as hell. In fact, heavier than the USA reissue or the real 1962 strat I played. Maybe that's why it has such tone.

I played every friggin' strat at Guitar Center and this Mexican has the best tone bar none. Rich full strat sound... the sound that made Fender famous. I am still shocked.

I can not tell the difference between this guitar and an American strat. Factory settings were right on. The quality of the wood showing through the sunburst finish is awesome. Did I mention it's heavy!!!!

It's a strat... I'll be leaving it to my grandkids. LOL

Never had to use it.

Unbelievable value... just wish it would come with a hard case instead of a gig bag. All those things people are writing about this guitar is true. Better watch out Corona, CA because your cousins are trying to outdo you!

Japan made 60's stratocaster, bought new in the summer of 1986 at Sound Side in Stockholm, Sweden. Rosewood fingerboard. Don't know the wood of the body, but it's very lightweight. A sticker on the body advertised it has US made pickups. Seems very true to the 60's original. It's olympic white and all plastic parts have aged nicely into a yellowish colour.

I just couldn't resist the sound and feel of this guitar. It has a loud and warm sound when played unplugged.
I've played it through several different amps and it always sounds great.

The setup was really good from the start, but over that years I've had to adjust the neck and action a couple of times. But once that's done it plays great.

No problems, except I had to clean the 5 way switch and volume pot.
The guitar seems very reliable.

Never needed any support.

I've been playing 30 years, nowadays I play mostly steelstring acoustic fingerstyle. I would replace it if it got stolen or lost.
I went into the store to get a Telecaster with maple fingerboard and got out with this. I fell in love with it right away. I've played custom shop and relic Strats but I fail to see the greatness of them. However fender quality seems to differ from guitar to guitar so be sure to try out a lot of them to find that special one.
How anyone can buy a guitar through internet without even trying it I can't understand.

60's Mexican Strat? This is the damndest guitar I've seen recently! It's new, ash body (natural color), maple neck with HUGE slab rosewood board, dot markers (positioned correctly for an early sixties strat), and a skunk stripe on the back of neck! ( Iwas under the impression these were only on necks with maple fingerboards! ) It's a 4-bolter, and has the small peghead, with seventies style shallers. It says "Limited Edition" on back of peghead. Front of peghead says MADE IN MEXICO. What the hell is this??? Has big fat 50's style neck, with a nice concave (rounded fingerboard), and medium jumbo frets. It also has a huge tremelo block, and a real bone nut! Have the Mexicans started their own "custom Shop"???

This thing is awsome! I was so confused looking at it, I had to try it out for shits and giggles. I currently own 46 guitars, and most are vintage strats, LP's, and various Gibsons. I pluged it into a re-issue plexi and cranked it clean. This is the second Mex guitar that blew me away! ( the first being the Jimmy Vaughan)....If I knew what the hell it was I'd be happy, as I havent seen another one. As I said, it's new, and was just purchased frm (OK, no scowling), Guitar Center in Warwick, R.I. This thing rocks!

Where is it written that Mex strats are supposed to be perfect????? Do you have any idea how embarrasing this is after spending half a lifetime, and thousands of dollars on the real things! I'm guessing, after taking the damn thing apart,(and finding ALL AMERICAN PARTS!), that the Mexicans are trying to prove something to their cousins 22 miles away at the U.S. plant! Hey, live and learn!

Surprise, for all you blue-noses out there who think that the real 50's and 60's strats were all that. BULLSHIT! I have 'em, and there are good ones, and not so good ones. This is going to be hard to swallow, but this Mex job is built just as durable, sounds better, and even feels better! (OK, so I would have said "youre full of shit too!"

I've had to deal with Mike at the Fender custom shop twice in the past 3 years. He was very helpful, and resolved problems with custom shop models I've bought. (You'll have better luck dealing with Fender than Gibson....sorry Chuck, ya know I luv you guys too....

33 years already??? But seriously, I wasnt kidding when I said that I think these Mexican workers are out to prove something! Take a look at the tuners..(no more PING) take a look at the bridges, no more crap!, and the're routing the bodys s/s/s Makes you wonder doesnt it???? This guitar may be a one-off, I dont know, but pics available on request.

Mexican made 3 tone sunburst, mint green pickguard, vintage style hardware, and aged parts. Alder body which only applies to the sunburst I believe. Simple and what a strat should be.

I have a Victoria amp and pretty much anything even a squier would sound cool in one way or another through my amp. I have owned 3 different american vintage reissues and this is pretty much right on with them. I know the electronics are probably crap along with the pickups, but I didn't like the pickups in the american vintage series either because I have sold every one of them. This should sound great with some new pots and texas specials or CS 69's, but until then this gets an 8. Try adjusting the pickup height and this might work great for you.

I had to do some adjustments at home with the bridge, but it was pretty decent from the store. Everything looks ok, but it takes about a year for a guitar to show it's true colors after a little sweat and a few beatings.

I think it will last for a while, but I will have to change the electronics. I have used a Jap strat which led me to buying a bunch of american guitars because the electronics are cheap and crap out when you least expect it. This is backup for right now until I have the money to make it my #1. Get a new input jack to for it too-infact replace everything that has a wire going to it and you should be fine.

I have been playing for about 15 years. I own a great amp and a few great pedals. I will tell you that tone is in your hands, but good guitars make our lives easier. I own an Ibanez 70's LP knock off which is great, a National Resolectric (super cool), and now this. This will round out all of the tones I should ever need. Like I said I have owned a American vintage RI 57 black strat, a 62 RI telecaster 3 tone sunburst with double binding, and various amercian standard strats. They are a nice guitar if you are shopping for the real thing and have to have an american guitar, but don't have the $$. I don't like buying from Mexico or from Japan, but I really had to. I can't afford to buy a $1200 reissue only to drop another bit of cash for new pickups and then it really isn't what I paid for to begin with and I don't like the hardware and neck on the American standard strat. This was the best option of classic looks, feel, and tone and I won't feel bad doing mods to it. Play this back to back with the reissue or the real thing with your eyes closed and you probably won't notice too much difference unplugged, but plugged in you will. I will give it an 8 for now, but it should get a 9 or 10 after I do some upgrades. It's fair because this is how most of you will hear this guitar and buy it this way. It's worth the money.

This is a Vintage look a like 1962-65 Strat. MIM but done extreamly well. My Axe is three color sunburst on a alder body. These have all american hardware, Ping topload tuners, Ping vintage bridge, Bone nut,
21 fret's on a 7.5" rad slab rosewood board, Truss rod adjusts from the body side, Special wound pickups to give the vintage 60's sound,
Mint green pickguard, Aged plastic covers and switch tips, Even the trem arm is a diferent threading than standard strats, And all in a high gloss finish including the neck. The decals are also vintage 60's. All in All it realy an supurbly made Axe.

I am in love with this guitar for the way it was made. I dont like the sound at all. I have three other fenders that would out do this axe in a NY minute. These vintage pickups are not for me and I've already been searching E-bay for a set of Standard Mexican strat standard ceramic pickups from a 90's model. They are realy the best sounding Strat pickups ever ( I play Jazz and Blues ). If your into surf music then maybe you will like the vintage pickups, but too me they sound awfull and weak. I have to preamp them alot more than any of my other guitars. I have gold lace sensor strat Pretty good and a Tex Mex strat nice, but my Standard 98 strat rules for sound and power
as these 98 pickups are designed after Fraylin pickups.

Action Great except the High E is a little close to the Edged. I tried to move the saddels but they go right back. Its playable though.
other than that fit and finnish are about as good as it gets. Thats why I am keeping this axe and will just go for some new pickups.

As with all fenders this is my fourth and I never had a problem.
These are not prone to trouble.

I never had to call on fender for anything.

I have been playing since 1957. I play by ear mostly to smooth Jazz and Modern Blues.
I have more equiptment and guitars than anybody deserves. 21 guitars and 7 amps. I use Boss and sometimes toneworks (Korg) effects. My favorite amps are Crate, and my best guitars are Gibson, Fender, and Yamaha.
Most of the new fenders sound weak to my ears anyhow I feel fender the go the same route as Gibson in the future, and give you the very best pickups even on the least expensive models if they want to continue to survive in this competitive world.

Mine is a MIM Lake Placid Blue '60s Classic Strat made around 1999/2000 according to the s/n. As others have noted it has all the vintage appointments right down to the notch in the pickguard where the truss rod is. The only modern "upgrade" is a 5-way selector switch, which I don't particularly like. (I can't stand that Robert Cray/Mark Knopfler out of phase Strat tone.) That is really the only negative thing I can say about it!

I bought this guitar shortly after purchasing an original 1964 Fender Reverb unit to go with my '63 Bandmaster. The Reverb inspired me to want to play some surf music! Aside from that, my band does mostly authentic '60s garage and British Beat type stuff. I immediately strung this Strat with a set of .011 Thomastik Infeld Swing Series flatwounds for that genuine '50s/'60s tone, and was pleased to find it still effortless to bend strings (which is not usually the case with flatwounds). They say that if an electric guitar has a good sound unplugged, that it will likely sound great when amplified. That is definitely the case with this guitar. Unplugged it already has a rich, sparkling tone, and I kind of dig the way the vibrato springs give it a bit of a natural reverb effect! Plugged in, I was blown away by how rich it sounds. The bridge PU on its own is a bit too shrill for my taste, and the neck PU has that rich SRV/Hendrix blues tone. I mainly use it in the middle positon (bridge + middle PU), which has that classic rockin' Strat sound. Played through the aforementioned '64 Reverb + '63 Bandmaster, it's as if you're channeling 50 years of rock'n'roll history. It really has the VIBE. The first time I used it with the band, I started playing like Johnny Meeks, Buddy Holly, Carl Wilson, Hank Marvin, and all the other Stratomasters of yore. It's as if the spirit of all those great guitarists is embedded in the guitar itself! I know, it sounds corny, but I really found that playing this guitar brought me back to another ara.

I can't imagine how the US-made Strats can be much better made than this guitar. I've heard that the internal electronics are dookie, but until they fail, I'm leaving it alone. The guitar plays extremely fast, and everything seems rock solid. The Lake Placid Blue metallic finish is gorgeous (and I'm thinking of getting a gold lucite pickguard to really bring it out). The amigos in Ensenada who built this guitar did a superb job in every way. Even Leo would be proud.

This guitar is built like a tank!

I've never had to deal with Fender, as their products are not usually prone to failure.

As I've said, I was looking to buy an inexpensive Strat, but after just paying $800 for the '64 Reverb, I didn't have much $$ left over. One day I went into the Guitar Center to buy some accessories, and saw this guitar on the rack with a $250 price tag! Why was it so cheap? There's a 1-1/2" gash on the lower horn. For that price, I wasn't gonna complain! (The GC even threw in a brand new vibrato arm, as the guitar didn't have one when it came in.) Mostly I've owned Rickenbackers, and I now also have a Tele, Gretsch Tennessean and a Gibson J-160E, but I didn't really "know" Strats. Now I see why they are so beloved. The modern Fender company is making what may well be the best guitars the company has made since Leo's time, and the Mexican division is doing a superb job of making high quality, affordable instruments.

All the features a strat should have. Two Tone nobs,a volume a 5way selector switch. 22 fret.

The sound i thought was very nice on clean but kinda muffled on distortion. I am sure this could be fixed with a new set of pickups or a distortion box but i like the distortion my amp gets and im not willing to spend money on new pickups. I say if the stock stuff aint good enough it's not for you. Unless you have the money.

The body was nice and all and the hardware was alright, but this is weere we had problems. The Neck!!!!! The neck was the slowest piece of garbage i have ever played on, atleast in my opinion, it may work for some people but for me, this thing was slow, slipery, and very hard.

its reliability is good but the sound to me is not the best for on stage or live performances.

No but i heard fender is good

I have been playing for two years and My live gear and home set is top notch. MY guitars include a Fender Strat(american made) a Gibson es-333 and fender telecaster('72thinline)MY favourtite guitar is the es-333. My effects are: a digitech hyper phase, a dunlope hendrix wah a echo/delay unit and a clean to overdrive switch. I use planet waves cables and my amps include: a vox ac30 for clean sounds and a marshall 50dfx for overdriven. I love all my gear.

In my opinion this is a good guitar but.... for me it wasn't. The only problem was the neck but that is a very big problem, i would have thought it would be a fast neck because its a sixties strat and it's made for the rockin lead guitar players, but for 1500 it is not agood enough neck. And the strings suck.

For a collector i recomend it and for a rythem guitar player i suggest it but for a lead, go for a highway 1 strat or a american series strat, much faster necks.

this is a faithful reproduction of a 1960 three tone sunburst strat.
it features a five way switch and three single coil pups and a rosewood on maple vintage 60's style neck with a vintage fender stamped bridge as well klusion tunners.

I have a usa fender 3 tone sunburst alder body and though the sound on it is crystal clear so is my new 60's reissue.and it responds better to the both overdrive and fuzz tone settings.

this guitar was setup and ready to play right out of the box.
the body was flawless. the action is great though you might want to tweak it for your own use.

this is my new number one. i love the guitar and bank on it during any gig without a back up. though the strap buttons are sutable for factory standards i have replaced mine with the schaller strap locks.
the hardware semms to be just fine they are a good sub for true vintage items.

a little about me i build solid body elctrics and i have been playing for fifteen years. over the past fifteen yeras i have owned just about every guitar out there or i have built a close copy.